The Song at the Scaffold

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By Gertrud von Le Fort

Gertrud von Len Fort wrote The Song at the Scaffold in 1931 five years after converting to the Catholic Faith and at that time was considered Germany's most influential Catholic poet and novelist. The Song at the Scaffold is a novelette set in the time of the French Revolution, an epoch that vividly demonstrated man's capacity for both heroism and brutality. It is a very intense story dealing primarily with the Carmelite Convent at Compiegne but also encompassing the Paris mob - the Reign of Terror - Women Revolutionists, etc. - climaxing in the martyrdom of sixteen Carmelite nuns. Excellent reading for both students and adults.

Courage overcomes fear in one final song.

I had the privilege of reading Song at the Scaffold, by Gertrud von Le Fort, for a school assignment in my junior year of high school. At the time, I did not really want to read the book, as it was "assigned" to me, and I "had" to do it. However, after reading it, I was glad I did. This small book is a gem worthy of any library.

Set during the chaotic time of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror, the story is told from the point of view of the observer Villeroy, and written in the style of a letter to another observer of the same time. The topic of the discussion is the courage of the female martyrs of the Reign of Terror, and the friend's theory: "In all these martyrs of the Kingdom, the Gironde, and the Persecuted Church, the natural dignity of man nobly triumphs over the waves of devastating chaos!" Villeroy goes on to explain that there is more involved than just human dignity, that "amazing resignation of those who die every d Full Review...

Novella about sixteen Carmelite Sisters martyred by guillotine during the French Revolution.

Much as a diamond has so many facets, so is true of this gem of a book! It is the true historical story of Carmelite Sisters that were persecuted to the point of death for their faith during the French Revolution. Their convent invaded, property taken, they were eventually tossed out into the streets. After 4 years of staying together as a congregation without habit they were arrested and sentenced to death for living in a religious community. And they die a martyr’s death at the guillotine. Your basic good triumphs over evil story. But looking into the many facets, the characters, the true wealth of lessons comes through and speaks to the readers heart. Each Sister comes to the convent from a varied background and struggles to find her calling, vocation, in the convent. God uses the most profound weakness in each to bring out true strengths. And of the one that was most willing to be martyred, he asks an even greater sacrifice. A sacrifice that is no Full Review...

Martyrdom revisited, Sacrifice Understood....

"The Song At the Scaffold" is a book that takes more than one reading to fully understand.  Gertrud Von Le Fort put so much into such a small space that it boggles the mind.  The book is set in France during the horrible violence and anarchy of the French Revolution. 

The book begins with a letter from one man to another that appears to be an argument for "Christian culture" against the idea of reason and natural humanity in the absence of God.  The man writing the letter was familiar with the characters in the story as well as the family of Blanche Le Force.  He writes with the perspective of one who witnessed the events he writes about, to a friend who most likely viewed the events from the papers and from outside the turmoil.

The gentleman wrote of two very different women.  Blanche La Force, a young woman who, even from birth was gripped by an unnatural fear of everything.  She was born to a M Full Review...

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