Customer Reviews

Ironies of Faith: The Laughter at the Heart of Christian Literature

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Anthony Esolen (Professor of English, Providence College) presents Ironies of Earth: The Laughter at the Heart of Christian Literature, a thoughtful examination of irony in Christian art and life. Ironies of time, power, and love are discussed, as are the insights and interpretations of classic authors: Augustine, Dante, Shakespeare, Tolkien, Mauriac, Milton, Herbert, Hopkins, Dickens, Dostoyevsky, and the anonymous author of the medieval poem "Pearl", among others. Esolen seeks to reveal the qualities of irony that deserve more than simply being pointed out - irony has the potential to transform worldviews and even bring redemptive laughter. A scholarly scrutiny that dares to define the virtually indefinable.

I first discovered this work hearing Esolen interviewed by Ken Myers. Esolen intrigued me enough to order his book right away!

This book is nourishing! Ironies of Faith is more than just about irony. It's about seeing human foibles for what they are and how goodness, truth, and beauty run to the rescue in unexpected ways. Esolen writes with a fine and enjoyable pen, with lovely turns of phrases and superb quotability.

I wish more writers had Esolen's way of seeing. His work is not disposable. It is more spiritual than most of the "spirituality" best-sellers. The Christian imagination would foster better conversation and a better world!

If you want to know what the Christian imagination really looks like, you'll find it here. I read it slowly as every page is littered with nuggets.

As an itinerant speaker and apologist, I treasure works like these that create a fountain of resource and a vision to walk into.

One has to have the books commented here very fresh in mind, and also be on the same level of literary proficiency as the author, to be able to see the irony established between the secular classics and the biblical references or moral in question. If we take for granted that it is so, I assure you a most enjoyable reading time, because the tone is undestated, friendly, and the mood is calm, pensive.

On the other hand, if what I said above does not apply to you (as to me me), or you even haven't read most of the books reviewed here, then you will be lost, frustratingly lost.

The author had a really good idea in mind. The purpose was good. But it wouldn't have cost him much to introduce to us a little about the books and their authors. It's not that you have to summarize the whole story, but give us a hand here. Please.

I bought this book based on an article I read in Memoria Press' "The Classical Teacher." I really liked the article, but I'm struggling to read the book. Although I have a Master's degree, it is not in the Classics and I have not read most of the works that are discussed in this book. I find myself having to read and re-read each paragraph and I'm not sure I will be able to finish it without first reading some of the classical literature. If you haven't read much of what is referenced in the reviews, it might be best to read the works of literature to be discussed first and then buy this book. I just love the topic and I think it is a great book for anyone who is more well-read than I am. :) (Somebody let me know when "Ironies of Faith for Dummies" is released. Ha-ha.)