To Quell the Terror: The True Story of the Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne

Let me just preface this by admitting my biases up front. I am a geeky Catholic academic who majored in history in college and this book was written by a geeky Orthodox academic. So if you fit into neither of those categories, it is possible that you might find this book either deadly dull or theologically offensive or both. This is the true story of the 16 Carmelite nuns who specifically and actively consecrated themselves body and soul as a holocaust offering to restore God's peace to Revolutionary France that was then in the grip of The Terror. You may already be aware of the rudiments of their story from the fictionalized account by Gerturde von Le Fort "Song at the Scaffold" or the opera/theatrical production "Dialogues of the Carmelites." This book is the history behind those fictional accounts and acts to put a real face to these courageous women of faith. I cannot describe how deeply touched I was at the faith of these women. The account of their conduct from their "trial" to their execution was as heart-wrenching as it was uplifting. This was one of those stories that will forever resonate in my soul. NOW....beyond the soul-stirring uplifting nature of this book, it was also darn good, well-researched, FASCINATING history. I look upon this book as the missing link to everything I have ever read on the French Revolution. Although admittedly as a specialist in Russian History, the French Revolution has never been big on my reading list. Every book I have ever read about the French Revolution seemed to be missing something (or maybe I just missed it) essential to my understanding of it. This is what I was missing....at the center of it all, the Republican forces were deeply committed to destroying not just the institution of the Church but religious faith in general. Yes, I knew that it was at least an ancillary part of it all, but this book pulled the scales from my eyes and showed how deliberate and focused the attack was. In light of what I learned, it isn't surprising at all to me that the French Revolution gave rise to the phenomenon known as The Terror. So in addition to being soul-stirring, I found this book to be a welcome addition to my understanding of the French Revolution and the forces that gave birth to The Terror.Honestly, I can't wait to read this book again.

This is a first-rate book, made important by intense and impeccable scholarship, and as well by genuine devotion on the author's part (himself an Orthodox Christian and an academic). William Bush's unadorned and concentrated understanding of the mystery of sacrifice hands this book a beautiful and finally essential aspect in revealing the holocaust of sixteen nuns against even Reason - Who bore the sons that made the madness. Bush wisely makes a book about more than religion and murder, and creates a perfect moving stream out of tidal events, making an awfully effective read. He takes especial pains to dissect the coming about of the holocaust from the view of innocents; the proposition of the choice to be made, the preparation, he even enters the interior lives of the Prioress and Mistress of Novices - aristocratic women living out the literal meaning of privilege. By keeping to the truth, Bush proves these women's gain of discernment and transparency, the silent witnessing so despised by the disciples of the Terror. This is a big book in a relatively thin guise. The author makes too much of the importance of Gertrude von Le Fort's fanciful tale, but his own commanding scholarship speaks for itself, and nothing can diminish the effectiveness of a magnificent effort. The cover bears a daring and beautiful photo of an oblation scene from a production of 'Dialogues of the Carmelites'.

As a French national,I was introduced to the plight of those sixteen women while browsing the Web a year ago . Born in the city where the event took place ,I remember well , as a young boy , people sneering aimlessly at those women ,whenever the subject was raised. As a child ,I felt the subject very obscure and confusing and never got round to ask my friends for more explanation.In my mind it was more or less about women in black hurrying along some cobbled streets in the old Compiegne of that time .In fact a film had been made of those carmelites with leading French actors and actresses ,and the news echoed round .Anyway I never got a chance to understand at that time the significance of it all and I must own up ,rarely thought much of it afterwards .I was only ten then . Later in life I came over to England and took with me a bit of the magic of my childhood as a remedy to my loneliness here.In july 2001,I noticed the book by W.Bush and decided to order it from America . I was spellbound by the passion , work , scholarship and vision of this story . Despite the fact that I'm link sentimentally to the city of the story ,I instinctively feel that the book is a cry of beautiful courage by the Author .There's no doubt in my mind That William Bush "to Quell the Terror" is immensely more acurate than the story of my childhood . Despite the respect due to all those who have found artistical inspiration during those two hundred years from the Carmelites of Compiegne , they brought confusion to the historical facts , to the point of measleading many french people into believing the "Dialogue of the Carmelites" being the true "Story" .I'am thankful to W. Bush for having reawaken me to my childhood past, and last Christmas I went back to Compiegne along the old streets , and on to the old convent place (the original convent doesn't exist anymore ).I regretted bitterly to be so late for a last "adieu".

The book, To Quell the Terror, brings you into the times of the French Revolution as experienced by sixteen Carmelite nuns. The author brings us into the scene of the event that changed France forever. One may have heard or read a little about a "dark side" of the French Revolution. In this book one is able to experience the injustice and lunacy that dominated many of the leaders in those days. This book has touched me deeply and I will never forget these nuns from Compiegne and their inspiration to quell the madness raging all around them. The author has done a great service to bring us the true story, separating the facts from the fiction, that had previously been published in plays and books. I highly recommend this book to all who search a "higher plane" for the value of our earthly exsistance.