The Month
Encyclopedia
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
and edited by its members.
, began publication in July 1864 with the subtitle "An illustrated magazine of literature, science and art". 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, 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
(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
, Graham Greene
, Edith Sitwell
, Muriel Spark
, and the American Trappist monk, Thomas Merton
."
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.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
and edited by its members.
History
The Month, founded and edited by Frances Margaret TaylorFrances Margaret Taylor
Frances Margaret Taylor, whose religious name was Mother Magdalen of the Sacred Heart was an English nurse, editor and writer, nun, and Superior General and founder of the Roman Catholic religious congregation the Poor Servants of the Mother of God.-Early life:Frances Taylor was born in Stoke...
, began publication in July 1864 with the subtitle "An illustrated magazine of literature, science and art". 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
Henry James Coleridge
Henry James Coleridge was a writer on religious affairs and preacher. He was the son of Sir John Taylor Coleridge, a Judge of the King's Bench, and brother of John Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge, Chief Justice of England...
, who managed to elicit contributions from many of the leading figures in English Catholicism, including John Henry Newman, 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
Burns & Oates is a British Roman Catholic publishing house which now exists as an imprint of Continuum. It was founded by James Burns in 1835, originally as a bookseller...
(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
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
, Graham Greene
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
, Edith Sitwell
Edith Sitwell
Dame Edith Louisa Sitwell DBE was a British poet and critic.-Background:Edith Sitwell was born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, the oldest child and only daughter of Sir George Sitwell, 4th Baronet, of Renishaw Hall; he was an expert on genealogy and landscaping...
, Muriel Spark
Muriel Spark
Dame Muriel Spark, DBE was an award-winning Scottish novelist. In 2008 The Times newspaper named Spark in its list of "the 50 greatest British writers since 1945".-Early life:...
, and the American Trappist monk, Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton, O.C.S.O. was a 20th century Anglo-American Catholic writer and mystic. A Trappist monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani, Kentucky, he was a poet, social activist, and student of comparative religion...
."
In 1969 The Month absorbed the Dublin Review
Dublin Review (Catholic periodical)
The Dublin Review was an influential Catholic periodical founded in 1836 by Michael Joseph Quin, Cardinal Wiseman and Daniel O'Connell. Quin had the original idea for the new journal, soon persuading Wiseman to lend his support, and next enlisting O'Connell whose Catholic Emancipation campaign he...
, 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.
Longman
Longman was a publishing company founded in London, England in 1724. It is now an imprint of Pearson Education.-Beginnings:The Longman company was founded by Thomas Longman , the son of Ezekiel Longman , a gentleman of Bristol. Thomas was apprenticed in 1716 to John Osborn, a London bookseller, and...
and thereafter by Month Publications.
Publication ceased in 2001, after negotiations for the Saint Austin Press
Saint Austin Press
Saint Austin Press is a British Roman Catholic publishing house founded in 1996.In its first ten years of operation, Saint Austin Press published around 50 books on various themes as diverse as William Shakespeare, hagiography, Freemasonry, floristry, liturgy, Scripture, Apologetics, fiction and...
to buy the magazine fell through.
List of editors
- Frances Margaret TaylorFrances Margaret TaylorFrances Margaret Taylor, whose religious name was Mother Magdalen of the Sacred Heart was an English nurse, editor and writer, nun, and Superior General and founder of the Roman Catholic religious congregation the Poor Servants of the Mother of God.-Early life:Frances Taylor was born in Stoke...
, 1864–1865 - Henry James ColeridgeHenry James ColeridgeHenry James Coleridge was a writer on religious affairs and preacher. He was the son of Sir John Taylor Coleridge, a Judge of the King's Bench, and brother of John Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge, Chief Justice of England...
, 1865–1881 - Richard Frederick Clarke, 1882–1894
- John Gerard, 1894–1897
- Sydney Fenn Smith, 1897–1901
- John Gerard, 1901–1912
- Joseph Keating, 1912–1939
- John Murray, 1939–1948
- Philip Caraman, 1948–1963
- Ronald Moffat, 1963–1967
- Peter HebblethwaitePeter HebblethwaitePeter Hebblethwaite , was a British priest, editor, journalist and biographer.-Life:...
, 1967–1974 - Michael Walsh, 1974–1975
- Hugh Kay, 1976-1986
- John McDade, 1986–1995
- Tim Noble, 1995–2001