Malcolm's podcast

my talk on Lewis, no.2 in my series on the Inklings As Prophets, tomorrow at 5:30 at St. Edwards. I am going to be emphasising his radical critique of reductive philosophy, his accurate prediction of the assaults on human identity that would arise from the abuse of science and his call, in The Abolition of Man for a 'new kind of science' more respectful of, and in harmony with nature.

This book, which I think lies behind some of Tolkien's chapter 'The Scouring of the Shire' is about the need to maintain the old truths by ceaseless renewal and vigilance, and is a great call to resist tyranny and the erosion of freedom wherever we find it.

This book contains the episode I read on the anniversary of 9/11, of the child rebuilding the tower, it has Alfred's great rallying call to the ordinary folk of England to choose a good death rather than slavery, and most famously it contains his cry at the turning point of the battle which was quoted by the times after the D Day landings:
"The High tide!" King Alfred cried.
The high tide and the turn!"

Three heroic deaths in battle and the utterly chilling description of the cursed spear of Elf, from the rhineland, which sems to anticipate the Nazi interest in occult objects and weaponry.

Battle commences! This contains, amongst other treasure Colan's great evocation of the trees of Britain, worth it for that alone!

This contains he famous episode of Alfred burning the cakes and Chesterton makes it the occasion of his great Hymn to God as the universal and unnoticed servant of all

The King walks boldly into the Camp of the Danes in guise of a wandering minstrel with his harp on his shoulders. We are introduced to Guthrum, the Danish leader and his earls each of whom take the harp and play, each of whom represents and expresss one of the self-serving or nihilistic and despairing philosophies which were about to crush the twentieth century and to which GKC saw Christianity opposed and answering. He projects them back into the mouths of the danes and then in the last part Alfred gives a powerful answer on behalf of the faith. In some ways I think this book is the hear of the poem.

Inspired by his vision and 'shaken with the joy of giants', Alfred gathers the remnants of his people for a last stand against the Danes. The England Alfred represents is culturally and ethnically diverse but united in faith and vision The Thre chiefs represent three strands of culture and vision; Eldred is anglo-saxon, loves his ale and bacon and prefers the arts of peace but is mighty when roused, Mark is of Roman origin and represents the culturs and organisational skills of Rome, and Colan of Caerleon (my favourite) represents the celts, Christian, but still in touch with 'the gods of unbearable beauty/that break the hearts of men'!

I this first book, Alfred, having faced defeat after defeat gainst the Danes is almost ready to give up. But he sees a vision of our Lady. She refuses to reveal the outcome of the battle, indeed tells him 'nought for his comfort' but just to have seen her,to have had a glimpse of the innocent joy of heaven is enough to inspire Alfred to go on: 'The very colours of her coatwee better than good news!'

The First episode of my reading of GK Chesterton's Ballad of the White Horse in its entirety