Category Archives: Thoughtful Essays

Let’s Talk About Samwise Gamgee: Tolkien’s Greatest Characters on the Plunge Podcast with Derek Holser

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Brenton Dickieson

Ah, Sam, what a character. When Derek Holser reached out to me about his Tolkien’s Greatest Characters series on the Plunge, Samwise Gamgee came first to mind. The most hobbitish of heroes, the gardening guardian, most faithful companion of the fellowship, … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links, Reflections, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged Derek Holser, film adaptation, friendship, Inklings, J.R.R. Tolkien, literature, Lord of the Rings, Samwise Gamgee, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Plunge Podcast, writing | 1 Comment

11/22/63: The Day that C.S. Lewis Died

Posted on November 22, 2024 by

The author reflects on the cultural significance of iconic historical moments in America compared to Canada, sharing personal memories tied to events like JFK’s assassination and 9/11. C.S. Lewis’s legacy is highlighted, indicating he may be remembered longer than some American figures. The piece emphasizes the enduring impact of these memories and legacies. Continue reading →

Posted in Lewis Biography, Reflections, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged 11/22/63, 9/11, Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, C.S. Lewis, Canada, Death, Doctor Who, Independence Day, John F. Kennedy, John Lennon, Lady Diana, Mother Teresa, Narnia, The Beatles, Tiananmen Square | 17 Comments

“A Sense of the Season”: C.S. Lewis’ Birthday Pivot and the Cambridge Inaugural Address (Updated 2022)

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

In the autumn of 1954 at the age of 56, C.S. Lewis was at the height of his academic career. With a chance to speak to the academic community at Cambridge and the listening world on the BBC, Lewis used … Continue reading →

Posted in Lewis Biography, Original Research, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged Abigail Santamaria, anthropology, autoethnography, BBC Talks, C.S. Lewis, De Descriptione Temporum, English Literature in the Sixteenth Century, F.R. Leavis, I.A. Richards, J.R.R. Tolkien, Joy Davidman, literature, Mere Christianity, Narnia, OHEL, Reflections on the Psalms, Surprised by Joy, The Discarded Image, theology, WWI | 9 Comments

Nick Tosches’ Remarkable Introduction to William Lindsay Gresham’s Novel “Nightmare Alley” (Nightmare Alley Series)

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

At A Pilgrim in Narnia, we are in the midst of the “Nightmare Alley Series,” inspired by Guillermo del Toro’s new film starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Willem Dafoe, and Toni Colette. Moving back from the star-filled screen … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged Bill Gresham, Bradley Cooper, C.S. Lewis, Cate Blanchett, Ezra Pound, Freud, Jerry Lee Lewis, Joy Davidman, Nightmare Alley, Rooney Mara, That Hideous Strength, Toni Colette, Willem Dafoe, William Lindsay Gresham, William Wordsworth | 4 Comments

“From Communist to Christian”: William Lindsay Gresham’s Conversion Story (Nightmare Alley Series)

Posted on January 4, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

At A Pilgrim in Narnia, we have been looking at Guillermo del Toro’s critically acclaimed new film, Nightmare Alley, and its connections to the past. The 2021 film, is an adaptation of the 1946 novel by William Lindsay Gresham, the … Continue reading →