The editor of a nondenominational Christian online news site, The Christian Review, has compiled a list of what he considers the best 100 Catholic novels. These include novels published between 1827 and 2011 and are listed chronologically. The somewhat subjective criteria for inclusion are that the novel must be considered by the editor to be “worth reading” and express explicit Roman Catholic themes and perspectives. It need not have been written by a Roman Catholic.
Two of Waugh’s works are included in the list: Brideshead Revisited and Helena. Georges Bernanos is the most listed novelist with five. Graham Greene may be the most listed of Waugh’s generation with 4 books. Two younger writers whose works Waugh promoted, J.F. Powers and Muriel Spark, each have two books on the list, and David Lodge, the Honorary President of the Evelyn Waugh Society has one.
