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The Valley of Vision
Unapologetically feminine but impeccably educated, Kelly is the female voice of traditional Irish Catholicism. Revered within the literary circles of her time, Blanche Mary Kelly has been a soft spoken friend tucked into the pocket of many a housewife ever since. The Valley of Vision is steeped in comforting domestic references nestled within rhyming couplets, but it doesn't shy away from engaging with grander theological themes or raw references to the natural landscape. Her treatment of Old Testament subject matter is deft and enables the reader to engage with the emotional context without a whisper too much detail. This combination against the backdrop of Kelly's phenomenal grasp of English literature, particularly Christian literature, is stunning and visceral.
Kelly's approach to Christianity as a part of the fabric of women's lives makes her instantly accessible to those from within her own Catholic faith and those from outside wishing to gain insight. In this collection, she provides a poetic illustration of the concept of sanctifying grace from her unique perspective.
She uses the fantastic structure of Catholic Orthodoxy to create a descriptive, vivid world on the page and is utterly deserving of the 'deathless praise' she so movingly refers to. Angels, demons and witch children populate her fantasy world. As a reader you will feel simultaneously comforted and homesick for places you may never have been. As one suspects the author must have felt sometimes in her new American home, far from her native Ireland's rainy melancholy shores but still surrounded by the universe of Catholic lore, old faith and a sense of universal purpose.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Kelly's approach to Christianity as a part of the fabric of women's lives makes her instantly accessible to those from within her own Catholic faith and those from outside wishing to gain insight. In this collection, she provides a poetic illustration of the concept of sanctifying grace from her unique perspective.
She uses the fantastic structure of Catholic Orthodoxy to create a descriptive, vivid world on the page and is utterly deserving of the 'deathless praise' she so movingly refers to. Angels, demons and witch children populate her fantasy world. As a reader you will feel simultaneously comforted and homesick for places you may never have been. As one suspects the author must have felt sometimes in her new American home, far from her native Ireland's rainy melancholy shores but still surrounded by the universe of Catholic lore, old faith and a sense of universal purpose.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published August 5, 2015
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January 15, 2026A Book Owned by F. Scott Fitzgerald: https://static-prod.lib.princeton.edu...
November 17, 2020
A lovely, magical poetry collection by an Irish nun, and let it be said, it is poetry and not merely chopped-up prose. Religious and Irish-Celtic themes abound, sad, sublime, ironic and at times reminiscent of work by Emily Dickinson. A knowledge of Irish-Celtic folk tales will help with the symbolism. To be read slowly in order to grasp the rhythm, then as with all good poetry, read it out loud. My favourite is 'The Lesser Peace' about an old age lived in grace. If only it could be so for all of us as we age.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews