Ideal of Kingship in the Writings of Charles Williams, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien by Christopher Scarf

Ideal of Kingship in the Writings of Charles Williams, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien by Christopher Scarf

In his distinctive work, Christopher Scarf explores the writings of the three most prominent Oxford Inklings - Charles Williams (1886-1945), C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), and J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) - to reveal and contrast their conceptions of the ideal of 'kingship'; divine, human, and mythological. As practising Christians, the faith of all three writers was central to their literary and personal visions of kingship, society, love, beauty, justice and power. Scarf investigates their beliefin God as Creator and heavenly King, opinions on the nature of His very being, and the way in which all believed the Creator to be unique rather than one among many. The relationship between the earthly and heavenly King is considered, as well as the extent to which the writers contend that earthly kings are God's viceregents, act with His authority, and are duty-bound to establish and sustain just and joyous societies. Examining the writings of all three men in detail, Scarf also highlights the covert evidence of their lives and personalities which may be discovered in their texts. An understanding of the authors' individual but overlapping views of the essential meaning of Kingship, and their personalities and early lives, will enrichthe reader's appreciation of their created worlds. This volume provides a unique focus on Kingship and the Christian beliefs of three well-loved writers, and will be of interest to any reader seeking a fuller understanding of the individuals and their works.

'History, myth, Christian theology and the poetic imagination are all drawn together in this unusual study of three very different literary figuresBy focussing on kingship the author opens up new perspectives on hitherto relatively neglected aspects of the thought and writings of the Inklings.' Dr Brian Horne, Chairman of the Charles Williams Society & Former Senior Lecturer of Theology at King's College, London "This is a knowledgeable and sympathetic study wich brings us closer to the outlook of three intriguing writers moulded by a world we have already left behind us. Dr Scarf is impressively familiar with the rich and varied cultural frame of reference within which the Inklings operated. Even more important, he is imaginatively responsive, as they were, to the traditions of kingship and Christianity and the connections between them. He is a helpful and reliable guide through the countries of their minds." Norman Vance, Professor of English Literature and Intellectual History (English), University of Sussex. 'The author explores his subject matter quite thoroughly, with careful scholarship [...]. This is an excellent study of its subject, [...]. We are able to recommend it heartily.' Minas Tirith Evening-Star, Volume 41, Number 1, Autumn 2013 'This exploration of this ideal in relation to biblical and contemporary political ideas will richly reward those readers looking to explore more deeply the fundamental convictions that give them such appeal. The book can be thoroughly recommended as a well-researched commentary on a major literary phenomenon.' Ronald E. Clements, Emeritus Professor of Old Testament Studies, King's College, London "A compelling study which looks at three of the world's most famous authors from a unique perspective, and offers novel insights into their much-loved works. The Ideal of Kingship will please literature scholars, theology students or fans of these great authors' work. This volume provides a unique focus on Kingship and the Christian beliefs of three well-loved writers, and be of interest to any reader seeking a fuller understanding of the individuals and their works." Pieter Collier, in TolkienLibrary.com, 5th of March of 2014 "Dr Scarf, who has himself a strong sense of the grandeur, the 'mystique', of kingship, has read extensively both in the three authors themselves and in secondary sources." Richard Strutch, Journal of Theological Studies, Vol 65, Issue 1, (April, 2014) 'Scarf focuses not simply on kingship, but the exact ways in which many presentations of or allusions to kingship as it appears in the fiction, nonfiction, and poetry of the three best-known Inklings is a reflection of a very specific concept about God ... this book is well worth reading for anyone interest in a specifically Christian interpretation of the work of Tolkien, Lewis and Williams. It is also worthwhile for those who are interested in the idea of kingship as presented in their books. ... Christopher Scarf has created a scholarly approach to a narrow concept that presents some rare gems waiting to be mined by the careful reader.' Melody Green, in Mythlore, Vol 32, Issue 2, Spring/Summer 2014 "Dr Christopher Scarf's study of monarchy in the works of the three best-known Inklings provides a comprehensive introduction to the subject...This overview contains well-documented, detailed analysis..." Suzanne Bray, Modern Believing, vol 55, Issue 2 (2014) "For committed scholars of this period and these authors, this study will no doubt offer rich and thoughtful comparative material". Alison Jack, in "The Expository Times", vol. 126, issue 5, February 2015 "Scarf's book is a valuable study given the sheer scale of American Evangelical-Republican support of Tolkien and Lewis's works and belief's." P.H.Brazier, in "The Heythrope Journal, vol. 56, issue 2, March 2015 "Scarf weaves (at least historical) theology in with British and European history, culture, and literature in a way that contextualizes the authors to great effect. A person who is reading for that reason will find considerable profit herein, and I am happy to recommend it for that purpose." -Clifford T. Winters, Theological Book Review, Vol. 27 No.1, 2016

Dr Christopher Scarf studied Music at Wadham College, Oxford. He took an M.A. in Liturgical Music at the Anglia Polytechnic University and a D.Phil. in English Literature (with some aspects of Theology and History) at the University of Sussex. Once Assistant Organist at Ely Cathedral, he now lives in Devon, where he is Master of the Music at St Marychurch Parish Church. He is married, and has a son, who is a solicitor in London.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780227174012
ISBN 10	0227174011
Title	Ideal of Kingship in the Writings of Charles Williams, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien
Author	Christopher Scarf
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	James Clarke and Co Ltd
Year published	2013-06-27
Number of pages	200
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable