Tag Archives: Death

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 Grief Observed: A Talk on the Anniversary of My Parents’ Deaths, with C.S. Lewis

Posted on February 4, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

Here is a little piece on a special day: the anniversary of the death of my father and brother on a villainously cold night when I was fourteen, and on the eve of the anniversary of my mother’s passing in … Continue reading →

Posted in Original Research, Reflections | Tagged A Grief Observed, academics, C.S. Lewis, Death, Douglas Gresham, fatherhood, grief, love, Madeleine L'Engle, mourning, orpan tales, parenting, Teaching, The Problem of Pain, The Shape of Water | 7 Comments

Avoiding The Road, 31 Years

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

For fifteen years I have avoided The Road. Perhaps longer. I did not need the book description to know that I would avoid reading it. I picked it up, held it in my hand, and I knew. It was Cormac … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Reviews | Tagged Blood Diamonds, books, Cormac McCarthy, Death, father, fire, Post, The Kite Runner, The Pursuit of Happiness, The Road, The Walking Dead | 7 Comments

The Living Lie, But Dead Men Tell the Truth: The Screwtape Letters and Ivan Ilych

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Brenton Dickieson

In Leo Tolstoy’s brilliant novella, The Death of Ivan Ilych (1886), there is a curious pun in the English translation I use (Aylmer Maude): “The dead man lay, as dead men always lie” (96). As the title suggests, The Death of Ivan … Continue reading →

Posted in Original Research, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged Ars moriendi, C.S. Lewis, cruciformity, Death, Leo Tolstoy, Memento Mori, Nicholas Lezard, The Art of Dying Well, The Death of Ivan Ilych, The Problem of Pain, The Screwtape Letters | 20 Comments

Celebrations of Life: 30 Years, 4 Years, Today

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Brenton Dickieson

Today is the 30th anniversary of the death of my father and baby brother. I saw them perish in a fire when I was a boy–an event that has shaped not just my family life, but my entire understanding of … Continue reading →