Monthly Archives: September 2014

My First Hour at the Bodleian Library, Oxford

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

I arrive early to the Bodleian library in Oxford, very nervous and quite intimidated. The attached quadrant has named each of its doorways in Latin: Schola Grammaticae et Historiae and Schola Naturalis Philosophiae. I have to go to the Clarendon … Continue reading →

Posted in Original Research, Reflections | Tagged academic, Bodleian Library, C.S. Lewis, manuscripts, Oxford, research, travel, unpublished manuscript | 23 Comments

10 Great Quotations from T. S. Eliot on His Birthday

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

Interesting Literature T. S. Eliot was born on 26 September 1888. So, on what would have been his 126th birthday, we’ve compiled ten of our favourite quotations from the great poet, playwright, critic, editor, and publisher. All of them are … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links, Reflections | Tagged cheese, courage, On Writing, Poetry, T.S. Eliot, writing | 5 Comments

On Monasticism and New Monasticism

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

I am posting this from the Gladstone’s library. This is a relatively new library for Wales (the 19th century), and is the Prime Minister’s own library, though he isn’t here at the moment. I am sitting in the theology reading … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Gladstone's Library, History, Jean Vanier, Monasticism, monks, New Monasticism, Shane Claiborne, theology, Theology of Culture, Wales | 19 Comments

Leuven to Chester in 12 Hours (Live Tweeting Adventure)

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

08:59 Very thankful for church bells in Leuven; set my Mon-Fri alarm on Sunday #fail 09:00 Evidently I am incapable of sleeping in Europe. Ugh. 09:01 Breakfast: three leftover sips from a Coke Zero named Michaël 09:15 Finished last Belgian … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Reviews | Tagged Belgium, Beowulf, British Library, Chester, cows, Doctor Who, France, Leuven, London, research, Starbucks, The Beatles, travel | 26 Comments

You Are Here: My First Afternoon in Leuven

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

My first few hours of Leuven, Belgium is captured perfectly by the very helpful city maps scattered throughout its shops and streets. A series of cobblestone paths and stone houses radiating out of the ancient University centre, the maps capture … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged bathrooms, beer, Belgium, bicycles, Europe, Leuven, Stella Artois, travel, University, wifi | 19 Comments

Wow, What a Fall!

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

Or a trip–choose your double entendre. I have been impeccably busy these last few weeks, so that family meals have been like Gatorade cups in a marathon, and my garden has started to engulf the neighbour’s Buick. The wood is … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links | Tagged academic, C.S. Lewis, fantasy, Inklings, ISRLC, literature, Oxford, Ransom Trilogy, Teaching, The Screwtape Letters, theology, writing | 8 Comments

Falling Towers and Failing Courage: The Sleeping Giant a Decade after 9/11

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

How have we moved and grown in our reflection on 9/11? My family walked through the 9/11 site a couple of summers ago, the great testament of this experience to Lower Manhattan’s story. Tourists streamed through, office workers streamed by, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged 9/11, Afghanistan, BBC, C.S. Lewis, Canada, courage, honor, Iraq, ISIS, Mere Christianity, President Obama, retreat, shame, war, WWI, WWII | 13 Comments

10 Great Quotations for International Literacy Day

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

Some Inspiration for International Literacy Day! Interesting Literature Today is International Literacy Day! What better time, then, to celebrate some of the wisest, wittiest, pithiest, silliest, and most profound things that writers have ever said about literature and reading? The … Continue reading →