Mythmoot VIII (Jun 24-27)
I shared last week about Mythmoot VIII, coming next weekend (June 24-27–a hybrid online/local event). I am busily working on my keynote speech and I hope I will see you there.
But I wanted to take a moment to advertise 3 C.S. Lewis events happening today and tomorrow–and note two great L.M. Montgomery events (one ongoing, one Saturday) and some summer things. These are all time-sensitive and free, so do not wait!
Centre for Fantasy and the Fantastic at the University of Glasgow Book Launch: From Spare Oom to War Drobe: A Journey to Narnia with Katherine Langrish (Thurs, Jun 17, 5-6:30pm BST (UK Time)/12noon-1:30pm EST)
Join us for a journey to Narnia! In the just-published From Spare Oom to War Drobe, celebrated children’s and young adult fantasy author Katherine Langrish has revisited her childhood reading of C. S. Lewis‘s Chronicles of Narnia series to explore what enchanted her in the books as a young reader, and ask whether they still have the power to do so. Hand in hand with her nine year-old self, Katherine traces many paths through Lewis’s thick forest of allusions not only to Christianity, but to Plato, fairy tales, myths, legends, medieval romances, renaissance poetry and indeed to other children’s books. She juxtaposes two very different ways of reading the Narnia stories: the adult, informed, rational way and the passionate childish way.
Katherine will be joined by the Centre for Fantasy and the Fantastic co-directors Dr Robert Maslen and Dr Dimitra Fimi, who will interview her about the book and all things Narnia, before giving attendees the opportunity to participate in a Q&A with Katherine.
Free tickets here.
Wade Centre Virtual Book Launch: After Humanity: A Guide to C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man by Michael Ward (Thurs, Jun 17, 4pm CDT/5pm EST)
The Wade Center welcomes Michael Ward for a virtual book launch of his latest work, After Humanity: A Guide to C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man. In his book, Dr. Ward sheds light on Lewis’s important but difficult work, which originated as a series of lectures on ethics that Lewis delivered during the Second World War. Ward explains both the general academic context and particular circumstances in Lewis’s life that helped give rise to The Abolition of Man, including his front-line service in the trenches of the First World War.
At the conclusion of the discussion, two viewers will be chosen to receive a free copy of After Humanity, courtesy of Word on Fire Academic. The publisher is also offering a deal that those who pre-order After Humanity will also get a free companion copy of Lewis’s The Abolition of Man. Pre-order your bundled set today and get two books for the price of one!
Register to attend on Zoom, or Watch the live stream on YouTube
InklingFolk Arts Event: The Great Divorce: Anthony Lawton’s “Mesmerizing” Solo Performance (Fri, Jun 18, 4pm EST)
Philadelphia-based actor, Anthony (Tony) Lawton has, like all of us, had a very . . . “different” year. (I was watching my language there). Despite performing professionally in over 100 productions (not to mention work in television and film) and despite founding the Mirror Theater Company (in 1998), his “upcoming performances” page says, sadly, “Sorry folks, no performances scheduled in the foreseeable future.”
OF course, we all know why.
But this Friday at 4 p.m. (PHILADELPHIA TIME!), you are invited, via Zoom, to witness what our dear friend Diana Glyer calls “brilliantly-conceived, skillfully written, superbly executed, . . . thrilling, wonder-filled, gut-wrenching, and breath-taking.” She was raving about Lawton’s solo performance of C. S. Lewis’s classic tale of heaven and hell, THE GREAT DIVORCE.
The Inkling Folk Fellowship resonates with the mission statement of Tony’s Mirror Theater Company: “Spiritual Theater for a Secular Audience.” So we couldn’t be more excited to support and sponsor his work as the world (we hope) slowly eases itself out of plague time.
We are, of course, hoping that many in our audience will become patrons by inviting Tony for some up-close and personal real-live performances in the days ahead. Yes, I mean, paying gigs.
And we, of course, hope that you will invite every human being you know (and perhaps your cats) to experience what Diana Glyer experienced when she said Tony’s performance “rattled my soul, it broke my heart, and I came away from that theatre feeling like I had experienced the full impact of C. S. Lewis’ creative power for the very first time.”
For LOTS more info about Tony Lawton and his work, plus the rave reviews by journalists and playgoers, see his website: https://anthonylawtonactor.com/. What you might also like to know is that Mr. Lawton is an excellent pie chef, and has been selling pies during the pandemic to make ends meet. Talk about talent. (for more info, see https://www.facebook.com/4starvingactor.org/).
Zoom link for event: https://luc.zoom.us/j/81571758227
L.M. Montgomery Institute: Rilla at 100: Resilience and Relevance during a Pandemic Virtual Roundtable (Sat, Jun 19th, 11am-1pm AST/10am-noon/EST)
Join the L.M. Montgomery Institute for a virtual roundtable via Zoom on Rilla at 100: Resilience and Relevance during a Pandemic.
- Watch as six perspectives come together to discuss interrelated stories from L.M. Montgomery’s Rilla of Ingleside.
- Enjoy presentations from Montgomery scholars Rita Bode, Lesley Clement, Heidi Lawrence, Andrea McKenzie, Laura Robinson, and Kate Scarth.
- Participate in discussion questions and live chat.
L.M. Montgomery Readathon: Emily of New Moon (began Jun 14th, ongoing)
Developing out of a need for pandemic-era connection, and led by Montgomery scholars such as Andrea MacKenzie (MaudCast guest) and Ben Lefebvre (editor extraordinaire), the readathon has just begun one of my favourite artistic books ever: Emily of New Moon. You have to register for the private group on Facebook, but it is a nice reading community to hear friends read the chapters and discuss ideas in the novel and in Montgomery’s contexts.
Summer Events: Mythcon and the Tolkien Society
I also hope you will attend Mythcon’s affordable “Halfling” online mini-conference (July 31-Aug 1) or check out the many great events by the Tolkien Society including the Summer Seminar (Jul 3-4) and Oxonmoot (Sep 2-5) (what a great year they have had!).
Thankyou very much for including me and my book in this very stellar list! All best, Katherine
On Thu, 17 Jun 2021 at 14:13, A Pilgrim in Narnia wrote:
> Brenton Dickieson posted: “Mythmoot VIII (Jun 24-27) I shared last week > about Mythmoot VIII, coming next weekend (June 24-27–a hybrid online/local > event). I am busily working on my keynote speech and I hope I will see you > there. But I wanted to take a moment to advertise 3 Lewi” >
Dear Katherine, it was quite a compelling discussion. I am quite taken by your approach to writing the book and I like the thoughtful way you addressed questions. I perhaps would not have noted the event except Tolkienist John Garth encouraged me to pay attention to your work. I will add the video from your book chat and look forward to reading it myself.
Pingback: C.S. Lewis Book Launches: Katherine Langrish’s Journey to Narnia “From Spare Oom to War Drobe” and Michael Ward’s Guide to the Abolition of Man “After Humanity” (Full Videos) | A Pilgrim in Narnia
Not having participated in ‘Rilla at 100: Resilience and Relevance during a Pandemic Virtual Roundtable’, and having seen a short, undated (as far as I can quickly discover – but with comments dated “4 years ago” – !) Smithsonian Magazine article online, ‘Why Did So Few Novels Tackle the 1918 Pandemic?’, with sub-heading beginning, ‘Surprisingly few U.S. writers touched by the 1918 pandemic wrote about it’ – what-all did LMM write about it in her fiction – including poetry? And how did that compare or contrast with her unpublished writings?
If I’ve forgotten where you told us this already, do please link it – and, if the quickest answer is, ‘see the Roundtable’, how?
I asked your question, incidentally, at the roundtable–not having seen your note (which was later, in any case). I am not convinced that LMM really knew there was a pandemic. I can see signs of it in her journals, but I think the rural Toronto bedroom farming towns just didn’t experience it like this. It is a thing I await for in knowing.
This, btw, with Montgomery’s best friend dying of “influenza” in early 1919!