Of Fiction and Faith: Twelve American Writers Talk about Their Vision and Work - Softcover

Brown, Dale

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0802843131 ISBN 13: 9780802843135

Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans-Lightning Source, 1997

Synopsis

Of Fiction and Faith features in-depth, personal interviews between W. Dale Brown and twelve American writers-from celebrated award winners to those just beginning to find readers. Conducted over a five-year period, these face-to-face interviews provide a window into the personal and literary lives of some of our most significant writers. Here the writers candidly discuss their careers and published works as well as their works in progress and their general views of the profession. In each case, the authors also talk about the intersection between faith and fiction and the role of religion in the work of a writer. Featuring interviews with: Doris Betts Frederick Buechner Robert Olen Butler Will Campbell Elizabeth Dewberry Clyde Edgerton Denise Giardina Robert Goldsborough Jon Hassler Garrison Keillor Peggy Payne Walter Wangerin Of Fiction and Faith also includes photographs, a brief introduction to each of the writers, and a chronological listing of their work. Taken together, the interviews provide a perceptive analysis of contemporary literature and a challenge to the practice of labeling books as "Christian" or "secular." In addition to serving those who are fans of one or more of these writers, this engaging volume will prove to be an excellent resource for those interested in finding quality fiction for personal reading. "Cozy fireside conversations with a dozen contemporary writers on their faith, carefully arranged and thoughtfully conceived." - Kirkus Reviews

About this title

About the Author:

W. Dale Brown is professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

From Kirkus Reviews:

Cozy fireside conversations with a dozen contemporary writers on their faith, carefully arranged and thoughtfully conceived. Brown (English/Calvin Coll.) has gathered together conversations with 12 Christian writers, most of whom say they are uncomfortable with that term. The authors range from those renowned in Christian circles (Frederick Buechner and Walter Wangerin) to the more widely famous (Garrison Keillor, who is very provocative and outspoken about his vision for the church, and southern hellion Will Campbell). Brown also includes writers who are not yet household names, like newcomer Elizabeth Dewberry and longtime novelist Doris Betts, and popular authors most readers probably don't think of as Christian, like mystery writer Robert Goldsborough. Compiler Brown is fully engaged in these conversations, but allows the writers to speak for themselves (his introduction is less than three pages long, a refreshing brevity). Implicitly, his subtext seems to be that for these writers, there are a dozen different ways of manifesting their faith in their work. Brown is very critical of the throw-away fiction found in most Christian bookstores, and is intrigued by the fact that some of these bookstores won't even stock meaty novelists such as Campbell or Buechner. The writers discuss their stylistic and theological influences (Graham Greene, Annie Dillard, and Walker Percy win high marks from many). They reflect upon their perceived audiences, occasional hate mail, and stinging reviews; it is difficult, it seems, to write fiction with a Christian message when many Christian readers seem to prefer simplistic morality tales with squeaky-clean language, and when ``secular'' readers are often turned off by theology. Brown has included a useful bibliography for each writer, pointing to further pleasures. The book's only real flaw is its fairly narrow perspective: All but one of the subjects are mainline Protestant (the exception being Jon Hassler, who is Catholic), most are male, and all are white. (12 b&w photos, not seen) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans-Lightning Source
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0802843131
• ISBN 13: 9780802843135
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 278