Reason, Rhetoric and Romanticism

The centenary of the death of John Henry Newman in 1990 was an occasion which was widely observed, not only in the UK but also in the USA, Ireland and in other parts of the world. Newman's influence has been enormous in a number of areas. He was one of the most widely quoted theologians at the Second Vatican Council and there is today a well-organized campaign for his canonization as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. The scholarly literature on Newman has tended to accept his own version of events, and the power of his rhetoric has frequently obscured the many flaws in his philosophical and theological method. The present volume is intended to take a more objective look at selected aspects of Newman's life and thought, questioning facets of the generally accepted picture of Newman. The volume will cover all the essential theological, philosophical, historical and literary aspects of Newman's life. Although the chapters will be of a scholarly nature they will avoid technical jargon and have in mind both the general and the academic reader.