Such Is My Beloved

by Morley Callaghan

One of the great novels of the 1930s, Such Is My Beloved recounts the tragic story of two down-and-out prostitutes and the young priest who aspires to redeem their lives. The novel is at once a compassionate portrait of innocence and idealism, and an emphatic condemnation of a society where the lines between good and evil are essentially blurred.

Such Is My Beloved is widely considered to be Morley Callaghan’s finest novel.

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Canadian Literature, Classics, School, Literature, Historical Fiction

184 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1934

About the author

Edward Morley Callaghan was a Canadian novelist, short story writer, playwright, and TV and radio personality.

Reviews

[Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was on the fence about this story before I began reading it, since I assumed it would mostly focus on the priest and his church duties, a topic which always makes me a bit nervous.

But as the saying goes, do not judge a book by its cover, so must a reader not judge the book too much on the little synopsis provided.

The character of the priest was an intriguing representation of human nature and the duties we adopt in our lifetime.

The secondary characters challenge and enrich the the main character's personality and internal conflict, while at the same time bringing forth their own struggles and sense of loss.

The plot progresses very nicely, without any unnecessary details or attempts to sound poetic, taking away from the story's message.

The writing is absolutely superb. The author has an ease and control over the words he chose to express the characters and plot that the reading experience became one of a kind.

Even though this story was rather short, the impact it had on the reader is tremendous. The representation of human nature, inner conflict and the ideals of duty, religion and right versus wrong have the reader question and contemplate that which we see and experience every day.

It was a great read, which can be finished in one sitting and I recommend it to anyone.

ElliotScribbles

[Lisa of Troy]

This book sounds right up my alley!!!!! A priest decides that he is going to help two prostitutes, but turning lives around is harder than it looks. Will the priest lose himself in the process?

Check out the Wikipedia page for this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Such_Is...

[Esthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The calm, simple and eloquent cadence of the writing is in itself worth while. In the style of Margaret Laurence and other Canadian greats, the craft alone is praiseworthy. The plot involves a young, idealistic priest's attempt to rehabilitate two prostitutes, Ronnie and Midge. With a mixture of admiration and slight revulsion we watch as Father Dowling becomes increasingly enmeshed in the lives of the two young streetwalkers. On one hand, he is advocating much needed social reform of the Catholic Church. He is in fact enacting true Christian virtue by extending compassion, concern and charity whilst withholding judgment. On the other hand, he is fooling himself: He enjoys their company probably for reasons he cannot even admit to himself and makes a fool of himself over it. As he later admits in conversation with the Bishop he has grown to "love them fore themselves" rather than from the distant, spiritual vantage of being concerned with the welfare their souls.

[Thistle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the human vocation Morley Callaghan has manifested in this story. That vocation is this: should that which is precious, that which ignites within the individual purpose and integrity be defended and nourished relentlessly, regardless of publicly held opinion of devotion to this precious treasure? For Father Dowling, this treasure is his love for two prostitutes. Father Dowling feels the goodness and integrity of such a love; yet, as this love is rare, societal skepticism attacks the young priest and he is threatened by scandal. His choice becomes: should he persist in his devotion to helping the girls condemned by their society and even if unable to help, persist in his love for them, in recognition that even this love in its purity preserved is alone of benefit, or accept that for the approval of his parish, he must abandon his involvement with these girls? The conflict exists not because those around Father Dowling condemn this love but because they have no faith that such a love has the potential to exist within the priest. I realize that some readers themselves will also question the nature of Father Dowling's feelings and perhaps this was Callaghan's intention, to leave readers in the role of Father Dowling's peers, also in the position to decide whether the priest was right in his unwavering faith in his love and consequent actions. Reading this short novel, I could not help but think that Father Dowling's predicament is embodied by Dostoyevsky's quote from The Brothers Karamazov:

“Sometimes even if he has to do it alone, and his conduct seems to be crazy, a man must set an example, and so draw men's souls out of their solitude, and spur them to some act of brotherly love, that the great idea may not die.”

[uh8myzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morley Callaghan hit it on the head with this novel, and not a thing has changed since the time of the novel.

I have worked for a few organizations whose function it was to help those in society that are cast off and ignored and as such, I no longer believe in the "good nature" of mankind. So many are caught in a poverty trap with criminal enterprise being the only part of society that extends a hand, and we wonder why some areas have more crime than others. The most painful thing of all and the final straw was having the vaunted and holy United Way pull funding because it was not a "popular" cause to help the poor and youth at risk.

Beyond my own life lessons however (and yes I'm bitter!) Morley Callahan is a hell of a writer and I remember being drawn to this book when I was still a naive Lit student in University. His language is beautiful and his stories interesting, and he was man of courage.

An awesome read.

[Samu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been too busy to read anything but ya-lit and thesis related materil lately. I had completely forgotten what reading a book that wasn't about zombies or the apocalypse but instaed about the characters is like. This book is such a character study. Incredibly refreshing read. It takes more energy to read than the ya-books I've mostly been reading but the reward is that much more. Warmly recommend.

[Mrsgaskell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second novel I’ve read by Morley Callaghan and I enjoyed it much more than A Passion in Rome. Father Stephen Dowling is a young and somewhat naïve priest who encounters two young prostitutes one evening. His original impulse is to pass them by, but then, ashamed and feeling some responsibility for these residents of his parish, he turns back, determined to help them. Unable to find them respectable jobs because of the Depression, he gives Ronnie and Midge money and buys them food and clothing. He becomes increasingly involved with them, visiting them frequently in their hotel room, or looking for them on the streets. When Father Dowling appeals to Mr. Robison, a wealthy and charitable parishioner for help, Mrs. Robison finds out and due to her strong disapproval, Mr. Robison informs the Bishop of this potentially scandalous, although innocent relationship. The girls are arrested and sent away. Father Dowling exemplifies Christian love, the Robisons and the Bishop are hypocrites who place Christian beliefs second to worldly considerations. Father Dowling’s close friend, Charles Stewart, an atheist and communist, sees prostitution simply as a social and economic problem. Only Father Dowling sees these girls as individuals worthy of love. Ultimately Father Dowling loses his sanity but in a moment of clarity he offers it as a sacrifice for the souls of Ronnie and Midge.

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this book one fifth of a star, I would.

I slogged through it for a book club and after finishing it, swearing to my husband about how much I still disliked it, I still am grumpy. Yes, yes, it's good to read books in other genres that you're not used to reading. It's good to branch out to new authors. But still, this is just crap!

I'm understanding more and more now that there's good fiction, and then there's literature. This was lit. I don't like lit I guess. I have an urgency to read so many books as soon as possible as I don't know where life will take me next. Somehow, I feel that wasting my time on this was taking me away from something else that would have been much more enjoyable to me.

Oh well, lots of other people liked it. Maybe read their reviews over mine. Or not, and save yourself some time.

[Melissande · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such is My Beloved puts into question divine love and human love. The protagonist, father Dowling, meets two prostitutes Midge and Ronnie. He develops a kind of love for them that leads to quite the spiral. Is it simply a saviour complex? Has he genuinely fallen in love with them (human love)? I want to argue that this is simply a story of a priest who has fallen in love with two women. If this was indeed so-called divine love (as presented in the book) why is he dedicating his entire reality to Midge and Ronnie specifically, and no one else? He takes little interest in the other prostitutes. Human love and divine love are intertwined here because divine love is human love that has been transcended, the difference is that divine love is more god-driven. Both loves hold a great amount of power, they are merged because they are so strong they can both defy death, meaning a soul can love another soul even after the abruptness of death. Love never has to die. In that sense, it is eternal. The reader can see father Dowling noticing the similarities as he smiles at the couples’ human love he encounters through out the novel. It can be argued that he is noticing the romantic traditional human love couples exude because he himself is developing a human love for Midge and Ronnie. One that lures him into “excessiveness”. Midge and Ronnie become a key piece of his Christian and priestly vocation because his dedication, selflessness, and sacrifices towards them illustrate God’s role and God’s vocation, one of those being to love your neighbor unconditionally. However, one cannot deny that there is a double edged sword here, it is painfully obvious that father Dowling has learned to love Midge and Ronnie, a blooming human love even questionably romantic. He deeply struggles with this because he also has to follow his responsibilities as a priest, there are expectations to uphold for the church, yet he cannot help his affection and empathy for them: he is at great conflict with himself. This is a major turning point in the novel because Dowling is confronted with turmoil and contradictions on love, faith, and his sacrifices. I feel so torn apart by this character, but how could I hate someone that is trying to fight against the status of prostitutes being turned into question marks?

[Not Sarah Connor Writes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book, a forgotten Canadian classic that I hope more people find!

Read the full review on my blog!

[Sophie Manker · Rating 3 out of 5]

annoying saviour complex

[Liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. At the beginning, it really flowed and really captured me. The charming story of a young priest who finds two young prostitutes and tries to help them change their ways. It was really interesting, you saw what others thought and what little joys made the girls happy. But after a while it got a bit repetitive but I guess that was needed to show the desperation. Yet, I think what it was is that there were some unanswered questions at the end. You don't know what truly happens to the girls and that bothered me. Sad what happens to the priest though. Sad sad. Sad. This got to me I guess. The raw emotions and how if someone tries to do something right, their action doesn't always get recognized and respected.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems pretty progressive for the 1930s. I have trouble not being continually jolted by the writing style, where people's expressions and emotions change quite abruptly, and a lot of people 'smile coldly'. The young priest's relationship with the two prostitutes is quite beautiful. A few passages in the book really highlight how, with all the changes that have happened, the problems people have today are essentially the same problems people had seventy years ago - jobs, money, social status, relationships, whether the less fortunate should be assisted by society at large or not, and whether it is insane even to try.

[Nancy Gillies · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a glum little story. I gave the book three stars only because I was intrigued to find out what would happen to the priest who devoted so much of his time with two prostitutes - not to mention the gifts and money he regularly gave them. His behaviour seemed foolish and perhaps a bit arrogant, despite his good intentions. While it was easy to appreciate how difficult life was for many of the characters, especially as they were facing the harsh times of the Great Depression, there really wasn't a single sympathetic character in the book. If this is viewed as Callaghan's best work, I think it will be a while before I read another.

[Sheila Heuvel-Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Callaghan is my mother's favourite author; for many years, we've argued about his worth. I decided to give him a try again, thinking that perhaps age would have opened a few doors. I was wrong. The POV changes three times in the first few pages. The sentence structure is repetitive. The plot is predictable. Perhaps the subject matter was sufficiently scandalous to be intriguing when the book was first published, but now it just seems the author dipped his foot into the topic and found it too cold to immerse himself fully.

[Paula Dembeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of two prostitutes who are befriended by a Catholic priest and the tragic outcomes of that man’s single minded attempt to redeem their lives.

This is a novel about innocence, idealism and compassion, and also about the tendency of society unable to deal with nuance, to have a strict and narrow view of good and evil, putting it in boxes in which it must be either black or white.

One of Callahan's best novels.

[1.1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really know what to expect of Callaghan, but my expectations were defied. I really expected a dismal, stolid morality tale but what I got was more of a Great Depresion-era relic about love and other highfalutin ideals. The narrative was good but the ending is just short of satisfying: no disrespect to the work, but you see it coming.

[JayVee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this for my Canadian Lit class. As far as school reading goes, especially for this class in particular, it wasn't that bad. In fact, there were times when I was strangely drawn to it. I was curious as to what would happen to the three main characters and where their stories would go. I'm sad that we didn't really get much resolution from any of them.

[emily | pagewraith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really can't tell if I liked this one or not! The writing style felt so detached that it was hard to be emotionally involved, and I could never tell if I really liked or agreed with any of the characters. I cared about what happened to Ronnie and Midge, and maybe also Father Dowling by the end, though.

[Wynter Cowan · Rating 1 out of 5]

ended up being better than I had expected. It was wrote very simply and at times I wondered if the author knew a lot of words because of how often he repeated some words. The story remained unresolved, which I didn’t love, and I feel that the plot was developed too fast. Not a terrible book, but there’s a reason people don’t know it. 3/10

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but as far as Morley Callaghan goes I much preferred his book called 'That Summer in Paris'.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always forget how good Morley Callahan is/was.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Callaghan's characters are well-developed allowing us to understand where even the vilest of characters are coming from. A very easy read with a narrative style that flows well.

[Terry Southard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 really.

[Leila Khalilov · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would've been better if the ending wasn't revealed in the intro..

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could barely put it down.

[Czarny Pies · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 points on the Canadian scale.
The edition that I read contains an outstanding introduction by the famous Canadian author Sinclair Ross. If you are reading this edition, you can skip this review which in any event, is written primarily to help me record my own thoughts on the work.
Published in 1933, Morley Callaghan's "Such is My Beloved" is with good reason acknowledged to be a Canadian classic. Its good qualities have made it a fixture on the "CanLit" courses which for the last 50 years have been included on the English literature programmes in our country's universities.
The first point in favour of "Such is My Beloved" is that the list of possible choices from the 1930s was quite limited. Its second merit which is always important in deciding what to include in an undergraduate programme is that it is short. It is also well-written or at least concise and clear. Finally it addresses the question of whether communism or Christianity held the solution to our social problems which as a major debating point in the 1930s'.
For me he greatest merit of "Such is My Beloved" is its authenticity. It is about the spiritual crisis of a young Priest, Father Stephen Dowling whose personality traits are credible to any person who has been a practising Catholic over a number of decades. Father Dowling has very pure intentions but is very naive and fails to recognize the risks he is exposing himself to. He tries to do too much. Father Dowling decides to try to redeem two young prostitutes. His model is Jesus who saw this as an important part of his mission and who said famously to the religious hypocrites: "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you." (Matthew 21:31)
Father Dowling is right to want to save the souls of the girls but many people believe that frequenting prostitutes is something that is normally done only by those who are physically attracted to them. Father Dowling hopes that if he can find employment for them that they will reform themselves. He takes them to see a prominent parishioner whom he believes has the influence to find jobs for them. The parishioner understands that Father Dowling has honorable intentions but is outraged that the prostitutes were brought to his home. The irate parishioner contacts the bishop and Father Dowling is made to pay a severe price for his reckless behaviour.
To a practicing Catholic I find that Callaghan tells the story in an authentic manner. It reminded me of the time that a young priest arrived in my parish and discovered that none of the altar servers came from our group of First Nations parishioners. His decision to correct this injustice cause a considerable hubbub. The young priest was of course right in principle but he underestimated the strength of his opposition and was quickly transferred to another parish.
Callaghan fairly presents the foolhardy nature of Father Dowling's actions while still insisting that the duty of the church is to save all souls even those of prostitutes. At the same time Callaghan fairly presents those who react against him when he crosses the line separating acceptable from unacceptable actions.
Finally Callaghan introduces a communist character to present the idea that prostitution is simply the consequence of poverty and that the only way to fight it is to reorganize society in a way that is economically just. Father Dowling argues back that the role of the church is to save the souls of individuals not to redress the economic injustices inflicted on certain social classes.
"Such is my Beloved" certainly belongs on the CanLit curriculum. It very accurately portrays the religious practices and political debate of the 1930's. The tale is well told. The characters are plausible and the events unfold in a logical fashion. Canadian readers should certainly read
My problem is situating "Such is My Beloved" for the non-Canadian public. In his fine introduction, Sinclair Ross points out similarities between the novel and certain themes that appeared in the works of Evelyn Waugh that appeared well after "Such is My Beloved" was publishe. I do not think however that either author was influenced by the other. I find that its plot, dramatic conflicts and description of the Catholic milieu, "Such is My Beloved" is extremely close to "The Diary of a Country Priest" which was published two years later in French. Again I find it hard to believe that either of the two authors influenced the other. All I can say is that "Such is My Beloved" is an excellent work that represents Catholic thinking very well for the period before the Second World War.

[Moniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Are there some places where a priest must not go, some people that must not be touched?"

"It looks brighter on other nights when the barber shop is lit up."

Bardzo cieszyłam się na zapoznanie się z prozą Callaghana, dużo o nim słyszałam przez... cóż, wspólnych przyjaciół, o ile tak można nazwać czytanie opowieści o walce Callaghana i Hemingwaya sędziowanej przez Scotta Fitzgeralda. Trudno było zdobyć dostęp do jakiejkolwiek jego pracy, ale w końcu udało mi się natknąć na "Such Is My Beloved", odstawiłam powieść na spokojniejszy moment i... chyba nie mogłam zrobić sobie lepszego wstępu do twórczości tego autora.

"Such Is My Beloved" opowiada historię młodego katolickiego księdza, często wyrażającego kontrowersyjne opinie, lecz bardzo lubionego przez swoich parafian, który pewnego wieczoru napotyka na swojej drodze dwie dość charyzmatyczne prostytutki; budzą w nim pewne uczucie ciepła, wiary i potrzeby pomocy.

W posłowie przeczytałam, że Callaghan często poruszał w swoich książkach tematy społeczne, i pasuje mi do tej powieści; autor poruszył tu nie tylko temat prostytucji jako zjawiska społecznego, ale naturalnie przeszedł również do problemu rozwarstwienia klasowego społeczeństwa, też trochę do sądownictwa, nowych idei społecznych, małżeństw pomiędzy osobami różnych religii. Przedstawił też bardzo barwnie społeczność miasta - miejsca akcji, przedstawił wiele postaci, które mimo swoich maleńkich ról, wchodziły w ten obraz idealnie jak elementy układanki. Podobał mi się obraz miasta, podobał mi się hotel oświetlony lampami z salonu fryzjerskiego. Podobały mi się rozmowy na schodach rezydencji i w mieszkaniu Charliego. Podobały mi się korytarze hotelu. I bardzo cieszy mnie to, że Callaghan tak porządnie zabrał się w tej powieści za sam wątek moralności; jestem osobą wierzącą, ale osobą wierzącą myślącą, cały czas, mam swoje wątpliwości, a tutaj zostały one zaadresowane, została przedstawiona zmiana myślenia księdza i budząca się w nim krytyka. Momenty w konfesjonale były niesamowite.

Muszę też pochwalić postacie Callaghana, większość z nich była bardzo charyzmatyczna i barwna, wydaje mi się, że autor nie zmarnował w tej książce żadnej istoty ludzkiej?? Najwięcej emocji wzbudzały we mnie postacie księdza Dowlinga, Ronnie, Midge, Lou, Charliego, i bardzo pozytywnie zaskoczył mnie na koniec biskup. Midge i Ronnie - ogromnie poruszające. Max Perkins mówił coś o tym w kontekście "Wielkiego Gatsby'ego" Fitzgeralda, jak... postaci, które autor przedstawia słowami, powinniśmy bez problemu rozpoznać, gdyby stanęły przed nami w życiu. Myślę, że rozpoznałabym dziewczyny. Bardzo się do nich przywiązałam, a ostatnia scena Midge doprowadziła mnie do łez, takich pod kołdrą, późną nocą.

Ta historia ogromnie mnie wciągnęła, wzruszyła i dała mi takie małe poczucie nadziei; a powracający ciągle cytat z "Pieśni nad pieśniami" zrobił mi na koniec coś, co trudno jest mi teraz określić jednym słowem, trochę zbladłam; uderzyło mnie to. Pewnie, że chciałam czegoś więcej od tego zakończenia, ale... to decyzja autora i ją rozumiem. Te zakończenie było... dziwne, ale szczere, doceniam to.

Bardzo podobała mi się ta książka. Może chciałabym, żeby była bardziej rozwinięta, ale dowiedziałam się, że to taki już styl Callaghana, a poza tym to i tak naprawdę świetnie mu wyszło. Czuję się jak najbardziej usatysfakcjonowana.

Proszę, jeśli kiedykolwiek natkniecie się na Morleya Callaghana, dajcie mu szansę, z moją recenzją z tyłu głowy.

[Michael Coutu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came into this book armed only with the plot blurb; a young priest becomes dedicated to helping two young prostitutes. I expected Such is My Beloved to go one of two ways: either the priest would become corrupted, or his boundless naivete would be exposed as a criticism of religious social hopes.

I was wrong. Father Dowling genuinely loves these young women without reservation, as the final paragraph makes clear:

There was a peace within him as he watched the calm, eternal water swelling darkly against the one faint streak of light, the cold night light on the skyline. High in the sky three stars were out. His love seemed suddenly to be as steadfast as those stars, as wide as the water, and still flowing within him like the cold smooth waves still rolling on the shore. (Ch 25)

Throughout the novel, the prostitutes are discussed as examples of some wider principle. The priest's communist friend takes them to be the result of an economic problem, while a prominent church lady takes an almost eugenicist view.

Later in the story, a bishop is going through a Pilate moment and tries to sort out if the priest has done something wrong, and he comes around to thinking about the above issue:

His love for them became too concrete. How could it become too concrete? From the general to the particular, the conception expressed in the image.” It seemed to become a kind of philosophical problem for the Bishop and he was groping for an abstract statement. “From the word to the flesh, the word made flesh, from the general to the particular, the word made flesh, no, no, nonsense…then the general made concrete…no, no.” But the Bishop could not meditate at all now and had become angry with himself. (Ch 22)

The prostitutes are not just an example of a general principle; as the bishop prevents himself from realizing, they are the general made concrete. The flesh made word.

The prose, except in a handful of paragraphs, is fine. I'm giving the book four stars because it has been a long time since I read a book with an unironic, straightforward moral view of the world. This was a delightful read.

[Rei Sison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just opens the readers eyes to the Christian Imagination, and the holes within it. (Specifically, the catholic way of living that is very doctrinal/faith based) - compared to other faiths. Knowing and believing in God is over-emphasized that old-testament laws are overshadowed... and Faith in Jesus alone, as well as the sacraments.. are the path to salvation.
The church became almost ignorant to good deeds... as spreading the knowledge of God to those they deemed worthy of forgiveness and whom accepted Christ as their saviour, seemed the most important to them. They became blind from the fact that geographical struggles and economic struggles plays huge roles on the individuals identities - including, of course, religious affiliations-

You've all read the book or at least the synopsis...
Great depression - 2 girls desperate to survive turned to prostitution, and a priest.. the only person to turn to them not for their services..

In a way, the priest, Father Dowling, is almost comparable to Jesus. For his uncompounded love no matter the identity.. as well as extreme generosity
There are so many themes presented in this book.. the most apparent being love (both divine and humanly) - keep an eye to that during your read, and you'll fully understand the difference.

A great short read especially when you're into religion, as it obviously plays a big part to the story.