Why read In This House of Brede?

Book cover of In This House of Brede

Book description

By the author of Black Narcissus and The River

'Rumer Godden's novels have a timeless shimmer' GUARDIAN

'One hundred years after her birth, Rumer Godden's novels still pulse with life' MATTHEW DENNISON, TELEGRAPH

'Her craftsmanship is always sure' NEW YORK TIMES

'The motto was Pax but the word was set…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked In This House of Brede as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Anna Wierzbicka

Author

A novel which I particularly enjoyed this year is Rumer Godden’s In This House of Brede. Honoured as a Virago Modern Classic, published originally in 1969, it was re-published in 2025 by Cluny - a marvellous publisher specialising in re-issuing classic Christian literature. The “House of Brede” is a Benedictine Abbey in England, based closely on a real monastery (Stanbrook Abbey), though obviously fictionalised. My interest in this book was sparked by the fact that a friend of mine, a mature-age professional, entered a Benedictine monastery recently, and I thought that this novel would give me some insight into…

From Anna's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Susan M Soesbe

Author

I love this story because it portrays people choosing to die to themselves in order to live for God.

These Benedictine sisters are not running away from the world. Each woman faces her past, present, and future through the lens of devotion to God. Centering their lives around worship has cost them dearly but, as I read, I began to grasp its worth with greater clarity. I’ve seen myself that believers in Christ who die to themselves, paradoxically, seem more alive.

This House of Brede made me reflect on the concept of losing your life to save it. It reminded…

From Susan's list on portraying death and loss honestly and hopefully.