In the three decades preceding the Civil War, in which propaganda novels were flourishing, religious novels (produced in considerable numbers by Baptists, Methodists, and Episcopalians) often attacked sects that were disliked. Most absurd and vicious were the anti-Catholic novels. Catholic writers coming to the defense of their faith responded with nearly 50 pro-Catholic novels on American themes between 1829 and 1865. Using the affirmative approach, Catholic novelists contrived plots allowing occasions for someone speaking with authority to explain doctrines and mysteries of the Catholic religion and providing young Catholic champions to do battle with acquaintances or employers, so that Protestant bigotry and theological ignorance could be exposed. Priest-novelists of note were Charles Constantine Pise, John Boyce, John T. Roddan, and Hugh Quigley. Five professional authors stand out by reason of the amazing quantity of fiction they produced: Charles James Cannon, George Henry Miles, Jedidiah Vincent Huntington, Mrs. Ann Hanson McKenney Dorsey, and Mrs. Mary Anne Madden Sadlier. Having reviewed many Catholic novels and given instructions in the theory of Catholic fiction, Orestes Brownson also wrote a Catholic novel, 'The Spirit-Rapper: An Autobiography' (Boston: Little, Brown & Company, 1854). Based mainly on the subject novelists' works; 86 notes.