The Nun's Story
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Founder | Kathryn Hulme |
| Products | Book |
The Nun's Story is a novel published in 1956 by Kathryn Hulme. It was chosen as a Book of the Month and attained the top position on the The New York Times Best Seller list.
Premise
The central character, Sister Luke (originally Gabrielle Van Der Mal), encounters significant trials to her faith while in Africa, where she comes into conflict with Dr. Fortunati, who manages a distant hospital in the Belgian Congo. Amidst World War II, she receives orders to maintain neutrality, compelling her to navigate the tension between her convent obligations and the external world.
Sister Luke finds herself torn between adherence to her religious community’s regulations and her commitment to nursing. Embracing life as a nun requires relinquishing her past identity and personal goals. The novel’s climax revolves around the struggle between her dedication to the Church, nursing duties, Belgian nationalism, and affection for her father—who lost his life under Nazi air raids while attending to the injured.
Development
The story is inspired by the life of Hulme’s acquaintance, Marie Louise Habets, a Belgian nurse and former member of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary. Hulme encountered Habets while aiding refugees in post-war Europe, subsequently facilitating her relocation to the United States and converting to Catholicism herself.
Film adaptation
In 1959, the book was transformed into a motion picture by screenwriter Robert Anderson and director Fred Zinnemann. The Nun's Story, featuring Audrey Hepburn as Sister Luke, received both critical acclaim and commercial success. The film garnered eight Oscar nominations at the 32nd Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Hepburn’s third nomination for Best Actress.
During preparation for her role, Hepburn met Marie-Louise Habets, who later provided care for Hepburn following a severe horseback riding injury on the set of The Unforgiven. Their relationship with Hulme is portrayed in Zoe Fairbairns’ radio drama The Belgian Nurse, which aired on BBC Radio Four in 2007.