Benediction

"It's like that idea of saving your life by losing it. You see we sort of feel that the less human a man is, in your sense of human, the better servant he can be to humanity."

-Kieth, Benediction, by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1920).



Benediction (1920) was first published as part of a collection of short stories, Flappers and Philosophers (also available from Cosimo Classics) and focuses on the main character, nineteen-year-old Lois, her older brother Kieth, and her visit to the Jesuit seminary where Kieth is studying. Each character attempts to understand the other's view of Catholicism, Kieth's as clergy revealing strong faith and Lois's as laity questioning Catholic traditions. H. L. Mencken believed this story to be the best in the book, so this is the perfect indulgence for all who love Fitzgerald and early twentieth century literature.