Shane Leslie withdrew his novel The Cantab after it was denounced as indecent.
WE HAVE purposely refrained from referring to a novel by a well-known man of letters which has acquired notoriety owing to the inclusion in its pages of two passages amazing in their unnecessary offence. The writer is a Roman Catholic of distinction, and we preferred to leave his book to be dealt with by the authorities and the critics of his own Church. That has been done, and the author has expressed his regret with what seems to us the courage and sincerity of a Christian penitent. We should not have mentioned the matter now but for a disgraceful reference to it in the current number of the Record. The writer says: “We are sorry that anyone who has been associated with work of a theological character, even when it is in connexion with the Roman Church, should have stooped so low as to write this book.” This sneer at the Roman Church cannot be allowed to pass without strong protest. We are certain that our Roman brethren will believe that it will be read with shame and indignation not only by Anglo-Catholics but by the vast majority of members of the Church of England of all parties.
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