Christians Reading Classics

Nadya Williams and Carolyn Weber explore the literary significance of Dorothy L. Sayers' 'Gaudy Night', discussing its themes of women's roles in academia, the intersection of murder mysteries and theology, and the nature of what constitutes a classic. They look into Sayers' complex character, her contributions to literature, and the broader implications of her work in the context of 20th-century society.  Chapters 00:00 The Literary Landscape of 1935 03:15 Defining a Classic   04:53 Dorothy L. Sayers: A Complex Figure   09:42 Murder Mysteries and Theology   11:42 Exploring Gaudy Night   19:12 Oxford as a Character   22:37 Women in Academia   30:07 The Pursuit of Meaningful Work   32:47 The Unusual Mystery of Gaudy Night   40:04 Reading Murder Mysteries as a Christian

Nadya Williams and Jon Parrish Peede discuss the literary legacy of Flannery O'Connor, exploring her impact on American literature and the theological themes present in her work. They highlight the Southern Gothic genre, O'Connor's unique storytelling style, and the reader's engagement with her stories. It also touches on her reception over the years and personal reflections on her most significant works.

Nadya Williams and historian Daniel K. Williams examine Sinclair Lewis's 1935 novel "It Can't Happen Here," analyzing its treatment of democracy, authoritarianism, and religion's political role. Their discussion covers what qualifies a work as a literary classic, the historical circumstances surrounding Lewis's writing, and how his observations about democratic institutions' vulnerability and the manipulation of religious sentiment for political ends continue to resonate with contemporary American political debates and concerns about authoritarianism. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sinclair Lewis and His Work 02:54 Defining a Classic: What Makes Literature Enduring? 05:56 Sinclair Lewis: The Man Behind the Novels 11:44 Exploring the Themes of It Can't Happen Here 20:34 The Role of Religion in American Politics 28:29 Reflections on Mainstream America in the 1930s 31:56 The Spiritual Crisis Behind Authoritarianism 33:59 Literary Merits and Critiques of Sinclair Lewis 36:04 Public Reception and Political Context of the Novel 39:37 Huey Long and the Threat of Authoritarianism 43:00 Reading the Novel as Christians in 2025 47:06 The Attraction to Authoritarianism and Hyper Patriotism 50:20 Preserving Democracy: A Call for Self-Critical Patriotism 52:03I nfluential Classics and Historical Understanding

Nadya Williams and Vika Pichersky delve into Mikhail Bulgakov's 'Heart of a Dog,' exploring its themes, characters, and the critique of Soviet society. They discuss the nature of classics, the challenges of translation, and the moral questions raised by the transformation of a dog into a human. The conversation highlights the relevance of Bulgakov's work in contemporary discussions about humanity, morality, and the role of fiction in conveying complex truths.   Chapters 00:00 Exploring the Context of Bulgakov's Work 02:37 Defining Literary Classics 05:34 Navigating Russian Literature in Translation 08:51 Understanding Heart of a Dog 11:38 Character Analysis and Themes in Heart of a Dog 17:34 The Role of Science and Morality 23:28 Bulgakov's Critique of Soviet Society 29:33 The Purpose of Fiction and Its Relevance Today   Links Vika Pechersky, "Dostoevsky: Prophet and Radical Visionary for an Apocalyptic Future" Vika Pechersky, "What Dostoevsky Taught Me About Sending My Son to College" Vika Pechersky, "Dostoevsky and Euthanasia"

Ronni Kurtz, an Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology, and Philip D. Bunn, an Assistant Professor of Political Science, dive deep into C.S. Lewis's 'That Hideous Strength.' They explore the theological and philosophical themes in the novel, such as the ethical implications of technology and modern education. The duo discusses the relevance of Lewis's insights concerning AI and its impact on humanity. Additionally, they analyze character dynamics and the characteristics that define classic literature, emphasizing the enduring power of literary works.

John Wilsey, a church history professor and Tocqueville expert, dives into the timeless insights of Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America". They discuss Tocqueville's aristocratic lens on American equality and the crucial role religion plays in sustaining democracy. Wilsey argues that conservatives should embrace Tocqueville's views on balancing individual liberty with community responsibility. They explore the book's historical impact and its continuing relevance, shedding light on how a classic resonates with unchanging human themes.

Nadya Williams talks with theologians Coleman Ford and Shawn Wilhite about the Nicene Creed, marking its 1700th anniversary. They explore what makes a theological work a “classic,” the historical background of the Council of Nicaea, the meaning of key Christological terms, and how to “think Nicenely” in the Christian life. The discussion blends history, theology, and practical discipleship, showing how the Creed shapes Christian identity and worship. Chapters 00:04 – Introduction and Reading of the Nicene Creed 02:18 – Guests’ Backgrounds and Book Collaboration 02:57 – What Makes a Theological Classic? 07:19 – Defining the Work of Theologians as “Doctors of the Soul” 17:18 – Historical Background of the Council of Nicaea 22:47 – Why the Debate over Christ’s Relationship to the Father Mattered 28:21 – Constantine’s Role and Political Context 32:23 – Structure of the Creed and Differences Between 325 and 381 Versions 38:25 – Christology in the Creed: Begottenness, Substance, and “Light from Light” 49:50 – Visual Imagery and Theological Language 54:32 – Thinking “Nicenely” and Why It Matters Today 01:00:18 – Writing Together as Friends 01:04:21 – Classics the Guests Wish They Had Written Links Coleman Ford and Shawn Wilhite, Nicaea for Today: Why an Ancient Creed (Still) Matters Coleman Ford and Shawn Wilhite, Ancient Wisdom for the Care of Souls

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"

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

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"