The Representation of Catholicism in Brian Moore’s The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne Rebeka Franciska Szentgyörgyi College

Brian Moore’s novel was first published in 1955, first titled as Judith Hearne, after it had been denied by ten American publishers. They felt like “it was too depressing, and the woman was not attractive, and she was religious” (Hartill 136). Despite its reluctant initial welcome, the novel became extremely popular with its audience since they could identify with its unusual heroine. The story follows the protagonist, Judith Hearne’s journey, who tries to follow the strict rules of Catholicism while being a single, middle-aged woman. In addition, she has to struggle with alcoholism, which ruins her reputation, and she has to confront the fragility of her faith. The story is set in Belfast, following the end of the Second World War, in the 1950s. In the following, I explore the Catholic faith’s pressure on society and the lack of genuine belief in the mainly Protestant Northern Ireland through The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne.

To have a better understanding of the novel and the circumstances of its creation, it is essential to be aware of the author, Brian Moore’s view of Catholicism and Ireland in general. All of his family were Catholics, except his grandfather, who was originally Protestant. His father was the chief...