Maria Monk (1816–1849)

There was a famous expose of life inside convents in the 18th century, I think - aside from [b:The Nun,|18216|The Nun (Oxford World's Classics)|Denis Diderot|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166890179s/18216.jpg|19673] that is - anyway, I don't think this is it. But check out that cover! Whee!

ETA: Okay, fine, I looked this up. The expose is [b:Six Months in a Convent: The Narrative of Rebecca Theresa Reed|1852530|Six Months in a Convent The Narrative of Rebecca Theresa Reed and Supplement show more (Anti-Movements in America)|Rebecca Theresa Reed|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|1853053] (1835), which was neither as sensational as this thing nor as patently made up. Both works were said to be influenced by The Nun and by (inside, I jump and clap my hands every time this book comes up) [b:The Monk.|93157|The Monk|Matthew Lewis|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171252723s/93157.jpg|3095060]

I am unlikely to actually read this. It's apparently complete bullshit in every way. But let's let this cover stay on my TBR list for a while anyway, shall we?

ETA again: on second thought, the Wikipedia article shows zero evidence that "Historians are unanimous in their agreement that the whole account was false." The "inaccuracies" pointed out in her story are backed up by referring to her original text, so that doesn't make any sense, and by a text by an archdeacon. In a brief search around the internet, I found no actual evidence either way. I certainly have no trouble with the idea that there was a monastery in which the victimization of nuns took place. show less

Biography of nun who goes through awful stuff at convent. Good information of how a cult might operate. Prefer stuff written like fiction though. This is fiction but originally published as true by protestants trying to smear catholics.

Reprints of stories by 2 women who claim to have escaped from convents in the 1830's and the awful things that happened to them there. Their 2 books sold about 300,000 copies each. One book helped spark a night of violence that resulted in the convent (in Charleston, Mass) being burned to the ground by an angry anti-Catholic mob.