A prize for Sister Catherine (by Kathleen Rowntree)

(Amazon UK link)

I’m quite enjoying rereading my books by Kathleen Rowntree. But I was in two minds about whether to reread ‘A prize for Sister Catherine’, which I last read twenty-five years ago, in 2001. That’s because although I had totally forgotten the story, I did remember that it was my least favourite of all her books.

But my opinions sometimes change, so I decided to go ahead with a reread. It’s set in a convent, and there’s a large number of nuns mentioned; I never really sorted them out in my mind, as they all feel rather two-dimensional. I recognised them, if at all, due to their roles. 

The book opens when an elderly prioress, who is not in the greatest of health, decides to appoint two younger nuns as joint ‘directrix’. Catherine is quite spiritually minded, and cares for other people. But Margaret is fast-thinking and a good manager. The convent is struggling financially and some changes have to be made if they are to keep going. The prioress hopes that, by appointing both these women, there will be a balance of increased efficiency and continued prayer and devotion.

However, Margaret likes being in charge, and sees them as rivals. She has some followers who admire her, and some who advise her how to speak, and what to focus on. She sees that upgrades have to be made to encourage more visitors, and she’s concerned about an old statue that’s rather precarious, and might fall in a storm. She clearly has a good eye for business; I wondered, more than once, why someone like Margaret would have become a nun. 

So the overall plot features Margaret going ahead with her plans for streamlining the convent, unfortunately making some of the nuns feel redundant and inferior. Not everyone approves of what she does, but the finances undoubtedly become much healthier. And as she starts to give special privileges to those who follow her, more and more of the nuns start to support her publicly.

It’s an interesting idea for a story, though I became increasingly disturbed at the idea that there could be so many in any community who were so self-centred. That it could happen in a convent, with women who had given their lives to God, was shocking. And yet, when I look at the world, and internet polls, and votes for politicians, it’s clear that self-interest is often a guiding force.

There are side stories, too: nuns who forget their vows of chastity, nuns who deliberately put others into danger, nuns who start rumours and who are expert manipulators. I don’t remember most of their names, but perhaps it doesn’t matter. Catherine tries to be altruistic and caring, and I sympathise with her, somewhat; but Margaret is unpleasant and some her followers even worse.

It’s essentially a story about capitalism, and how it can be quite successful in its aims; but it contrasts with humanity and caring. I’m not entirely sure why it had to be set in a convent; perhaps because it’s a closed community, perhaps because one might expect them to be more caring and unworldly than the general population. 

I’m glad I reread it, though I found some of the scenes disturbing, and wished they hadn’t been so relentlessly negative; by the end Catherine has very few friends or supporters left, and even they are essentially with her because they’ve been left behind by Margaret’s improvements. But they still care most about their own situations and comforts (or lack thereof). 

Quite thought-provoking. I don’t know if I’ll read it again, but it's not a bad book despite my not really relating to any of the characters (except, perhaps, Catherine). Unlike the reviewer quoted on the front of the book, I didn't find it at all funny - sometimes sad, but never amusing.

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