Monthly Archives: December 2017

The Top 6 New Posts of 2017

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

In 2017, A Pilgrim in Narnia passed a number of milestones. We passed the 700-post threshold, had our 500,000th hit, were shared for the 10,000th time, and are nearing in on 7,000 followers. We had our seven biggest months this year, … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links, On Writing, Studies in Words | Tagged Beren and Lúthien, Blogging, C.S. Lewis, Dorothy L. Sayers, J.R.R. Tolkien, Joy Davidman, Sr. Penelope, Studies in Words, The Silmarillion, The Tale of Beren and Lúthien, writing | 7 Comments

“On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity” by John Milton

Posted on December 25, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

On this morning that transforms all mornings, I thought I would share from one of the masters. My copy of John Milton’s Paradise Lost includes a number of other poems. One of these is “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity.” There … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Christmas, hymns, John Milton, Nativity, Paradise Lost, Poetry | 22 Comments

C.S. Lewis’ Christmas Sermon for Pagans (Friday Feature)

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

I have spoken often enough of literary Providence: from time to time the book we really need falls from the shelf, lands in our mailbox, or gets handed to us by a friend (or enemy) at the very best time. … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature Friday, Lewis Biography, Memorable Quotes, News & Links, Original Research | Tagged archival research, archive, C.S. Lewis, Christmas, Christmas Sermon for Pagans, research, Sherlock Holmes, That Hideous Strength, The Abolition of Man, The Strand Magazine | 25 Comments

The Words C.S. Lewis Made Up: Aristocratophobia and Lowerarchy

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

This is the 10th in the series on words that C.S. Lewis made up. In his tinkering with ideas, and in his letters and essays, Lewis would sometimes create new turns of phrase when it was needed. Today we go low … Continue reading →

Posted in Studies in Words, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged Aristocratophobia, Arthur C. Clarke, bureaucracy, C.S. Lewis, H.G. Wells, hierarchy, Lowerarchy, On Other Worlds, On Stories, Perelandra, Ray Bradbury, Studies in Words, The Screwtape Letters, Theology of Culture, writing | 9 Comments

What is the Significance of Worc(h)ester in C.S. Lewis’ Ransom Cycle?

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

This is an honest question that I hope readers can help me with, and a proposal I would like to test out. C.S. Lewis’ second space travel adventure, Perelandra, begins like this: “As I left the railway station at Worchester….” … Continue reading →

Posted in Fictional Worlds, Lewis Biography | Tagged Arthuriana, C.S. Lewis, George Sayer, Inklings and King Arthur, Malvern College, merlin, Oxford, Perelandra, Ransom Trilogy, Surprised by Joy, That Hideous Strength, The War of the Worlds, Tyndale, Worcester, writing | 42 Comments

Book Launch Party for “The Inklings and King Arthur”!

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

Originally posted on The Oddest Inkling:
I am happy to announce that The Inklings and King Arthur is scheduled for publication on January 1st, 2018, and TexMoot has the honor of hosting the book release party! This celebration will take place between…

Posted in News & Links, Original Research | Tagged Arthuriana, Inklings and King Arthur | Leave a comment

The Words C.S. Lewis Made Up: Re/Anti/Un/Ness

Posted on December 13, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

Behind C.S. Lewis’ famous Narnian chronicles was his experience as a teacher of English literature, a writer about the history of literary movements, and a tinker in other forms of fiction. In that tinkering, and in his letters and essays, … Continue reading →

Posted in Studies in Words, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged Both Sides of the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis, English Literature in the Sixteenth Century, g k chesterton, letters, love, OHEL, Studies in Words, Surprised by Joy, The Four Loves, The Magician's Nephew, The Screwtape Letters, Theology of Culture, writing | 2 Comments

A Call for Guest Posts: The Inklings and King Arthur with Guest Editor David Llewellyn Dodds

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

It is an intriguing fact of literary history that the Inklings were individually fascinated by the Arthurian legends. Christopher Tolkien’s publication of his father’s The Fall of Arthur caused a literary sensation in 2013, highlighting how deeply the Matter of … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged books, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Inklings, Inklings and King Arthur, J.R.R. Tolkien, owen barfield, Roger Lancelyn Green, Sørina Higgins, The Inklings and King Arthur | 18 Comments

Announcement: The Wade Center Welcomes New Co-Directors Crystal and David C. Downing

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

Well, this is a coup! Drs. Crystal and David Downing have been appointed as Co-Directors of the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College. As readers will know, the Wade is the premier North American deposit of archival and library … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Crystal Downing, david downing, Dorothy L. Sayers, g k chesterton, George MacDonald, Inklings, J.R.R. Tolkien, Marion E. Wade Center, owen barfield | 4 Comments

Mythgard Movie Club: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Friday Feature)

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Brenton Dickieson

I had a great time this week discussing the GenX cult classic Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This evocative 2004 film is rich in intertextual conversation and philosophical questions, as you can see from a couple of hours of conversation … Continue reading →