The Clowns of God

I only bought this book by accident, after seeing a cheap second-hand copy in a charity store. It gripped me from virtually the first page right through to the last and unlike some of the other reviewers, the ending didn't disappoint me. The essential theme of the novel is this - a Pope (a Frenchman, Jean Marie Barette) is forced out of the papacy when he sees a divine vision that the world will end soon in war. The Vatican hierarchy fear that he is mentally ill, so he is coerced into resigning his position and retiring to a monastery. The setting of the novel is the late twentieth century - the US and the USSR are perilously close to all-out nuclear war after a crop-failure in Russia, and international terrorist groups are wreaking havoc. Western European governments are tightening their security and preparing repressive measures. Barette's vision seems accurate, even if it isn't divinely inspired. Barette begins using his network of friends and powerful acquaintances around the world to try to stop the coming nuclear Armageddon, but this places him in personal danger... I'm not a religious expert- I'm an atheist - and I can't judge the theology here ,but the book still moved me. As a thriller it was a real page-turner, the plot sizzles, the dialogue is good and the characters convincing. I haven't read a better book this year - strongly recommended.

Now and then, I come across a book that moves me. Not just with its story or language but with the emotions it can generate in me. Clowns of God is one such. Perhaps the setting is somewhat dated now, with geopolitical alliances totally re-arranged. However, when I first read it back in the 1980s, the kind of doomsday scenario it pointed to was not all that far-fetched. Many who lived through the Cold War will remember the impotent fear caused by the insanity of "Mutual Assured Destruction - MAD" theories. Set in the heart of the Catholic Church, the book unfortunately loses some of its strength when read by those of other faiths. Sad but inevitable as the theological underpinnings are key to the story. In brief, as the Western World (NATO) and the Communist World (Warsaw Pact) contend for supremacy, a grain famine in the (then) Soviet Union gives the West a trump card that can be used to befriend or to destroy. And the temptation in the minds of the zealots (yes, they are there in every country and of every persuasion) towards destructive use is strong indeed. Into this precariously balanced trapeze act comes a wild card in the form of the reigning Pope. Firm in the belief that he has been granted a vision from God of the end of the world and commanded to preach accordingly, he faces the resistance of vested interests. Stripped of his papacy by the frightened hierarchy, he wanders into the world, searching for a sign that he is right and learning lessons from friends and acquaintances. Odd as it may seem, the story, for all its sobering possibility is ultimately secondary. Morris is a master not only at prose but at creating characters that are fundamentally and recognizably human, with faults and frailties that accent their greatness. The picture he paints of big power games as the world hurtles towards a precipice is scary indeed. What remains in the mind however (and in my opinion form the best part of this book) are the letters written to God, age old questions that we all want to ask and whose answers we have a tough time finding. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Even a reader who is unfamiliar with Christian theology and who professes another faith will appreciate the questions that this book raises.

Contrary to the reviewer from Scottsdale, Arizona, I don't see The Clowns of God as an attack on Catholicism. In fact, in many ways I sensed a respect and honor for the institution and the various positions of office. I saw it as an affirmation of God but also an honest look at the possiblity of human corruption. West did an excellent job of dealing with the religious aspect of the book. I think the book was written in such away that anyone with religious beliefs could comfortably read it. The point was not to slam Catholicism, but to use it as a vehicle to tell a story. A similar novel could have been written from a Protestant viewpoint and context, but Morris chose to write about what he was familiar with and therein lies his strength. His books are researched and developed to the point of making the characters and situations believable. It was a worth-while read, especially for anyone interested in spiritual and philosophical ideas.

As a raised Catholic with at least 18 years of Roman Catholic schooling in my past, and even now as an agnostic with 2 MA's in religion who teaches religion, philosophy, & humanities courses p/t at local colleges, I need to chime in my thorough support for this novel. Since I've taught more than 40 classes in World Religions, I'm pretty sensitively attuned to the slightest of slurs against religions and religious denominations. In this book, I found nothing at all either attacking or demeaning or ridiculing the Roman Catholic Church, as suggested by at least one reviewer on this site. On the contrary: West honors the RC Church in this novel which pits the necessity of preserving tradition against the requisite openness of any religion/church to new revelation. It asks: can a pope (leader-in-general of anything) play both roles: that of "protector of the faith" as well as recipient of new prophecy? The book's theme explores this very same tension which the early Christian Church (150-500 C.E.) also faced in attempts to safeguard a growing "orthodoxy" against groups such as the Montanists, that claimed new prophecy in the name of the Holy Spirit.Sub-themes arising from this are also well probed. As a New Testament semi-scholar, I feel a real affinity with the novel's similar character, a friend of the pope in question. The issues are real and compelling for both pope and his scholarly friend. Below is the larger "plot."It seems that an "end of the world" nightmare is about to become reality, The reigning pope has a personal vision of this. The time is ripe for it. But he's forced to resign or be declared incompetent. His friend, the scholar, becomes reluctantly involved. Then we have the story of the scholar's approach to this issue, then of the former pope's undertaking of the actual mission. Enough said ... read it for yourselves. It's truly an engrossing tale.Is the ending weak? Yes, sort of intriguing, but definitely disappointing. But don't let that opinion discourage you from reading this book, 90% of which is so satisfying and stimulating. The other 10% ending is also "interesting" but in a way defying description. While it annoyed me in many ways, it perhaps offered the only "successful" conclusion Morris West COULD write, after all of the prior story. That's why I can't judge the ending harshly ... for having written the front story, West might have found it impossible to invent an ending that could be plausible, satisfying, helpful, and parenthetically conclusive all at the same time.In order to understand why no possible ending to this tale might be scriptable, you'll need to read the book. Please do so ... I've re-read it at least 5-6 times, and will do so again soon. It touches something deep within me and others who advocate it so strongly....

Whenever I need a spiritual uplift or a re-affirmation of my Christian faith, I read this book. Nearly 20 years after its first publication it is still one of the most powerful and truthful stories ever written, but that should not be surprising given the fact that the Truth it tells is eternal. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was how it made the Pope a real-life human being, sort of like the current one, not a cold, regal icon not to be seen, touched or felt. The deep scholarly approach to the literature of the Church was also very appealing. An excellent work in any event, thoughtful and with a good, well-paced action line, this is more importantly a tender story of how easily and unknowingly we can lose our sight in the face of overwhelming truth. The answer is usually right in front of us if we will only open our eyes, our minds and our hearts to it.