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The Greater Trumps Paperback – April 1, 2003

by Charles Williams (Author)
15 customer reviews
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Charles Williams—novelist, poet, critic, dramatist and biographer—died in his native England in May, 1945. He had a lively and devoted following there and achieved a considerable reputation as a lecturer on the faculty of Oxford University. T. S. Eliot, Dorothy Sayers and C. S. Lewis were among his distinguished friends and literary sponsors. He was also a member of the Inklings, a group of Christian writers that included J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings.
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Regent College Publishing (April 1, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1573831115
  • ISBN-13: 978-1573831116
  • Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.6 x 8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,228,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 74 people found the following review helpful
The Knowledge of the Fool & The Everlasting Dance
By Nigel Jackson on August 30, 2004
Format: Paperback
Over the years I have read and re-read this 1932 novel by Charles Williams many times - it continues to fascinate me, exerts a peculiar hold upon my mind and provides unfailing stimulus for thought and contemplation (it is undoubtedly the most readable and entertaining of his works of fiction). 'The Greater Trumps' is a very strange sort of novel, a mystical thriller if you like, featuring the prototypal deck of Tarot cards which has by odd chance fallen into the hands of the prosaic and unimaginative Mr.Coninsgby. His daughter Nancy is being wooed by a young lawyer of Gypsy descent, Henry Lee and when he sees the deck the spiritual drama begins and the Coningsby's are invited to spend Christmas at the lonely house of Henry Lee's grandfather Aaron Lee who guards the secret inheritance of the Romanies and has long sought the innermost mysteries of the Tarot. A conspiracy to ruthlessly obtain the Tarots at all costs is afoot and here we have a central theme of Charles Williams' novels - the intended profaning of a sacred Mystery by those who would abuse it for ego-aggrandizement and the quest for personal power. In 'The Greater Trumps' the classic tarot figure of 'The Falling Tower' is the symbol of the fate which invariably engulfs those who attempt to lay hold of the Holy Mysteries of Magic to satisfy the all-too-egoic thirst for power and ascendancy and this timeless message is as pertinent as ever in an age where debased occultism of questionable motivation is all too prevalent.Read more ›
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Notes On "The Greater Trumps"
By XanthicSky on February 6, 2007
Format: Paperback
This excerpt is taken from:

"Charles WIlliams - Poet Of Theology" pp. 76-78

by Glen Cavaliero

Just as heat is the pervading element in "The Place of the Lion", so the pervading element of "The Greater Trumps is cold". Much of the action takes place in an isolated country house during a raging snowstorm on Christmas Day, a microscopic drama dominated almost to breaking-point by its central symbol, the Tarot pack, most ancient and mysterious of playing cards. Williams draws on his knowledge of the Kaballa for his account of them, and, as with the Grail and the Stone, uses them as a symbol of the creative power of God. He relates them to a group of magical golden figures, similar to those portrayed on the greater trumps, figures whose perpetual motion corresponds to the ever-lasting dance which is the rhythm and pattern of the universe. When the original cards and the images are brought together, the fortunes of the world can be read, for the relation between them constitutes the true knowledge of reality.

The fortuitous reassembling of cards and images provides the mainspring of the plot. The figures are hidden in the house of Aaron Lee, latest of a long line of gipsy guardians, now 'civilized'. His grandson, Henry, finds the cards in the possession of Mr Lothair Coningsby (a Warden in lunacy - both his name and occupation are pleasing but superfluous jokes), whose daughter Nancy he is engaged to marry. Through her, by using the spiritual energy of their mutual love, he plans to possess and rule the cards - the blasphemy against love degrading him to the level of the false magicians of the earlier books. The cards have magical properties controlling the four elements.Read more ›
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24 of 28 people found the following review helpful
A story of quietly enveloping spiritual enlightenment
By A Customer on February 7, 1999
Format: Paperback
It takes but a short time to realize that we are in an era when 'daily work' is not true for a large number of people of substance. Yet there are other things to fill their time. An estate shall be settled soon by the inclusion of a number of sets of antique tarot cards - something that a number of the protaginists have never heard of - others wonder if their 'gypsy feelings' towards same are no longer proper in their situation; and a father of one, who they shall visit, feels quite certain that the Original Deck MUST be among these. If so, how can it go to the museum, only to be catalogued and placed in some drawer. To me, there is a warm engulfing into the story - there is a feeling of tension and hope as certain characters begin, by recognizing more and more of all the symbols and interrelations that these make up, in quite a spiritual way, the Dance of Life and our/their place within. Their sharing is real. I freely say now that I have not totally finished this book. This is a special author. My copy is a first edition {1950}. The Saturday Review stated "Reading Charles Williams is an unforgettable experience." The NY Times stated "It is satire, rommance, thriller, morality, and glimpses of eternity all rolled into one." Whew.
I gave this book a four because it does take a little 'work' to get in to. I feel clearly that Mr Williams was a deeply spiritual man. This book's language is to the reader as though we are entering the late 19th century - a different place for us to be going to. But, quite worth the effort. Thank you for your time. Enjoy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

An excellent rendering of an age-old pursuit

Can the answer to life's questions be found in the Trumps? Williams says you must enter the dance to find out. An excellent tale with an ancient set of Tarot cards at the center. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Gil Gilliam
Good story about dangers of the occult by an author who was involved...

Unusual story line based on Tarot card and figurines. Good story about dangers of the occult by an author who was involved with the occult

Published 19 months ago by H. Harry
What a delightful read--almost "Trumps" all his other novels.

A most excellent read; I have read most of Charles Williams writings and this is no exception to his collection of brilliant writing. Read more

Published 21 months ago by mateo
Eerie, brilliant, haunting

Feels like entering another time and space with this family and a very special tarot deck of magical powers. It's slow, but worthwhile.

Published on February 19, 2013 by The Magician
Not the real tarot

Williams maligns the tarot in this book. He does not know much about the tarot. For example, the proper name for card no.1 is the Magician, but he calls it the Juggler. Read more

Published on April 28, 2012 by Casca
Somewhere Between Narnia and the Sea Priestess

Charles Williams (1886-1945) was one of the Inklings, that group of literary pals that included J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Owen Barfield. Read more

Published on September 12, 2011 by Michael K. Kivinen
a dragging dance

I was ever so excited. My love, Tarot, was about to meet my other love, reading novels, and dance together to the sounds of life going by... Read more

Published on January 7, 2011 by Victoria
must read again soon

Read this book at the recommendation of several other authors that I had been reading. Most interesting but confusing novel. Read more

Published on September 28, 2010 by L.S.L.N.
Great but Confusing Read

I really enjoyed reading "The Greater Trumps." Not having any knowledge about the Tarot cards left me a little behind, but I belive that the morale to the story is to love,... Read more

Published on October 3, 2008 by Amazon Customer
Huh?????

Before getting into the novel I think it worth saying that if you aren't already familiar with the Tarot and the "meaning" of the various "picture cards" then you are likely to... Read more

Published on May 29, 2006 by Ken

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