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thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: July 5th, 2009, 3:05 am
by Adam Linton
I'd read a number of things by Charles Williams, English lay theologian and writer (and Inkling, as well). But not until now his Descent Into Hell. Yesterday and today I actually had two straight full days off and have been reading it. Williams is not easy to read (for a number of reasons). Yet I do find him compelling--and Descent is nothing less than stunning. Engaging; deeply moving at times--chilling, too, as he is able to describe in vivid power the highly consequential difference that barely noticed emotional/cognitive decisions can make. Magnificent.

Williams has to be read slowly; but he certainly can be gripping--making one both want to strain ahead but also not miss anything. (Many thanks, by the way--and for the record, to Stanley, who helped/encouraged me to get started with Williams a few years ago.)

So I thought that I'd open a free flowing Charles Williams thread here.

Welcome to the world of Co-Inherence.

Any takers?

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: July 23rd, 2009, 9:54 pm
by Paul F. Ford
Adam,

Descent Into Hell is a book I can read only during the daylight, such is its power to grip my imagination.

I forget who said that That Hideous Strength is a Charles Williams novel written by C. S. Lewis. I find this observation very true.

I have read a great deal of Charles Williams. In fact, for our wedding, George Sayer gave Janice and me Lewis's own copy of Williams's anthology, The Christian Year, inscribed "C.S.L. from C.W. / Lent 1941."

Let's see if we can get this discussion started.

Blessings,
Paul

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: July 24th, 2009, 3:12 pm
by Adam Linton
Thanks, Paul; indeed, I’d like to see the discussion get going.

I’m fairly new with Williams, only having started with him about five years ago. Can’t say that I’ve read that much.

So far: All Hallows’ Eve, War in Heaven, The Place of the Lion, Descent into Hell, and his play on Thomas Cranmer. Just launching into Many Dimensions. I’ve decided to do with Williams what I do with particular authors every few years: undertake a one to two years extensive reading through their work.

I’d be very open to suggestions. At this point, in terms of the non-fiction, I’m inclined to start with Descent of the Dove (perhaps keying into some other work that I’m doing in ecclesiology), then He Came Down from Heaven/The Forgiveness of Sins.

And while I’m usually fairly strict about reading secondary literature second, I’d be most interested in hearing of what you’ve written in terms of Williams studies

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: July 24th, 2009, 4:04 pm
by Paul F. Ford
Descent of the Dove is great, as is He Came Down from Heaven/The Forgiveness of Sins.

Do you know his The Image of the City and Other Essays (Oxford, 1958)? Cowley Publicatins has a collection called Charles Williams: Essential Writings in Spirituality and Theology (1993: ISBN 1-56101-073-1).

I am most intrigued/moved by his theology of co-inherence.

What work are you doing in ecclesiology?

My only writing on Williams is in my dissertation (not published).

Blessings,
Paul

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: July 24th, 2009, 4:38 pm
by Adam Linton

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: August 1st, 2009, 8:48 am
by agingjb
There is also Williams' Arthurian poetry: Taliessin Through Logres and The Region of the Summer Stars, together with Arthurian Torso, which is a partially completed series of essays by Williams, The Figure of Arthur and a commentary by CSL, Williams and the Arthuriad, on the poems.

I find the poetry hard going, but the essays interesting.

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: August 1st, 2009, 2:32 pm
by Adam Linton

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: August 1st, 2009, 3:05 pm
by galion
And at a slight tangent: his The Figure of Beatrice (1943) inspired Dorothy L. Sayers to embark on her translation of Dante.

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: September 4th, 2009, 2:57 pm
by The Exodus
In brief, could anyone educate me as to what C.W.'s doctrine of co-inherence is all about? I've never read anything by the man.

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: September 4th, 2009, 3:43 pm
by Paul F. Ford

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: September 28th, 2009, 3:00 pm
by Lioba
The only book I´ve read so far is The Place of the Lion. It´s rather difficult to get books in foreign languages. Is their a possibility to read Williams on the net?

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: September 28th, 2009, 3:49 pm
by Paul F. Ford
Yes, Lioba, it appears that a lot of Williams (nine books) is available to the internet:

Blessings,
Paul

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: September 29th, 2009, 8:57 am
by Lioba
Thank you, Paul, this wikisource is much better than the German.

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: November 20th, 2009, 5:11 pm
by equustel
I just recently read The Place of the Lion - my first exposure to Charles Williams. A co-worker who knew I liked Lewis lent me an old paperback copy of it. I'm now completely intrigued and have ordered Descent of the Dove from biblio.com to get a taste for his non-fiction... definitely intend to seek out his other novels, too (especially curious about All Hallow's Eve and Descent Into Hell). It's been a long time since I found myself so compelled to explore a single author's work.

Re: thoughts on Charles Williams

PostPosted: November 21st, 2009, 12:28 pm
by Adam Linton