Join New York Times bestselling author and illustrator John Hendrix as he explores the intersection of myth, fantasy, and spirituality. He discusses his book 'The Mythmakers', highlighting the deep connection between mythical tales and Christian narratives. Hendrix shares insights on the artistic journey of creating graphic novels, emphasizing clarity in storytelling. Delve into the legacy of Tolkien and Lewis, as he examines how community and creativity shape our understanding of faith, joy, and the transformative power of myth.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
The Hobbit in 7th Grade
Eric Clayton recalls being assigned The Hobbit in 7th grade and the school's accompanying sculpture project.
He made a Smaug sculpture, and that year Fellowship of the Ring also debuted.
insights INSIGHT
Drawn to Fantasy
Eric Clayton loved fantasy and wondered if there was something more to his draw.
He questions if his interest was also spiritually motivated.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Mythmakers Scene
John Hendrix's book The Mythmakers details a pivotal conversation between Tolkien, Lewis, and Dyson.
Tolkien argues that Christ is a myth that became reality.
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The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien
John Hendrix
Miracle man
John Hendrix
The Faithful Spy
The Faithful Spy
Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler, delves into the life and actions of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a prominent German theologian who actively resisted the Nazi regime. The book explores Bonhoeffer's theological convictions, his involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler, and his ultimate execution. It highlights the complexities of faith, resistance, and the moral dilemmas faced during times of extreme oppression. The narrative offers a compelling portrait of a man who risked everything for his beliefs.
Drawing Is Magic
John Hendrix
Culture Care
Culture Care
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Makoto Fujimura
The Hobbit
or There and Back Again
J.R.R Tolkien
Published in 1937, 'The Hobbit' is a children's fantasy novel that introduces readers to the richly imagined world of Middle-earth. The story follows Bilbo Baggins, a home-loving hobbit, who is persuaded by Gandalf to join Thorin and his twelve dwarves on a quest to reclaim their treasure from the dragon Smaug. During the journey, Bilbo encounters various creatures, including trolls, goblins, and the mysterious Gollum, and discovers a magical ring that renders the wearer invisible. The novel is a prequel to 'The Lord of the Rings' and explores themes of personal growth, courage, and unexpected heroism[2][4][5].
The Screwtape Letters
C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters is a Christian apologetic novel written in a satirical, epistolary style. It consists of 31 letters from Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to 'Our Father Below' (the Devil), to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon tasked with securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. The letters provide advice on various methods of undermining God's influence and promoting abandonment of God, while offering insights into human nature and the Bible. The book is a profound and striking narrative on spiritual warfare and the power of the devil, highlighting the subtle forms of sin such as vanity, pride, and distraction that can lead humans away from God[1][3][4].
The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, is an epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth. The story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo. The Ring, forged by Sauron, holds the power to control all other Rings of Power and must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent Sauron's return. Frodo is joined by a fellowship of other characters, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, as they embark on a dangerous quest across Middle-earth. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle between fate and free will[3][4][5].
Alexander Hamilton
Ron Chernow
Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton is a landmark work that provides a detailed and vivid account of Hamilton's life. It recounts his rise from an illegitimate, largely self-taught orphan from the Caribbean to becoming a key figure in American history. Hamilton served as George Washington’s aide-de-camp, coauthored The Federalist Papers, founded the Bank of New York, led the Federalist Party, and became the first Treasury Secretary of the United States. Chernow's work challenges traditional views of Hamilton, portraying him as a complex figure driven by passionate patriotism and a stubborn will to build American prosperity and power. The biography also explores his personal life, including his relationships, feuds, and his famous duel with Aaron Burr. It is not just a portrait of Hamilton but also a narrative of America’s birth seen through his central role in it.
We were assigned The Hobbit in seventh grade. We knew it was coming, too—each class ahead of us had to read Tolkien’s classic text. Everyone in school always knew when it was that time of year again. The culminating Hobbit-themed project for every seventh grader was to create a sculpture featuring one of the characters in the book. Those sculptures would then line the halls of our school for the remaining two months of the school year. I, Eric Clayton, of course, made a not-at-all-to-scale version of the great dragon Smaug.
So, that was seventh grade and coincidentally the year Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings debuted in theaters. But long before I made a dragon out of clay, I’d fallen in love with fantasy, myth and fairy tale. I liked the adventure, of course, the epicness of these wild and wondrous worlds.
But the more I read in the genre, the more I learned about these worlds and my own reaction to them, the more I wondered: Was something else going on? Was I drawn to these kinds of stories for another reason?
Today’s guest, New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, John Hendrix, provides a pretty compelling answer in his latest book, “The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.” It’s from a particular scene in his book—and we discuss at length in our conversation. It’s a pivot moment, a conversation between Tolkien, Lewis and their mutual friend, Hugo Dyson.
“The hunger in your stomach does not prove that you will get a meal,” Tolkien says. “But it does prove that your body was meant for food. The point is simple. The ‘dying and reviving God’ images that moves you so deeply in mythology is the very same story found in the Gospels.”
Dyson adds: “Men write their myths and God writes his.”
Lewis is exasperated: “Now both of you are saying that Christ is a myth…like Loki?” he asked.
“Exactly,” Tolkien says. “With one simple difference: “Christ is the myth that entered history. He is the myth that actually came true.”
I won’t spoil any more of the story for you. But if you are curious about the intersection of fantastical storytelling and spiritual discoveries, if you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the creators of Narnia and Middle-earth and their all-important friendship, then this conversation with John Hendrix is for you. And so’s his book.
A little more about John: His books include The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler, called a Best Book of 2018 by NPR, Drawing Is Magic: Discovering Yourself in a Sketchbook, Miracle Man: The Story of Jesus, and many others. His award-winning illustrations have also appeared on book jackets, newspapers, and magazines all over the world. And he is the Kenneth E. Hudson Professor of Art and the founding Chair of the MFA in Illustration and Visual Culture program at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis.
You can learn more about John’s impressive career and grab copies of his many books at johnhendrix.com.
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