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The Habit: A History of the Clothing of Catholic Nuns
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You Are Here: Books About Antiques > Antique Clothes > Item 35 of 105
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$8.89
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Available from Amazon
Price Last Updated : 6-25-2008
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Features
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Image April 19, 2005
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385505892
ISBN-13: 978-0385505895
Product Dimensions:
8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
From Publishers Weekly
Even though relatively few Catholic nuns actually wear the distinctive uniforms today, the habit still fascinates and disconcerts Catholics and non-Catholics alike. This "wearable sacramental" sums up much about Catholic spirituality and history, and Kuhns does a workmanlike job of taking readers back to the habit's early origins, through its myriad medieval variations and up to its conflicted present. Along the way we are reminded of the many roles that religious women have played in the development of Catholicism and of Western society, roles that were reflected in the clothing they wore, from peasant simplicity to elaborate creations of silk. Kuhns pays particular attention to the complex interplay between social class and the life of the cloister-different orders drew their membership from distinct social strata. Unfortunately, aside from a deftly written introductory chapter that examines the habit's contemporary fascination, much of the book sorts dutifully through too much history, without a clear story line to keep the reader's interest. [] Kuhns is strangely neutral on the question, still hotly debated, of whether the habit is a liberating or oppressive force today. This inconclusive conclusion is something of a letdown in a book about Christianity's most dramatic and durable fashion statement.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Review
"…Kuhns does a workman-like job of taking readers back to the habit's early origins, through its myriad medieval variations and up to its conflicted present."
--Publisher’s Weekly
"The author evenhandedly offers historical context and careful explanations . . . This readable overview is recommended for public and academic libraries."
--Library Journal
"A revelatory work that 'opens the nun’s closet doors for the first time,' then scans the contents for all their historical and symbolic associations."
--Kirkus Reviews
"…the door to the sister's closet has swung open"
--Buffalo News
"…Elizabeth Kuhns' book about the history and culture of the habit is a sheer delight, wonderfully informative…."
--The Catholic Review
"An original, informative and engaging work…."
--The Catholic Advocate
"Fascinating details fill the book…."
--Our Sunday Visitor
"A welcome and important contribution to the literature on a sensitive subject that often inspires more heat than light."
--Margaret Susan Thompson, Professor of History, Syracuse University
"Elizabeth Kuhns’ readable account chronicles the development of the habit, while pointing to the important witness of the veil in the future. Bravo."
--Raymond Arroyo, News Director, EWTNews
From the Hardcover edition.
Reader Reviews
This review is from: The Habit: A History of the Clothing of Catholic Nuns (Hardcover)
If you are interested in the historical clothing and traditions of Catholic religious women, this book is certainly worth having, and the author does a better job of getting things right than some reviewers are willing to admit. (One reviewer chides that the woman on the cover is not a nun but a 'sister', but if she had read the forward, she'd know that the author DID discuss the distinctions while explaining that she would, for the purposes of narrative, use the terms 'nun' and 'sister' interchangably...which is perfectly alright to do, btw.) I have two issues with the book which kept me from really enjoying it. The first is that while she discusses those modern and rapidly growing religious orders (such as the Sisters of Life, the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, the Kentucky Dominicans, the cloistered sisters at the Abbey of Regina Laudis, etc) which have retained or re-introduced a more traditional habit to their order, she does not enhance her narrative with visuals. One would appreciate seeing what these new young nuns LOOK like, as doubtless, they're not still in multi-pleated architectural headpieces and heavy woolen skirts. A few images would have made the whole exercise feel more 'up to date'. And it would be good to see a few modern religious in their more casual wear, too. The second quibble I have is that the author - good and devoted as she is - makes some statements that are much too broad and sweeping to be excused, as in "all mail was censored, and the nuns would even have to ask permission to use a piece of thread". Well, no. While some orders did censor mail - most of them did not, and it would be very interesting to find out which orders did and didn't. I would be willing to bet that those orders that did censor mail have also died out, while orders like Benedictines and Dominicans, which did not censor, did not listen in at private conversations and did not treat their members like idiot children, are still existant and flourishing. And while some very over-controlling or pinch-penny order might have quibbled about a length of thread, most nuns had their own sewing boxes and those personal items such as they needed in order to live life with some dignity! As to the REASON why a sisters and nuns so frequently needed to ask permission to do those things which we modern/civilian women would not think twice of, the system was not so iniquitious as it seems. This communication was what would keep supervisors apprised of the state of the community, of its holdings, its supplies, its mindset, etc. In a community of busy women, each with her own responsibilities, only in such a way could a supervisor such as an abbess, prioress or reverend mother keep good track of her 'flock', still interact with them on a daily and 'usual' basis, and still have a good sense of where they were at and what they each needed. It is, in fact, wiser than it first seems. These are minor quibbles, as I said, but they detracted from my enjoyment of the book. I am hopeful that the author will write a SECOND book of nuns, a compilation of those orders (like those mentioned above and so many more) who are growing rather than dying, who are celebrating their conspicuous consecration rather than shrinking from it and who seem to be vibrant and happy women. The world needs to hear about them, I think.
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The Habit: A History of the Clothing of Catholic Nuns
by Elizabeth Kuhns
Available from Amazon
Price: $8.89
on 6-25-2008
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