Author: Debbie Young
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1804830348
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 270
Book Description
For anyone who loved St Trinian’s – old or new – or loves a cozy mystery on a grand estate filled with rather ‘interesting’ characters. When an American stranger turns up claiming to be the rightful owner of the school’s magnificent country estate it could spell trouble for everyone at St Bride’s . . . No one can believe it when the headmistress, Hairnet, instantly accepts the stranger’s claim, not: the put-upon Bursar, ousted from his cosy estate cottage by the stranger the enigmatic Max Security, raring to engage in a spot of espionage the sensible Judith Gosling, who knows more about Lord Bunting than she’s letting on the irrepressible Gemma Lamb, determined to keep the school open Only fickle maths teacher Oriana Bliss isn’t suspicious of the stranger, after all she can just marry him and secure St Bride’s future forever. That's if inventive pranks by the girls - and the school cat - don't drive him away first. Who will nab the stranger first? Oriana with the parson’s noose? Gemma with sinister secrets? Or could this be the end of St Bride’s? Previously published by Debbie Young as Stranger at St Bride's.
Sinister Stranger at St Bride's
Author: Debbie Young
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1804830348
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 270
Book Description
For anyone who loved St Trinian’s – old or new – or loves a cozy mystery on a grand estate filled with rather ‘interesting’ characters. When an American stranger turns up claiming to be the rightful owner of the school’s magnificent country estate it could spell trouble for everyone at St Bride’s . . . No one can believe it when the headmistress, Hairnet, instantly accepts the stranger’s claim, not: the put-upon Bursar, ousted from his cosy estate cottage by the stranger the enigmatic Max Security, raring to engage in a spot of espionage the sensible Judith Gosling, who knows more about Lord Bunting than she’s letting on the irrepressible Gemma Lamb, determined to keep the school open Only fickle maths teacher Oriana Bliss isn’t suspicious of the stranger, after all she can just marry him and secure St Bride’s future forever. That's if inventive pranks by the girls - and the school cat - don't drive him away first. Who will nab the stranger first? Oriana with the parson’s noose? Gemma with sinister secrets? Or could this be the end of St Bride’s? Previously published by Debbie Young as Stranger at St Bride's.
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1804830348
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 270
Book Description
For anyone who loved St Trinian’s – old or new – or loves a cozy mystery on a grand estate filled with rather ‘interesting’ characters. When an American stranger turns up claiming to be the rightful owner of the school’s magnificent country estate it could spell trouble for everyone at St Bride’s . . . No one can believe it when the headmistress, Hairnet, instantly accepts the stranger’s claim, not: the put-upon Bursar, ousted from his cosy estate cottage by the stranger the enigmatic Max Security, raring to engage in a spot of espionage the sensible Judith Gosling, who knows more about Lord Bunting than she’s letting on the irrepressible Gemma Lamb, determined to keep the school open Only fickle maths teacher Oriana Bliss isn’t suspicious of the stranger, after all she can just marry him and secure St Bride’s future forever. That's if inventive pranks by the girls - and the school cat - don't drive him away first. Who will nab the stranger first? Oriana with the parson’s noose? Gemma with sinister secrets? Or could this be the end of St Bride’s? Previously published by Debbie Young as Stranger at St Bride's.
Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's
Author: Debbie Young
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1804830259
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 225
Book Description
For anyone who loved St Trinian’s – old or new – or read Malory Towers as a kid. St Brides is the perfect read for you. When Gemma Lamb takes a job at a quirky English girls’ boarding school, she believes she’s found the perfect escape route from her controlling boyfriend – until she discovers the rest of the staff are hiding sinister secrets: Hairnet, the eccentric headmistress who doesn't hold with academic qualifications Oriana Bliss, Head of Maths and master of disguise Joscelyn Spryke, the suspiciously rugged Head of PE Geography teacher Mavis Brook, surreptitiously selling off the library books creepy night watchman Max Security, with his network of hidden tunnels Even McPhee, the school cat, is leading a double life. Tucked away in the school’s beautiful private estate in the Cotswolds, can Gemma stay safe and build a new independent future, or will past secrets catch up with her and the rest of the staff? With a little help from her new friends, including some wise pupils, she's going to give it her best shot... Previously published by Debbie Young as Secrets at St Bride's.
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1804830259
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 225
Book Description
For anyone who loved St Trinian’s – old or new – or read Malory Towers as a kid. St Brides is the perfect read for you. When Gemma Lamb takes a job at a quirky English girls’ boarding school, she believes she’s found the perfect escape route from her controlling boyfriend – until she discovers the rest of the staff are hiding sinister secrets: Hairnet, the eccentric headmistress who doesn't hold with academic qualifications Oriana Bliss, Head of Maths and master of disguise Joscelyn Spryke, the suspiciously rugged Head of PE Geography teacher Mavis Brook, surreptitiously selling off the library books creepy night watchman Max Security, with his network of hidden tunnels Even McPhee, the school cat, is leading a double life. Tucked away in the school’s beautiful private estate in the Cotswolds, can Gemma stay safe and build a new independent future, or will past secrets catch up with her and the rest of the staff? With a little help from her new friends, including some wise pupils, she's going to give it her best shot... Previously published by Debbie Young as Secrets at St Bride's.
Murder in the Highlands
Author: Debbie Young
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1804831255
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 257
Book Description
'A witty insight into village life and a most unusual murder that kept me enthralled!' Bestselling author E.V. Hunter. Sophie and Hector are heading to the Highlands. For Sophie it’s a trip home and for Hector it’s time to meet Sophie’s parents... Though their trip has village tongues wagging about a stop at Scotland’s notorious elopement spot, Gretna Green. No matter what, it’ll make a nice break from the murder and mayhem that has been plaguing their beautiful Cotswolds village. But Sophie and Hector are barely across the border on the way to Inverness before a sinister encounter leaves them shaken. Then comes a series of mishaps that leave poor Hector a little worse for wear. Is someone after Hector? Why is he certain the attacks are just accidents? Sophie is determined to find out. Starting and finishing at the Hector's House bookshop in Wendlebury Barrow, this adventure is Debbie Young's celebration of Scotland as her second favourite place after the Cotswolds, and will make you feel as if you've taken a trip to the Highlands yourself!
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1804831255
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 257
Book Description
'A witty insight into village life and a most unusual murder that kept me enthralled!' Bestselling author E.V. Hunter. Sophie and Hector are heading to the Highlands. For Sophie it’s a trip home and for Hector it’s time to meet Sophie’s parents... Though their trip has village tongues wagging about a stop at Scotland’s notorious elopement spot, Gretna Green. No matter what, it’ll make a nice break from the murder and mayhem that has been plaguing their beautiful Cotswolds village. But Sophie and Hector are barely across the border on the way to Inverness before a sinister encounter leaves them shaken. Then comes a series of mishaps that leave poor Hector a little worse for wear. Is someone after Hector? Why is he certain the attacks are just accidents? Sophie is determined to find out. Starting and finishing at the Hector's House bookshop in Wendlebury Barrow, this adventure is Debbie Young's celebration of Scotland as her second favourite place after the Cotswolds, and will make you feel as if you've taken a trip to the Highlands yourself!
Driven to Murder
Author: Debbie Young
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 180483145X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 217
Book Description
A perfect cosy crime for fans of M C Beaton's Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series. Change is coming to Wendlebury Barrow – and not everyone is happy about it... When the local bus company announces it will be stopping its route through their quaint Cotswold village, the people of Wendlebury Barrow are up in arms. Not least Sophie Sayers, whose driving lessons with her boyfriend Hector get off to a bumpy start. But the locals’ peaceful protests against the decision turn deadly when a body is discovered on the Number 27. No one can work out how a passenger met their demise, let alone how the driver didn’t notice. While the police wait for the post mortem results, Sophie immediately suspects foul play, and launches her own investigation. Can she solve the murder before another passenger is hurt?
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 180483145X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 217
Book Description
A perfect cosy crime for fans of M C Beaton's Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series. Change is coming to Wendlebury Barrow – and not everyone is happy about it... When the local bus company announces it will be stopping its route through their quaint Cotswold village, the people of Wendlebury Barrow are up in arms. Not least Sophie Sayers, whose driving lessons with her boyfriend Hector get off to a bumpy start. But the locals’ peaceful protests against the decision turn deadly when a body is discovered on the Number 27. No one can work out how a passenger met their demise, let alone how the driver didn’t notice. While the police wait for the post mortem results, Sophie immediately suspects foul play, and launches her own investigation. Can she solve the murder before another passenger is hurt?
The Sophie Sayers Cozy Mysteries 4-6
Author: Debbie Young
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1835618774
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 667
Book Description
Discover the page-turning Sophie Sayers cozy mystery series from Debbie Young 'A cracking example of cozy crime!' - Katie Fforde 'A warm page turner that puts the cosy into cosy mystery' - T A Williams This boxset contains books 4-6 in the Sophie Sayers cozy mystery series Murder at the Well Springtime for Murder Murder at the Mill Murder at the Well While Sophie and her friends celebrate Valentine's Night in The Bluebird, a dead body plummets to the bottom of the village well - and nobody hears it fall. In this close-knit community where everyone knows each other's business, is it possible for anyone to get away with murder? Sophie's about to find out - and to discover some extraordinary secrets about her boyfriend Hector and his family along the way. Springtime for Murder When Bunny Carter, the old lady from the Manor House, is discovered dead in an open grave, Sophie Sayers is sure it’s a case of foul play. But when it comes to suspects, she’s spoiled for choice! Many of the villagers had motive and opportunity but who is to blame? And can Sophie and her boyfriend, village bookseller Hector Munro, stop the killer before they strike again? Murder at the Mill When Sophie Sayers joins a writers' retreat, she's hoping to find inspiration and perhaps a little adventure! Away from her comfort zone and the small village of Wendlebury Barrow, Sophie plans to relax and take stock of her life. But scarcely has the writing course begun when bestselling romantic novelist Marina Milanese disappears on a solo excursion to an old windmill. First on the scene, Sophie is prime suspect for Marina's murder, but when a storm prevents the police from landing on the island to investigate, Sophie must try to solve the crime herself - not easy, when everyone at the retreat has a motive...
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1835618774
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 667
Book Description
Discover the page-turning Sophie Sayers cozy mystery series from Debbie Young 'A cracking example of cozy crime!' - Katie Fforde 'A warm page turner that puts the cosy into cosy mystery' - T A Williams This boxset contains books 4-6 in the Sophie Sayers cozy mystery series Murder at the Well Springtime for Murder Murder at the Mill Murder at the Well While Sophie and her friends celebrate Valentine's Night in The Bluebird, a dead body plummets to the bottom of the village well - and nobody hears it fall. In this close-knit community where everyone knows each other's business, is it possible for anyone to get away with murder? Sophie's about to find out - and to discover some extraordinary secrets about her boyfriend Hector and his family along the way. Springtime for Murder When Bunny Carter, the old lady from the Manor House, is discovered dead in an open grave, Sophie Sayers is sure it’s a case of foul play. But when it comes to suspects, she’s spoiled for choice! Many of the villagers had motive and opportunity but who is to blame? And can Sophie and her boyfriend, village bookseller Hector Munro, stop the killer before they strike again? Murder at the Mill When Sophie Sayers joins a writers' retreat, she's hoping to find inspiration and perhaps a little adventure! Away from her comfort zone and the small village of Wendlebury Barrow, Sophie plans to relax and take stock of her life. But scarcely has the writing course begun when bestselling romantic novelist Marina Milanese disappears on a solo excursion to an old windmill. First on the scene, Sophie is prime suspect for Marina's murder, but when a storm prevents the police from landing on the island to investigate, Sophie must try to solve the crime herself - not easy, when everyone at the retreat has a motive...
Death at the Old Curiosity Shop
Author: Debbie Young
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1835185479
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 247
Book Description
Preorder the start in a BRAND NEW cosy mystery series from Debbie Young A picturesque village. A quaint highstreet... And a murder to solve. Alice's new life is off to a deadly start. When Alice Carroll steps into Curiosity Cottage, a picture-perfect former bric-a-brac shop in the Cotswold Village of Little Pride, she thinks she’s found the perfect place to start the new phase of her life. Freshly separated from her collector long-term boyfriend, she’s excited to embrace her new, minimalist existence. All Alice needs to do is sell off the left-behind stock, and settle in. But the villagers of Little Pride have other ideas, and Alice quickly realises they won’t give up their beloved shop without a fight. Then a dead body is found buried in her neighbour's compost heap, and Alice realises there’s much more to Little Pride, and its residents, than meets the eye. Head for the Cotswolds in this delightful new cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Fiona Leitch, Faith Martin and Agatha Christie. Readers LOVE Debbie Young's delightful mysteries: "A cracking example of cozy crime!" Bestselling author Katie Fforde "An affectionate glimpse of traditional rural English life. The sun shines, the locals gossip, the villagers all come together for the fair. The only problem is a murder. Luckily Sophie is there to solve it. A warm page turner that puts the cosy into cosy mystery. Well worth a read!" Bestselling author T.A. Williams “Warm and cosy, the Sophie Sayers mysteries are full of likeable and eccentric characters inhabiting the idyllic Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, where gossip, intrigue and murder are rife!” Bestselling author Michelle Salter
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1835185479
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 247
Book Description
Preorder the start in a BRAND NEW cosy mystery series from Debbie Young A picturesque village. A quaint highstreet... And a murder to solve. Alice's new life is off to a deadly start. When Alice Carroll steps into Curiosity Cottage, a picture-perfect former bric-a-brac shop in the Cotswold Village of Little Pride, she thinks she’s found the perfect place to start the new phase of her life. Freshly separated from her collector long-term boyfriend, she’s excited to embrace her new, minimalist existence. All Alice needs to do is sell off the left-behind stock, and settle in. But the villagers of Little Pride have other ideas, and Alice quickly realises they won’t give up their beloved shop without a fight. Then a dead body is found buried in her neighbour's compost heap, and Alice realises there’s much more to Little Pride, and its residents, than meets the eye. Head for the Cotswolds in this delightful new cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Fiona Leitch, Faith Martin and Agatha Christie. Readers LOVE Debbie Young's delightful mysteries: "A cracking example of cozy crime!" Bestselling author Katie Fforde "An affectionate glimpse of traditional rural English life. The sun shines, the locals gossip, the villagers all come together for the fair. The only problem is a murder. Luckily Sophie is there to solve it. A warm page turner that puts the cosy into cosy mystery. Well worth a read!" Bestselling author T.A. Williams “Warm and cosy, the Sophie Sayers mysteries are full of likeable and eccentric characters inhabiting the idyllic Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, where gossip, intrigue and murder are rife!” Bestselling author Michelle Salter
Murder Lost and Found
Author: Debbie Young
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1804831158
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 211
Book Description
"A cracking example of cozy crime!" Bestselling author Katie Fforde Sophie Sayers is ready for a glorious summer, but when a dead body is found in the village school's lost property cupboard the summer holidays take an unexpected turn. Even more shocking is when the body suddenly goes missing! The police think the villagers are mistaken and without a body, refuse to investigate.... But with the village school facing the threat of closure, Sophie is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. But first she needs to find out who the dead person is, before she can start to find the killer! Perfect for fans of M C Beaton's Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series. Readers LOVE Debbie Young! "I have just finished Best Murder in Show, and I just could not put it down. A totally enthralling read from cover to cover. Very well written.” – Bryan Stace, South Africa. “Sophie Sayers is the perfect antidote to these difficult times. A Cotswold version of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.” – Sue Myers “What a great series of books, funny, interesting characters and good stories. Perfect for a winter’s evening, curled up by the fire.” Mrs Glenda T Barnett via Amazon. “I just read your Sophie Sayers novels. I loved them. The characters were very likeable and I enjoyed getting to know them. I can’t wait for the next installment.” – Caroline Burston via Facebook “Thank you for the gift that is Sophie Sayers. These books have been my lifeline to home over the last year especially.” – Laura Bonnici, expat living in Malta
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1804831158
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 211
Book Description
"A cracking example of cozy crime!" Bestselling author Katie Fforde Sophie Sayers is ready for a glorious summer, but when a dead body is found in the village school's lost property cupboard the summer holidays take an unexpected turn. Even more shocking is when the body suddenly goes missing! The police think the villagers are mistaken and without a body, refuse to investigate.... But with the village school facing the threat of closure, Sophie is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. But first she needs to find out who the dead person is, before she can start to find the killer! Perfect for fans of M C Beaton's Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series. Readers LOVE Debbie Young! "I have just finished Best Murder in Show, and I just could not put it down. A totally enthralling read from cover to cover. Very well written.” – Bryan Stace, South Africa. “Sophie Sayers is the perfect antidote to these difficult times. A Cotswold version of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.” – Sue Myers “What a great series of books, funny, interesting characters and good stories. Perfect for a winter’s evening, curled up by the fire.” Mrs Glenda T Barnett via Amazon. “I just read your Sophie Sayers novels. I loved them. The characters were very likeable and I enjoyed getting to know them. I can’t wait for the next installment.” – Caroline Burston via Facebook “Thank you for the gift that is Sophie Sayers. These books have been my lifeline to home over the last year especially.” – Laura Bonnici, expat living in Malta
The Sophie Sayers Cozy Mysteries 1-3
Author: Debbie Young
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1835618758
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 708
Book Description
Discover the page-turning Sophie Sayers cozy mystery series from Debbie Young 'A cracking example of cozy crime!' - Katie Fforde 'A warm page turner that puts the cosy into cosy mystery' - T A Williams This boxset contains the first three books in the Sophie Sayers cozy mystery series Best Murder in Show Murder at the Vicarage Murder in the Manger Best Murder in Show When amateur writer Sophie Sayers inherits a cottage in the sleepy English Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, she's hoping for a fresh start and a chance to finally pursue her dream of becoming a writer... What she gets instead is a dead body found on a carnival float, an extraordinary assortment of suspects, and a murder to solve! But who might be to blame...? Murder at the Vicarage Just when Sophie Sayers is starting to feel at home in the Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, a fierce new vicar arrives, quickly offending her and everyone else in the close community! But when a body turns up buried beneath the vicar’s bonfire Sophie knows this case is much hotter than she thought! Murder in the Manger It’s a time for goodwill to all men, but when Sophie Sayers’ plans for a cozy English country Christmas are interrupted by the arrival of her ex-boyfriend, her troubles are only just beginning. Before long, the whole village stands accused of murder! Damian says he’s come to direct the village Nativity play, but Sophie thinks he’s up to no good. What are those noises coming from his van? Who is the stranger lurking in the shadows? And whose baby, abandoned in the manger, disappears in plain sight?
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1835618758
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 708
Book Description
Discover the page-turning Sophie Sayers cozy mystery series from Debbie Young 'A cracking example of cozy crime!' - Katie Fforde 'A warm page turner that puts the cosy into cosy mystery' - T A Williams This boxset contains the first three books in the Sophie Sayers cozy mystery series Best Murder in Show Murder at the Vicarage Murder in the Manger Best Murder in Show When amateur writer Sophie Sayers inherits a cottage in the sleepy English Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, she's hoping for a fresh start and a chance to finally pursue her dream of becoming a writer... What she gets instead is a dead body found on a carnival float, an extraordinary assortment of suspects, and a murder to solve! But who might be to blame...? Murder at the Vicarage Just when Sophie Sayers is starting to feel at home in the Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, a fierce new vicar arrives, quickly offending her and everyone else in the close community! But when a body turns up buried beneath the vicar’s bonfire Sophie knows this case is much hotter than she thought! Murder in the Manger It’s a time for goodwill to all men, but when Sophie Sayers’ plans for a cozy English country Christmas are interrupted by the arrival of her ex-boyfriend, her troubles are only just beginning. Before long, the whole village stands accused of murder! Damian says he’s come to direct the village Nativity play, but Sophie thinks he’s up to no good. What are those noises coming from his van? Who is the stranger lurking in the shadows? And whose baby, abandoned in the manger, disappears in plain sight?
The Gemma Lamb Cozy Mysteries 1-3
Author: Debbie Young
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1835618731
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 725
Book Description
Discover the Page-Turning Cozy Mystery series from Debbie Young A cracking example of cozy crime!' Katie Fforde This boxset contains the first 3 books in the Gemma Lamb cozy mystery series Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's Sinister Stranger at St Bride's Wicked Whispers at St Brides's Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's When Gemma Lamb takes a job at a quirky English girls’ boarding school, she believes she’s found the perfect escape route from her controlling boyfriend – until she discovers the rest of the staff are hiding sinister secrets. Even McPhee, the school cat, is leading a double life. Sinister Stranger at St Bride's When an American stranger turns up claiming to be the rightful owner of the school’s magnificent country estate it could spell trouble for everyone at St Bride’s. Who will uncover this stranger's secrets and save St Bride's? Wicked Whispers at St Brides's Gemma Lamb is ready for an uneventful term at St Bride’s, she’s had enough of dastardly deeds and sinister strangers. However, she’s barely back at school before the staff and students are up to their usual quirky antics. It’s all a bit much and Gemma begins to think she’s had enough, until a familiar face appears and she must rethink everything.
Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd
ISBN: 1835618731
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 725
Book Description
Discover the Page-Turning Cozy Mystery series from Debbie Young A cracking example of cozy crime!' Katie Fforde This boxset contains the first 3 books in the Gemma Lamb cozy mystery series Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's Sinister Stranger at St Bride's Wicked Whispers at St Brides's Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's When Gemma Lamb takes a job at a quirky English girls’ boarding school, she believes she’s found the perfect escape route from her controlling boyfriend – until she discovers the rest of the staff are hiding sinister secrets. Even McPhee, the school cat, is leading a double life. Sinister Stranger at St Bride's When an American stranger turns up claiming to be the rightful owner of the school’s magnificent country estate it could spell trouble for everyone at St Bride’s. Who will uncover this stranger's secrets and save St Bride's? Wicked Whispers at St Brides's Gemma Lamb is ready for an uneventful term at St Bride’s, she’s had enough of dastardly deeds and sinister strangers. However, she’s barely back at school before the staff and students are up to their usual quirky antics. It’s all a bit much and Gemma begins to think she’s had enough, until a familiar face appears and she must rethink everything.
Body or the Soul?
Author: Frank A. Abbott
Publisher: McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP
ISBN: 0773599177
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 376
Book Description
In the two centuries before the Quiet Revolution, the people of Quebec exercised a higher degree of independence from the Catholic Church than is often presumed. Investigating rural Quebec from the mid-eighteenth century to the turn of the twentieth, Frank Abbott argues convincingly that the obligations and priorities of the Church did not unswervingly rule the lives of its parishioners. The Body or the Soul? is a history of religious and cultural life in the parish of St-Joseph-de-Beauce. Drawing from their pastors' detailed annual reports to the archbishops of Quebec, St-Joseph’s parish registers, contemporary accounts, government censuses, and the largely unexplored oral testimony on rural life and culture found in the Archives de folklore et ethnologie at Université Laval, Abbott assesses the nature and degree of influence and control that the church exerted over the everyday lives of a rural Quebec community. He examines the telling details found in church building projects, the relationships between clergy and parishioners, attendance at Sunday mass and catechism classes, reception of communion, the persistence of what the Church termed “superstition,” traditional customs of sociability, and the degree of control that the Church exerted over the community’s social and sexual behaviour. Rich with primary sources, The Body or the Soul? reveals the tensions between Catholicism’s place in people’s lives and the independent spirit of a vigorous popular culture.
Publisher: McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP
ISBN: 0773599177
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 376
Book Description
In the two centuries before the Quiet Revolution, the people of Quebec exercised a higher degree of independence from the Catholic Church than is often presumed. Investigating rural Quebec from the mid-eighteenth century to the turn of the twentieth, Frank Abbott argues convincingly that the obligations and priorities of the Church did not unswervingly rule the lives of its parishioners. The Body or the Soul? is a history of religious and cultural life in the parish of St-Joseph-de-Beauce. Drawing from their pastors' detailed annual reports to the archbishops of Quebec, St-Joseph’s parish registers, contemporary accounts, government censuses, and the largely unexplored oral testimony on rural life and culture found in the Archives de folklore et ethnologie at Université Laval, Abbott assesses the nature and degree of influence and control that the church exerted over the everyday lives of a rural Quebec community. He examines the telling details found in church building projects, the relationships between clergy and parishioners, attendance at Sunday mass and catechism classes, reception of communion, the persistence of what the Church termed “superstition,” traditional customs of sociability, and the degree of control that the Church exerted over the community’s social and sexual behaviour. Rich with primary sources, The Body or the Soul? reveals the tensions between Catholicism’s place in people’s lives and the independent spirit of a vigorous popular culture.