John Henry Newman: A Very English Saint by Peter M. Chisnall (review)

NEWMAN STUDIES JOURNAL 92 Dublin Writings by presenting a detailed examination of how Newman drew upon Aristotle’s ethical and rhetorical thought. On a smaller scale, Bottone also traces Cicero’s influence on Newman’s notion of a liberal education. Another contribution, especially significant for today, is the book’s treatment of the social dimension of Newman’s view of university education. Bottone’s analysis provides a solid basis for further development of this very important aspect of university education today. In spite of its overall effectiveness,the book does have some shortcomings. There are a substantial number of sub-theses that, at times, make it difficult to follow the development of the author’s thought. Also,the book is repetitious in places. In terms of the book’s structure,a case could be made for placing chapter four before chapter three. When explaining Newman’s distinction between the direct and indirect ends of a university, Bottone attributes a dualistic interpretation of the relationship between the natural and supernatural to Newman;this does not adequately represent Newman’s understandings of natural and revealed religion and the relationship between the two. The final chapter is a bit disappointing. Bottone offers a very brief and limited analysis of the contemporary situation of university education. Also, in the evaluation of Newman’s Catholic University in Ireland,it would have been helpful to draw upon some of the historical facts and events discussed in chapter one, particularly those that deal with the failure of Newman’s university. Even with these cautions, I would recommend the book to those who wish to reflect more deeply on Newman’s vision of a Catholic university. John R. Connolly Professor Emeritus of Theological Studies Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA John Henry Newman: A Very English Saint. By Peter M.Chisnall. Leominster, England: Gracewing, 2010. Pages: vii + 312. Paper: ISBN 978-0-85244-683-6. $24.95.S Peter M. Chisnall has given the reader a version of Newman’s life along the lines of Ker’s Biography, that is, a narrative of Newman’s life in which Newman himself is allowed to speak, largely through his correspondence. The book is written in nine chapters,each chapter taking a chronological period in Newman’s life,except for the last chapter,which is devoted to placing the cause for Newman’s canonization in the context of his own ideas on sainthood, the cult of the saints, and miracles, and concluding with the process of the cause fromVenerable,to Blessed,to Canonization, the last of which has not, of course, happened as of yet. One of the differences between Chisnall and Ker would be that the former’s biography is about a third of the size of Ker’s, making it more digestible for newcomers to Newman’s life, as well as a refresher for those who have been studying Newman’s life for any number of years. Another major difference would be that, unlike Ker, Chisnall does not offer Newman’s thought as found in his academic writings, with an interesting but brief exception with regard to An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent. Chisnall prefers to approach Newman from a more cultural, sociological, and personal point of view. These points of view may be suggested by Chisnall’s subtitle, A Very English Saint. The author does not offer the reader any characteristics that 93 would define an “Englishman,” perhaps presuming that the reader already knows these. This lack of information could prove disconcerting to a non-British reader. However, the conjecture could be advanced that what Chisnall means by “a very English saint,” is not how he understands Newman’s Englishness in a stereotypical sense,but how Newman was formed over the course of his long life;a formation that he could not escape, as it were. This would be a formation that reached below the surface of what was expected of a middleclass English gentleman, to a depth of connection between Newman and his social environment. Some ready examples might be Newman’s recognition that the Rule of St.Philip Neri would not be useable in an English setting, as it was originally formulated by...