Madeleine Delbrel: A Life Beyond Boundaries
Product Description Who? Madeleine Delbrel (1904-1964), an unconventional Frenchwoman, grew from precocious child to bohemian adolescent and from confirmed atheist to Catholic convert. A woman of great compassion and awareness, she was vigorously involved in the major social, political, cultural, and religious movements of 20th-century France. After her conversion, she founded an experimental community of professional women who lived and worked among the French Communists in the Paris suburb of Ivry-sur-Seine. A true humanitarian with a contemplative spirit, she came to love God intimately in the streets, cafes, subways, and people of Paris. Today Madeleine Delbrel is revered in Europe as both a social activist and a "secular mystic." Her "Cause for Beatification," the first step to sainthood, is currently under study in Rome. From Publishers Weekly In his first book, a cheery account of the life of a seemingly benign Catholic activist currently under consideration for sainthood, Mann never makes clear what was special about her. Delbrel did some unusual things in her life, but almost everything is presented in exactly the same breezy style, making it hard to know what is supposed to be significant. When Delbrel was 19, her father, whom she adored, went blind because of diabetes (misdiagnosed as venereal disease, according to Mann) and began abusing his wife verbally and physically. At more or less the same time, Delbrel's fiance dumped her to become a priest and Delbrel (who is described here simply as "crushed" by these events) was forcibly committed to a psychiatric hospital. Although as a young woman she was highly critical of religion, Delbrel later found God, apparently through her friendship with "a party of high-spirited people" whose acquaintance she made at a dance hall. Eventually she and two friends took up the offer of a pastor to live for free in a house in the Paris suburb Ivry-sur-Seine (which turned out to be a hotbed of Marxism) in exchange for their promise to "live there and simply be present among the poor and working class neighbors," and Delbrel eventually became known for her writing and speeches. Despite the occasional aside about her love of Charlie Chaplin movies and her cutesy gifts to friends, Delbrel remains a cipher here, and Mann's admiring discussion of his subject's patient tolerance of communism (she often gave talks titled "The Communists, My Friends") wears thin. Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Review A fascinating portrait of an extraordinary woman. The story of Madeleine Delbrel's life will inspire all who read it. -- Library Research Associates - Eclectic Book Reviews, May 1997 A well-written and thorough biography. Like Dorothy Day, Madeleine Delbrel lived a spirituality centered on justice and the poor. -- Review for Religious, March 1998 Madeleine's ebullient laughter rings joyfully from each page of this sensitive and insightful biography. -- Review of Religious Research, January 1998 Mann gives us a lively and lovable woman, fulfilling his purpose of a "joyful encounter and liberating experience." -- Sisters Today, March 1999 The biography arrives on a Friday and I read it -- the whole thing -- over the weekend. Fascinating, captivating! -- Western New York Catholic, May 1997, vol. 126 From the Publisher What? "A Life Beyond Boundaries" is the first account of Madeleine Delbrel's life and writings to appear in English. Through this engaging biography you will discover how she faced parental conflict, personal ambition, and severe depression over her own atheism. You will learn about her conversion experience and her practical approach to spirituality; her heroic Resistance work as Minister of Social, Health, and Education Services during the World War II Nazi occupation of Paris; her brave efforts as a woman to challenge and change the injustices of a male-dominated French society; and her amazing role as a layperson in preparing the way for Church renewal and Vatican Council II. This intriguing life story celebrates Madeleine Delbrel's lively wit and humor; her outspoken advocacy for the poor and the oppressed; her daily adventures living in a small Christian community; and her long years of collaboration and friendship with her neighbors -- the French Communists. Why? Madeleine Delbrel defies labels, stereotypes, and easy definitions, which is precisely why she is so fascinating. She will challenge your boundaries and inspire a broader worldview. She will lead you through the mundane where the spirituality of everyday life and the dignity of every person are clearly recognized. You will fall under her tender, lighthearted spell and emerge refreshed and refocused on new priorities...and so much more. From the Author To be the first to read the entire collection of Madeleine Delbrel's unpublished writings, to interview her family and friends, and to undertake all the research of an authorized biographer was a unique privilege. The process of discovering and learning about Madeleine Delbrel was, from start to finish, totally invigorating. This astonishing woman, so energetic and eccentric, and so full of fun and laughter, had consistently turned convention on its ear. Her way of thinking and behaving tended to go beyond the rigidly drawn boundaries that often shape people's lives such as body versus soul, profane versus sacred, action versus contemplation, abnormal versus normal, and them versus us. Throughout her lifetime she had risked taking a more inclusive, holistic approach to reality. In this biography I attempted to recount, step by step, the intriguing journey, the multiple adventures, and the refreshing life and love of Madeleine Delbrel -- a life and love that extended beyond all the familiar, age-old boundaries. Meeting this truly remarkable women, even if only posthumously, was for me a distinct pleasure that had a freeing and lasting effect. To all who read this biography, I wish the same joyful encounter and liberating experience. From the Back Cover Drugs, violence, lawsuits, political prisoners, workers' grievances, hunger and homelessness, Madeleine Delbrel met the entire gamut of human social ills and integrated all these concerns with her day-to-day lived spirituality. So impressive was her spiritual vision and her way of living it out that her "Cause for Beatification," the first step to sainthood, is currently under study in Rome. Although Madeleine Delbrel is widely revered in Europe as both a social activist and the greatest "secular mystic" of our time, this is the first account of her life and writings to appear in English. To take up this life of Madeleine Delbrel is to embark upon a journey of deep faith, compelling hope, and extraordinary love. It is an unforgettable journey that guarantees to enchant, provoke, and inspire. About the Author Charles F. Mann, Ph.D., originally from Gloucester, Mass., earned degrees from the University of Ottawa, the Boston Theological Institute, La Sorbonne, and l'Institut Catholique de Paris. He has worked extensively in Canada, Europe, and the United States as an educator, linguist, translator, and writer of both prose and poetry. He devoted over six years of research in France on this biography. Presently, Dr. Mann conducts advanced research in teaching and linguistics, and tutors in foreign languages at U.C. Berkely. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. (Opening Paragraph) Chapter I Raised Outside All Boundaries Madeleine Delbrel often described herself lightheartedly as a quirk of nature, the byproduct of a genetic potpourri. Early in life, she realized that her parents were rather peculiar and unsuited to each other in every respect. Jules, her father, and Lucille, her mother, were exact opposites. He was large and sturdy; she was petite and frail. He was an extreme nonconformist; she was a prudent conformist. He cared little about what the neighbors said; she cared a great deal. He was politically involved and decidedly leftist; she was politically indifferent, but leaned cautiously to the right. See more
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New World Pr
{"Product Dimensions": "1 x 5.5 x 8.5 inches", "Item Weight": "12 ounces", "Manufacturer": "New World Pr", "Language": "English", "Date First Available": "November 10, 2006"}