Lord Bountiful

by Francis J. Finn

Though written for the young reader it is entertaining enough to hold the interest of any age group. Parents as well as grandparents confess that their willingness to read to the children is an excuse to peruse the novels for their own entertainment. Fr. Finn has a unique style which is irresistible to all. Summary: All the children who thronged Baum Street were unanimously attracted to their hero, Paul Francis, a tall 27 year old gentleman whom they actually knew nothing about. His name, occupation and residence were all a mystery to them. They vied for his attention and were content to call him Lord Bountiful, the name bestowed on him by Joe Dowling. Joe was one of seven children living in poverty in a four room suite with their mother since the disappearance of their father who was missing in military service. Their situation deeply touched Lord Bountiful who was to play a significant role in the welfare of this family. Somehow, Mrs. Dowling had sensed from their first meeting that Paul was sent to them by the Little Flower. The familys ongoing devotion to St. Therese is edifying and proves to be most fruitful. Mrs. Dowling, a devoted mother who cleaned and scrubbed to support her family, had been forced by dire straits to give up her four-year-old twins. Her patient resignation to Gods Holy Will gained for her the virtue of hope and the perseverance to keep going. This book, as most of Fr. Finns works, deals with real life situations and people, teaching valuable lessons and yet it is hilariously entertaining at the same time. A new release from the foremost Catholic writer of fiction for young people, Fr. Finn. Back in print after 75 years, this book provides a wondrous world full of exciting people and great adventure for all boys and girls. Reflecting Catholic life in the early days of the 20th century, the triumphs are always over the forces of evil.

237 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1923

About the author

Father Francis J. Finn, S.J. was born to Irish immigrant parents at St. Louis, Missouri in 1859.

As a boy, Francis was deeply impressed with Cardinal Wiseman’s famous novel of the early Christian martyrs, Fabiola. After that, religion really began to mean something to him. Eleven-year-old Francis was a voracious reader; he read the works of Charles Dickens, devouring Nicholas Nickleby and The Pickwick Papers. From his First Communion at age 12, Francis began to desire to become a Jesuit priest; but then his fervor cooled, his grades dropped, and his vocation might have been lost except for Fr. Charles Coppens. Fr. Coppens urged Francis to apply himself to his Latin, to improve it by using an all-Latin prayerbook, and to read good Catholic books. Fr. Finn credited the saving of his vocation to this advice and to his membership in the Sodality of Our Lady.

After graduating from St. Louis University, he became a Jesuit and was ordained a priest in 1893. He had already begun writing his debut novel Tom Playfair prior to this, as he was assigned to St. Mary s College in Kansas and dealt with unruly boys on a daily basis. He went on to write twenty-seven other books, and his novels for children were very successful. The books contain fun stories, likeable characters and themes that remain current in today's world. Each story conveys an important moral precept. He was much loved by young people, and thousands of them gathered to honor his death in 1928.

Reviews

[Zachary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was interesting for several reasons, but it was not what I would consider a "great" book. Francis Finn's depiction of American society in the early 20th century is intriguing because it is so very different from contemporary society - I doubt, for instance, that many mothers today would trust an unrelated man (someone she had not even previously met) playing with her children.

St. Therese, the Little Flower, plays a mute role in the book, and overall it is a charming picture of Catholic devotion to the Saints. Characterization, though, is exceedingly weak - a common trait among Fr. Finn's stories.

[ShepherdsDelight · Rating 5 out of 5]

86/100 (= 5.1/6) ≈ 5 Stars

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Super story. Not quite the caliber of Tom Playfair and Fairy of the Snows, but so close. Great captivating story!