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Agnes of God
A nun. A dead baby. An arrest. And now, if the court-appointed psychiatrist found her sane, a long, sensational trial. But Dr. Martha Livingston knew it was more complicated than that. How did you judge a twenty-one-year-old girl who wasn't sure where babies came from? Who didn't even remember having one . . . or what happened to him? Especially when a strong-willed Mother Superior is battling you every step of the way - and your own searing memories of a similar tragedy threaten to make you lose whatever objectivity you still possess.
221 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
78 people want to read
About the author
Leonore Fleischer
82 books30 followersLeonore Fleischer has written more than fifty novelizations of films. She and her five cats live in Upstate New York.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 24, 2020
"Las almas perturbadas recurrían con mayor frecuencia a la psiquiatría, el alcohol, las drogas o el sexo que a Dios."
"Era el antiguo conflicto entre la ciencia y la religión; y la ciencia, cuando la religión tenía tanto poder político, siempre acababa perdiendo sus aliados."
"Algunas personas confiaban en la ciencia, y otras en Dios, pero en el fondo todos buscaban lo mismo, las mismas respuestas a las mismas preguntas. Algunos hacen experimentos, otros rezan; las respuestas a veces llegan, y otras veces no."
"Era el antiguo conflicto entre la ciencia y la religión; y la ciencia, cuando la religión tenía tanto poder político, siempre acababa perdiendo sus aliados."
"Algunas personas confiaban en la ciencia, y otras en Dios, pero en el fondo todos buscaban lo mismo, las mismas respuestas a las mismas preguntas. Algunos hacen experimentos, otros rezan; las respuestas a veces llegan, y otras veces no."
December 7, 2023
Un libro corto pero que me ha hecho experimentar unos sentimientos totalmente extraños y ajenos a mi persona. El enfrentamiento directo entre la Fe y la Ciencia que dan lugar a esta novela maravillosa que contiene tanto un final abierto como cerrado. Me ha tocado el corazón.
“Ya no habla con nadie-dijo la madre Miriam Ruth con voz inexpresiva-. Y ha dejado de cantar”.
“Ya no habla con nadie-dijo la madre Miriam Ruth con voz inexpresiva-. Y ha dejado de cantar”.
June 4, 2025
I just listened to the play - have seen a live production and the film. The resolution of what happened to the baby takes the story out of the realm of religious myth, but I was never satisfied that we do not learn who fathered the baby. The assumption is that a priest was responsible - given what we know today about sexual abuse and the priesthood this seems all the more likely. I have never liked the fact that the poor abused nun is never given a chance to heal. Kristi & Abby Tabby
March 15, 2018
I saw the movie when it originally came out, and the book is based on that screenplay, which was, in turn, based on the play. It was a touching and thought provoking story, and well told.
September 10, 2019
Another novelization of a movie I saw on tv and thought I should read. Nuns and dead babies make for compelling stories i guess.
August 14, 2020
Interesting plot; poorly resolved
May 20, 2024
I played Agnes in 2016 - this story still resonates within my soul. I am forever changed because of this piece.
October 27, 2025
Well written story of a nun in trouble, which 15 year old me enjoyed.
September 19, 2011
I had mixed feelings about this book when I started to read it. I remember my parents having watched the movie on tv when I was young. I hadn't been very interested in it at the time, but now, as an adult, I thought it would be interesting. When I actually picked the book up and realized that it was based on the movie and not the other way around, I had my misgivings. I didn't think the quality of the writing would be up to par. As a rule, I prefer movies to be based on books, and in that case the books are usually better than the cinematographic adaptation. Nevertheless, I read this book and enjoyed it. The writing, though not superb, was effective enough in relaying the events, feelings, and background information needed to understand and enjoy the story.
The plot itself is very interesting. I like the fact that it is set in the province of Quebec. It is not often that I get to read a story that takes place in a setting I am familiar with.
The three main characters (the nun accused of manslaughter for killing her newborn child, the psychiatrist who has to determine wether she is sane enough to stand trial, and the mother superior who wishes to protect the young nun from the wicked outside world) are well developed and believable. Perhaps Sister Agnes would seem too naive to be believable and authentic, if I didn't know someone who she reminds me of very much. The descriptions of her facial expressions along with the things she says create a fascinating character.
The psychiatrist, Martha Livingston, goes beyond just trying to establish the girls' sanity to actually trying to help her. Of course, this is because Dr. Livingston has her own issues with convents and the Catholic Church, that she has to overcome. Although she is very effective in her treatment of Sister Agnes, I felt that these parts of the book were rushed through a bit. Things fit into place just a little too easily, but I suppose this was because Dr. Livingston was pressed for time by the judge, the prosecution and Agnes's defense attorney.
Mother Superior was another interesting character with secrets of her own that I was surprised to discover. As her character is developed, we move away from the serene stereotype of what a nun is, and at times, the reader is actually lead to wonder if it was she who in fact strangled the baby.
The outcome of the book is satisfying, even though there are still so many questions left unanswered. Even though Dr. Livingston is a psychiatrist, not a detective, the fact that she begins her own little investigation (at one point she goes snooping in the convent archives) leads the reader to think that she will unravel the whole mystery. But she comes short of that goal, which is a bit disappointing.
In all, this was an okay book to read. I guess I liked it, but I do feel that there was a lot missing, probably due to the fact that it was based on a movie. If it had been a novel first, I think we would have gotten a little more description, a little more meat on the bones. I would be very interested in reading the original play, which had only three characters and nothing but chairs, a table, and an ashtray as props.
The plot itself is very interesting. I like the fact that it is set in the province of Quebec. It is not often that I get to read a story that takes place in a setting I am familiar with.
The three main characters (the nun accused of manslaughter for killing her newborn child, the psychiatrist who has to determine wether she is sane enough to stand trial, and the mother superior who wishes to protect the young nun from the wicked outside world) are well developed and believable. Perhaps Sister Agnes would seem too naive to be believable and authentic, if I didn't know someone who she reminds me of very much. The descriptions of her facial expressions along with the things she says create a fascinating character.
The psychiatrist, Martha Livingston, goes beyond just trying to establish the girls' sanity to actually trying to help her. Of course, this is because Dr. Livingston has her own issues with convents and the Catholic Church, that she has to overcome. Although she is very effective in her treatment of Sister Agnes, I felt that these parts of the book were rushed through a bit. Things fit into place just a little too easily, but I suppose this was because Dr. Livingston was pressed for time by the judge, the prosecution and Agnes's defense attorney.
Mother Superior was another interesting character with secrets of her own that I was surprised to discover. As her character is developed, we move away from the serene stereotype of what a nun is, and at times, the reader is actually lead to wonder if it was she who in fact strangled the baby.
The outcome of the book is satisfying, even though there are still so many questions left unanswered. Even though Dr. Livingston is a psychiatrist, not a detective, the fact that she begins her own little investigation (at one point she goes snooping in the convent archives) leads the reader to think that she will unravel the whole mystery. But she comes short of that goal, which is a bit disappointing.
In all, this was an okay book to read. I guess I liked it, but I do feel that there was a lot missing, probably due to the fact that it was based on a movie. If it had been a novel first, I think we would have gotten a little more description, a little more meat on the bones. I would be very interested in reading the original play, which had only three characters and nothing but chairs, a table, and an ashtray as props.
October 23, 2011
When a dead newborn is found, wrapped in bloody sheets, in the bedroom wastebasket of a young novitiate, psychiatrist Martha Livingston is called in to determine if the seemingly innocent novice, who knows nothing of sex or birth, is competent enough to stand trial for the murder of the baby. While searching for the answer that her supervisors want, Dr. Livingston finds herself inevitably drawn into searching for the truth about the baby's conception and death. Despite the lack of cooperation that she receives from her own organization and the church, itself, she eventually discovers more than she may have bargained for.
As for the book itself, I enjoyed it. As with any books made into movies, I enjoyed the book better than the movie. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a mystery.
As for the book itself, I enjoyed it. As with any books made into movies, I enjoyed the book better than the movie. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a mystery.
July 11, 2016
I didn’t realize this started out as a play and then a movie. It was a book from a box that my dad had given me, so I thought I’d give it a shot.
It was decent, but nothing spectacular. It felt rather like a Law & Order episode to me, and was probably short enough to actually be one. I was a little disappointed that one of the major mysteries was never solved.
It was decent, but nothing spectacular. It felt rather like a Law & Order episode to me, and was probably short enough to actually be one. I was a little disappointed that one of the major mysteries was never solved.
January 11, 2009
A compelling combination of murder, a miracle, and insanity. Also a good debate about religion and spirituality whether man or God was the father of the baby. At the end you are left to draw our own conclusions
November 19, 2014
This is a novelization of the screenplay, but was fairly well done. I remember seeing the film with Fonda, Bancroft, and Tilly when it came out. I enjoyed it then, and enjoyed reading the book now all these years later.
March 1, 2016
Agnes of God, Leonore Fleischer, PB-B @ 1985, 1987. When a dead newborn is found in a wastebasket in a young novice's bedroom, a psychitrist is called in to find out if she is competent to stand trial, because she knows nothing about sex or birth. Interesting.
January 27, 2008
Catholic nun in convent comes up pregnant. Who is the father is only the first question when a psychiatrist and the mother superior lock horns on Agnes' stability.
August 4, 2008
With (above)
April 13, 2010
A mystery with a really different setting and not the usual character types.
May 30, 2011
again, another blast from the past!
September 12, 2016
Very fast moving, intense book. Excellent read.
October 11, 2014
I remember telling all my friends to read this, and how no one liked it as much as I did.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews