''The Month'' was a monthly review, published from 1864 to 2001, which, for almost all of its history, was owned by the English Province of the
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rome. It was founded in 1540 ...
and was edited by its members.
History
''The Month'', founded and edited by
Frances Margaret Taylor
Frances Margaret Taylor, religious name ''Mary Magdalen of the Sacred Heart'' (20 January 1832 – 9 June 1900) was an English religious sister and founder of the congregation of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God.
Early life
Frances Tay ...
, began publication in July 1864 with the subtitle "An illustrated magazine of literature, science and art". Much of its space was given to fiction and the lighter forms of literature. In April 1865 she sold the review to the Jesuits, who changed the subtitle to "A magazine and review" (1865–1873). The first Jesuit-appointed editor was
Henry James Coleridge, who managed to elicit contributions from many of the leading figures in English Catholicism, including
John Henry Newman
John Henry Newman (21 February 1801 – 11 August 1890) was an English Catholic theologian, academic, philosopher, historian, writer, and poet. He was previously an Anglican priest and after his conversion became a cardinal. He was an ...
, whose "Dream of Gerontius" was first published in ''The Month''.
The publisher throughout these years was Simpkin, Marshall & Co. In 1874 the ''Catholic Review'' was incorporated, and the title became ''The Month and Catholic Review''.
The years 1881–1882 saw the arrival of a new editor, Richard Frederick Clarke; a new publisher,
Burns & Oates
Burns & Oates was a British Roman Catholic publishing house which most recently existed as an imprint of Continuum.
Company history
It was founded by James Burns in 1835, originally as a bookseller. Burns was of Presbyterian background and he ...
(until 1912); and the simplification of the title to ''The Month''.
The review languished somewhat in the first half of the 20th century, and publication was reduced to bimonthly in the years 1941–1946, but it revived under the editorship (1948–1963) of Philip Caraman, who "changed the print, the layout, the cover design, and anything else that enhanced the quality of the magazine. He employed distinguished writers, such as
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh (; 28 October 1903 – 10 April 1966) was an English writer of novels, biographies, and travel books; he was also a prolific journalist and book reviewer. His most famous works include the early satires ''Decli ...
,
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading novelists of the 20th century.
Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a re ...
,
Edith Sitwell
Dame Edith Louisa Sitwell (7 September 1887 – 9 December 1964) was a British poet and critic and the eldest of the three literary Sitwells. She reacted badly to her eccentric, unloving parents and lived much of her life with her governess ...
,
Muriel Spark
Dame Muriel Sarah Spark (; 1 February 1918 – 13 April 2006). was a List of Scottish novelists, Scottish novelist, short story writer, poet and essayist.
Life
Muriel Camberg was born in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh, the daughter of Bernar ...
, and the American Trappist monk,
Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton (January 31, 1915December 10, 1968), religious name M. Louis, was an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, Christian mysticism, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar of comparative religion. He was a monk in the Trapp ...
."
[George Russo, reviewing June Rockett, ''A Gentle Jesuit: Philip Caraman SJ'' (Gracewing, 2004), in ''AD2000'' 18:4 (2005), p. 18]
Available online
. Accessed 4 January 2007.
In 1969 ''The Month'' absorbed the ''
Dublin Review'', and at some point about that time the full title became ''The Month: A Review of Christian Thought and World Affairs''.
From 1912 to 1960 the review was published by
Longmans, Green, & Co. and thereafter by Month Publications.
Publication ceased in 2001, after negotiations for the
Saint Austin Press to buy the magazine fell through.
List of editors
See also
* ''
Thinking Faith
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, also known as Farm Street Church, is a Catholic Church, Catholic parish church run by the Society of Jesus in Mayfair, Central London, England.
Its main entrance is in Farm Street, though i ...
''
Notes
External links
Sample: Jan.-June 1931
{{DEFAULTSORT:Month
1864 establishments in the United Kingdom
2001 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
Bi-monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom
Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom
Defunct Christian magazines published in the United Kingdom
Magazines established in 1864
Magazines disestablished in 2001
Catholic magazines published in the United Kingdom
Society of Jesus
Defunct Catholic magazines