Book Review: “The Devils of Loudun”

Special to the Herald-Guide

September 29, 2011 at 12:48 pm  | Mobile Reader | Print 

Briar Falgoust

During the years of the early 17th century, uncanny accusations of witchcraft and devious possession had been reported in the city of Loudun, France. "The Devils of Loudun," a non-fiction selection by Aldous Huxley, accurately describes the life of a man who is lured into a demonic pact with the devil.

Roman Catholic Priest Urban Grandier arrives to his new home of Loudun in 1634. He has a cunning, seductive appearance, which plays a major role in the book.

Grandier soon transcends into a world of unexplainable phenomena, where he somehow "unintentionally" makes a pact with Satan.

Being the immensely robust man that he is, Grandier seduces an entire convent of Ursuline nuns, who also become manipulated by demons. This paranormal activity leads to tragic incidents of terror and indefinable actions, causing the town of Loudun to experience extreme doses of insanity.

"The Devils of Loudun" is intended for mature readers only and can be quite difficult to comprehend. I would recommend it to those interested in this genre.