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Primary sourceBook30 September 1898

Histoire d'une âme, first edition (1898)

Thérèse of Lisieux, ed. Pauline Martin (Mother Agnes of Jesus) · 30 September 1898

The first printed edition of Thérèse of Lisieux's autobiography, edited by her sister Pauline, which spread her fame around the world.

The first published version of her autobiography, shaped by her sister's editing after her death.

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Photograph of a book cover with a marbled brown and tan speckled paper binding and a beige cloth spine, with blue flecks. A small library credit in the lower right reads Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France. The cover appears worn at the edges.
Histoire d'une âme by Thérèse of Lisieux, first edition, 1898. Bibliothèque nationale de France.

About this source

What it is

This is the first printed edition of Histoire d'une âme, published on 30 September 1898, about a year after Thérèse's death. It was compiled from three separate manuscripts she had written and edited by her sister Pauline, known as Mother Agnes of Jesus. A copy is held at the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

Why it matters

This edition turned Thérèse's private writings into a public book that spread quickly and made her internationally known. Comparing the printed text with her original manuscripts shows how much her sister shaped the final wording and structure, which matters for understanding how Thérèse's public image was built after her death.

Look closer

  • Why might comparing this printed book to the original manuscripts change how we understand Thérèse?
  • What choices might an editor make when turning private writing into a public book?
  • What does the worn cover suggest about how this book has been used over time?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Saint Therese on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Front cover of a French book titled 'Sainte Thérèse de l'Enfant-Jésus' in ornate Art Nouveau style with floral borders, a star at top, an oval illustration of saints and an angel, a quotation, and Latin motto banners at the bottom.Book

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Thérèse of Lisieux · 1898

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Act of Oblation to Merciful Love

Thérèse of Lisieux · 9 June 1895

Black and white photograph of a young woman in a dark religious veil and white collar, with a calm, slight smile, looking toward the camera. Her face fills most of the frame.Photograph

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Portrait of Thérèse of Lisieux

15 April 1895

Black and white photograph of a young woman in a pale armored-style bodice and dark fleur-de-lis-decorated skirt, holding a sword, standing beside a banner pole in front of a brick wall and ivy, with a shield bearing fleurs-de-lis and a wreath at her feet.Photograph

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Photograph of Thérèse as Joan of Arc

Céline Martin (Sister Geneviève) · 1895

Black-and-white photograph of a group of nuns in white wimples and dark habits washing laundry at a stone washing trough beside dark water. Several women kneel or lean over the edge, and one in the foreground scrubs cloth.Photograph

Primary source

Nuns in wash days at le carmel

Unknown

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