Callista is a "Catholic" version of the "Early Christian Romance" genre that was popular in the nineteenth century. Most such productions rarely rose above the quality of Edward Bulwer-Lytton's
The Last Days of Pompeii or Charles Kingsley's
Hypatia. Some authorities credit Kingley's jealousy over the success of
Callista and the obvious quality of Newman's novel in contrast to his own as the source of Kingsley's later violent attacks on Newman, to which Newman responded with his monumental
Apologia Pro Vita Sua, one of the greatest "spiritual autobiographies" ever written.
Callista not only exhibits a high degree of literary accomplishment and historical accuracy, but is entertaining. This edition features a foreword by Michael D. Greaney, Director of Research for the Center for Economic and Social Justice in Arlington, Virginia, USA.
ISBN 978-1602100046
280 pages
$20.00 (U.S.)
