tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22560219.post1921999596052777520..comments2023-12-07T20:31:28.197-05:00Comments on Islands of Joy: Charles Williams: The Great Magician of the BizarreSørina Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907200327850346539noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22560219.post-14390046160127535972007-06-20T12:27:00.000-05:002007-06-20T12:27:00.000-05:00Finally, a wonderful weekend of theatre, movies, a...Finally, a wonderful weekend of theatre, movies, and music with my sisters has (regrettably) come to an end, as have (less regrettably) several days of homeschool evaluations and one of thesis-rewriting. I greatly enjoy the actual evaluating—which consists of an “interview” of the student and mother/guardian in which they (and I) get to delight in a year of work well done—but the writing up of the letter afterwards is tedious and consumes time I’d like to be spending on CSL or Williams. <BR/><BR/>So back to those dear friends! I finished CSL’s letters tonight, to my great relief and sadness. An old friend has died. And so has an almost endless task. Now to the writing! <BR/><BR/>And I’ve read Williams’ <I>All Hallows’ Eve</I>--one of his best, definitely one of his best. <BR/><BR/>Rosie: I’d love to get the Wilkinson lectures you recommend, but they’re a bit pricey for me right now! Thanks a boatload for your lecture notes. Yes, I know about the Charles Williams Society, Charles Williams: The New Christian Year blog, and the “Co-Inherence” list. Thanks. I’ve been involved in a discussion there about how to understand and define “co-inherence,” which might show up here sometime too. <BR/><BR/>Ariel: You’re right. CSL tried to put CW’s “substitution” into practice when Joy was (first) dying of cancer of the bones. Joy had lost a lot of her calcium in the process, which left her unable to walk. Her thigh bone had “snapped like a twig.” Lewis prayed that, if possible, he would give up his calcium for her—and lo and behold, he developed osteoporosis (very unusual for a man of 58). See his letter of 27 November 1957 to Sheldon Vanauken. <BR/><BR/>And yes, CW did either dabble personally in the occult, or at least found it a fascinating field for study. I’ll let you know after I read a bio. <BR/><BR/>Tim: Thanks for commenting! I would say that I envy your collection of his first editions, but for the fact that I’m an inveterate book-killer. I bend spines, fold pages, dog-ear, crack bindings, scribble all over margins and fly-leaves. So I’ve come to adore cheap paperback editions on which I can make my mark! I’d love to hear more of what you have to say about <I> Shadows of Ecstasy</I>, because that’s the one that creeped me out the most! In it, his villain got uninhibited page-space to teach his doctrines, live his blasphemies, and persuade his potential disciples—all, I felt, without any discernable check or critique from Williams. And the book even ended (bit of a spoiler folks, sorry) with an ambiguous promise that he might return, King Arthur-style. So I felt rather sick inside my orthodox soul about how CW could, in good conscience (literally), give this anti-Christ such free reign to preach his new gospel. And how he could have his serenity-character (there’s always one of unshakeable tranquility in each novel) Isabel be one who at least encouraged her husband to follow the blasphemer, if not follow him herself. I’d love your feedback. Please help!Sørina Higginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10907200327850346539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22560219.post-6902018546569699212007-06-14T19:49:00.000-05:002007-06-14T19:49:00.000-05:00Sorina, you are aware, I presume, of the Charles W...Sorina, you are aware, I presume, of the <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/charles_wms_soc" REL="nofollow">Charles Williams Society</A>? They might have some useful resources.<BR/><BR/>The CWS website pointed me to a link to a blog, <A HREF="http://tomwills.typepad.com/thenewchristianyear" REL="nofollow">Charles Williams: The New Christian Year</A>, which is essentially a reprint of two devotionals chosen by Williams. The intro to that blog has an intriguing quote: "Williams was also cited as a major influence on W.H. Auden's conversion to Christianity." Having recently become a lover of Auden's poetry, I'd sure be interested to know more about Williams's influence on him. I wonder where that fact "was...cited" from.<BR/><BR/>Finally, there is also "Co-Inherence" (<A HREF="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coinherence-l" REL="nofollow">coinherence-l</A>) on Yahoo! Groups, a "lightly moderated e-list for discussion and application of the works and ideas of Charles Williams."Rosie Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09554035581795923555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22560219.post-26017577461668581082007-06-14T07:18:00.000-05:002007-06-14T07:18:00.000-05:00Sent here courtesy of Arie at BittersweetLife, who...Sent here courtesy of Arie at BittersweetLife, who was kind enough to send me an email alerting me about this post. Charles Williams is one of my favorite authors; I've even made it a point to begin a collection of his first editions.<BR/><BR/>I've read all seven of the 'metaphysical thrillers' (my favorite description) at least once and even spent a considerable amount of time writing a paper on one (The Shadows of Ecstasy; not his best, but fascinating in its own right), which perhaps I may send you part of.<BR/><BR/>To answer one of your questions; I'm somewhat familiar with William's biography, but I'm sure there are things I've missed. Any and all aspects of his biography are of interest to me.Tim P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03433322401262068694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22560219.post-80550295830981581602007-06-13T23:07:00.000-05:002007-06-13T23:07:00.000-05:00This is fascinating. I'm afraid my own reading of ...This is fascinating. I'm afraid my own reading of Williams happened too long ago to be of much use, but I've been intending to read him again for some time. <BR/><BR/>Most of what I know/remember has been brought to mind by his interactions with Lewis. I recall that Lewis felt that CW's thoughts on substitution/exchange had some validity, especially as Lewis watched by his wife's death bed. I also recall that CW had a reputation for dabbling in the occult..? <BR/><BR/>Clearly, a multifaceted man.AJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16135729997685992811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22560219.post-75284149640372772812007-06-12T21:07:00.000-05:002007-06-12T21:07:00.000-05:00I highly recommend you get yourself a copy of Lore...I <B>highly</B> recommend you get yourself a copy of Loren Wilkinson's <A HREF="https://shop3.gospelcom.net/epages/RegentCollegeBookstore.storefront/466f4d7701de8ef4271e45579e7b06dc/Product/View/RGCD3506S" REL="nofollow">Under the Mercy: The Literature and Theology of Charles Williams</A>, a 10 CD set of a course taught at Regent College. Available from the Regent Bookstore through that link. I've heard Loren introduce Williams only in one lecture when we studied his book <I>The Place of the Lion</I> in Loren's Christianity & Literature class, but that was enough to know that Loren has a lot of insight into what makes Williams tick and how to interpret him. A whole course on Williams by him would be amazing. Loren said that Williams is one of the 5-10 people who have influenced him the most. And Loren is one of the 5-10 people who have influenced <B><I>me</I></B> the most, so I can't speak more highly of his teaching.<BR/><BR/>I will scan my notes and the handout from that day of class and email them to you.Rosie Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09554035581795923555noreply@blogger.com