Christians Reading Classics

Latest Episodes:

J.R.R. Tolkien - The Return of the King with Kirsten Sanders Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Nadya Williams talks with theologian Kirsten Sanders about J.R.R. Tolkien's The Return of the King, exploring its vision of good and evil, the tragic imagination, and the "faith of hobbits." They discuss why classics endure, the theological depth of Tolkien's world, the moral resonance of small acts of faithfulness, and the book's bittersweet ending.

Chapters
00:03 – Tolkien's life, The Hobbit, and the birth of The Lord of the Rings
02:44 – What makes a book a classic?
05:19 – A reluctant Tolkien reader finds unexpected resonance
10:53 – The quest, the ring, and the nature of evil
14:11 – Evil's hunger and the metaphors of light and darkness
17:56 – Frodo's smallness and the anthropology of humble creatures
20:49 – The tragic tone of The Return of the King
23:02 – Denethor's despair and Gandalf's call to do good
28:30 – The faith of hobbits and resisting nihilism
30:38 – Tolkien's gift for character and detail
31:42 – Gandalf, Tom Bombadil, and the mystery of the unaffected
34:27 – Elves, tradition, and the long memory of history
36:46 – Everything is theological: why the story works
39:03 – Sanders' current and future book projects
41:21 – The faith of hobbits in daily life
42:40 – The power of tangible care and the visible good
44:06 – The devastating beauty of Kristin Lavransdatter
44:59 – Rethinking feminist novels and facing "big books"

Links

Kirsten Sanders, "For Eowyn" Jake Meador, "What I Saw in the Shire--JRR Tolkien and the Love of Little Things" Holly Ordway, "Hobbits and Empire: Geography and the Life of Nations in Tolkien's Writings"

Christians Reading Classics is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership.

Listen and read The Daily Liturgy by going to http://mereorthodoxy.com/daily-liturgy

Lewis Carroll - Alice in Wonderland with John Shelton Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Nadya Williams and guest John Shelton explore Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland on its 160th anniversary. They discuss what makes a book a "classic," the balance between whimsy and seriousness, Carroll's satirical brilliance, and the enduring cultural impact of Alice. The conversation highlights themes of logic, absurdity, moral imagination, and the shaping of children's literature.

Chapters
00:03 – Introduction to Lewis Carroll and Alice's enduring appeal
03:00 – What makes a literary work a "classic"?
06:16 – Why Alice's humor still works
07:43 – Iconic phrases and cultural influence
09:19 – Whimsy as serious work
11:42 – The sacredness of delight
13:38 – Influence on later works and pop culture
14:58 – The importance of the written form and illustrations
24:30 – The challenge of adapting Alice to other media
25:08 – Children's classics and parental reading traditions
27:27 – Violence, absurdity, and what's "too scary" for kids
31:16 – The rise of children's literature in Carroll's time
36:49 – Logic, madness, and education
37:18 – Carroll's faith and the spiritual dimension of whimsy
39:14 – The purpose of children's literature
41:20 – Selecting books for children and moral lessons from stories
45:13 – Learning the right use of force and justice
46:34 – Recognizing and mocking true absurdity
50:27 – Subtle moral norms in Alice
52:17 – Books the guest wishes he had written
54:56 – The relational nature of children's books
57:27 – Stories as moral frameworks for life

Links

John Shelton, "Stories After Virtue: Reading As A Moral Enterprise" Tara Thieke, "Cats and Sixty Foot Whales: Reflections on Children's Literature" Lewis Carroll, An Easter Greeting to every child who loves Alice - Alice-in-Wonderland.net

Listen and read The Daily Liturgy by going to http://mereorthodoxy.com/daily-liturgy

Laura Ingalls Wilder - Little House on the Prairie with John Fry and LuElla D'Amico Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Christians Reading Classics, Nadya Williams talks with historian John Fry and children's literature scholar LuElla D'Amico about Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie. They explore what makes a children's book a classic, Wilder's life and historical context, the collaboration with her daughter Rose, and the enduring moral and cultural resonance of the series. The conversation touches on themes of virtue, nostalgia, cross-cultural appeal, and the complexities of reading historical works through modern eyes.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Little House on the Prairie and Guests
02:18 – What Makes a Classic in Children's Literature?
07:54 – Personal Connections to the Little House Books
12:02 – Laura Ingalls Wilder's Life and Historical Context
22:02 – Story Overview and Thematic Highlights
31:38 – Advice for First-Time Readers
37:17 – Why Wilder Wrote the Books and the Role of Rose Wilder Lane
48:32 – Wilder's Faith and Its Influence in the Series
52:02 – Reading with a Theological Imagination
55:19 – Closing Thoughts and Books the Guests Wish They Had Written

Links

John Fry, A Prairie Faith: The Religious Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder LuElla D'Amico, "The Art of Good Gossip: Unexpected Lessons About Virtue and Community from Little Women" LuElla D'Amico, "Wondrous Reading"

Listen and read The Daily Liturgy by going to http://mereorthodoxy.com/daily-liturgy

Ignazio Silone - Bread and Wine with Geoffrey Kurtz Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Nadya Williams talks with Geoffrey Kurtz about Ignazio Silone's Bread and Wine, exploring its political, spiritual, and literary significance. They discuss what makes a classic, Silone's shift from communism to a more open-ended moral vision, the novel's blend of politics and clandestine faith, and the transformation of its protagonist, Pietro Spina, through solitude and friendship.

Chapters
00:02 – Silone's author's note and the idea of rewriting one's "soul book"
02:29 – Defining a classic: resonance across time and place
04:24 – Silone's life, politics, and exile
08:54 – From political collapse to becoming a novelist
11:00 – The 1936 and 1955 editions: from didactic to subtle
13:13 – Setting and premise of Bread and Wine
14:35 – Disguise, solitude, and unexpected friendships
17:45 – Growth in character and writing craft
18:10 – How much is Spina autobiographical?
21:51 – Political and religious dimensions rooted in the same moral impulse
24:53 – Don Benedetto as a bridge between action and contemplation
29:33 – God's clandestine presence in the novel
31:08 – Solitude as the seed of transformation
35:48 – Loneliness, community, and the longing for safe relationships
36:30 – Reception in Italy, the U.S., and among leftists and Catholics
43:50 – Politics bounded by love and human dignity
47:26 – Kurtz's intellectual journey and democratic socialism
50:55 – On "democratic socialist" vs. "social democrat"
51:38 – Current reading: Wendell Berry and parallels to Silone
54:21 – A classic Kurtz wishes he'd written

Links

Geoffrey Kurtz, "How to Be a Liberal-Socialist-Conservative" Geoffrey Kurtz, Jean Jaurès: The Inner Life of Social Democracy

Listen and read The Daily Liturgy by going to http://mereorthodoxy.com/daily-liturgy

A. A. Milne - Winnie the Pooh with Ivana D. Greco and Dixie Dillon Lane Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Nadya Williams is joined by Ivana Greco and Dixie Dillon-Lane to explore Winnie-the-Pooh as a children's classic. They discuss what makes a book timeless, how Milne's humor and characterization capture the child's mind, the role of family lore and shared cultural touchstones, and how to navigate classics that don't click with every child.

Chapters
00:03 – Origins of Winnie-the-Pooh and its enduring appeal
03:19 – Defining a "classic" in children's literature
07:11 – Story plots, character development, and the child's perspective
09:16 – Humor, literal thinking, and being "in on the joke"
13:10 – Power dynamics, Christopher Robin, and imaginative escape
15:32 – Re-reading classics through different life stages
17:05 – Songs, riddles, and the child's interior life
21:25 – The instinctive music of childhood
24:55 – Character archetypes: Eeyore, Tigger, and self-recognition
29:46 – Literary touchstones in family culture
33:43 – When classics don't click with your kids
41:22 – Encouraging literacy in homeschooling
47:12 – Adapting teaching methods to your child and yourself
49:51 – Avoiding power struggles in reading instruction
54:20 – Recognizing slow, steady progress
58:00 – Classics the guests wish they had written
01:07:18 – Books that become part of who we are

Links

Alexander Lenard, Winnie Ille Pu (the Latin translation) Ivana D. Greco, "The Home Front" Dixie Dillon Lane, "The Hollow"

Listen and read The Daily Liturgy by going to http://mereorthodoxy.com/daily-liturgy

G.K. Chesterton - The Everlasting Man with Timothy Larsen Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Nadya Williams interviews Dr. Timothy Larsen on G.K. Chesterton's The Everlasting Man, exploring its enduring insights on humanity, Christ, and the joy of Christian apologetics. They discuss what makes a "classic," Chesterton's playful paradoxes, his cultural context after WWI, and how to approach the book today.

Key Idea:
Chesterton re-narrates the human story and the gospel with wit, joy, and surprise, inviting readers to see faith anew.

Chapters:
00:00 – Chesterton's Introduction: Seeing Home for the First Time
02:20 – What Makes a Classic Book?
05:15 – Chesterton's Life and Many Roles
07:30 – Why The Everlasting Man Was Written
10:05 – Part One: The Creature Called Man
12:30 – Part Two: The Man Called Christ
14:40 – Paradox and Wit in Apologetics
19:00 – Chesterton as an "Earthy" Christian
21:30 – Reception and Legacy
26:30 – Advice for First-Time Readers
29:40 – Larsen's Upcoming Book on WWI Clergy
33:15 – The Classic Larsen Wishes He'd Written
35:20 – Nadia's Choice of a Classic

Links:

Timothy Larsen, "The Full-Bodied Apologist" Timothy Larsen, "When H. G. Wells Found God" Forthcoming book: The Fires of Moloch: Anglican Clergymen in the Furnace of World War One

Listen and read The Daily Liturgy by going to http://mereorthodoxy.com/daily-liturgy

Introducing: Christians Reading Classics Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to Christians Reading Classics! A new Mere Orthodoxy podcast hosted Nadya Williams. In this introductory episode, you'll learn what this podcast is all about and what you can look forward to. If you love classic books, or are even interested in learning more about them, you're in the right place.

Listen and read The Daily Liturgy by going to http://mereorthodoxy.com/daily-liturgy

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