The
Life and Letters of Rev. George Leo Haydock
1774-1849 Correspondence of a
Bible Scholar, Church Builder, Gentleman Farmer and Minister to the Poor During
and After Penal Times. Loreto
Publications, 2023.
The most comprehensive work ever
compiled on this remarkable priest; best remembered today for his famed edition
of the Bible with its extensive and edifying annotations, first published in
1811 when Catholics were still being persecuted under the English Penal Laws
and remaining in print for the rest of the century in England Ireland and
America where it was purchased by Catholic families, including the Irish
immigrant ancestors of both American Catholic Presidents. But his Bible was only one part of the career
of this descendant of a long line of Catholic martyrs and priests. The purpose of this study is to relate his
many other achievements through the eye of his extensive correspondence. From his hair-raining escape from French
Revolutionary forces while a young seminarian at Douay, through his building of
churches, his literary contributions to encourage lay participation in the
Liturgy, his disputes with superiors, his unflagging devotion to ministering to
the poor, to his death from the exertions of a long priestly life, his exciting
and inspiring career is detailed in this fascinating collection of letters and extensive
collection of illustrations. Published by the publisher of the modern series of Haydock Bibles.