The Dorothy L. Sayers Podcast

In this letter, we discuss a curious letter exchange between Dorothy L. Sayers and C.S. Lewis, in which her personal demon write to the Infernal Regions to complain about his patience. Listen to excerpts from this highly entertaining correspondence. And then learn more about how Sayers wrote demons, especially in her Faust adaptation and, of course, Dante's Hell.

Links from the show:

Dorothy and Jack by Gina Dalfonzo

Letters of Dorothy L. Sayers, 1937 - 1943, vol. 2

Learn how Sayers's fiery exchange with an educated atheist may have provoked C.S. Lewis's classic book, Miracles.

Referenced materials:

Episode #36 of The C.S. Lewis Podcast (n.b. the video mistakenly says Episode #37)

The Letters of Dorothy L. Sayers, 1937-1943: From Novelist to Playwright. Volume 2.

Miracles by C.S. Lewis

The Mind of the Maker

“The Unofficial Inkling: Dorothy L. Sayers’s Influence on C.S. Lewis’s Imaginative Apologetics.” by A. Glover

Relate DLS Episodes:

A Few Ways to Think About the Trinity

You can't always go it alone. Even scholars - especially scholars? - need help. Learn how Sayers both received and rejected help on her writing.

You can find a worksheet that helps with word choice at www.sayersguild.com/sayers-podcast-transcripts or click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CzrmypNmSRYZKYFefD4mHknhCIo2hbC9Cm11yafblUQ/edit?usp=drive_link.

Simple mistakes are one thing. Not doing your research is another. Judging others wrongly when you haven't done your research is monstrous. In this episode, Sayers introduces us to Monster Error.

You can find a worksheet that helps with accuracy at www.sayersguild.com/sayers-podcast-transcripts or click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H3XDHK0nOilI7-1NGm_ce9x0i2uRWGuMOzdmTOW0xpo/edit?usp=drive_link

Simple mistakes are one thing. Not doing your research is another. Judging others wrongly when you haven't done your research is monstrous. In this episode, Sayers introduces us to Monster Error.

Most people enjoy reading dialogue, but this episode tells us some surprising ways to use dialogue in your own writing. Listen and learn about how Sayers used dialogue as description and also in non-fiction. Also, we'll enjoy a bit of dialect and finish up the episode with some Diet Coke.

You can find a worksheet that helps with dialogue at www.sayersguild.com/sayers-podcast-transcripts or click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eplZujeBltAb9mVS_bUOtjy2YjFYaiVXxTVfRcyqSCg/edit?usp=drive_link

Do your words always have to be clear? Sayers tells us when to clarify what we say and when to let it be obscure. We will look at her essay, "Poetry, Language, and Ambiguity," as well as from her letters and novels to see how word choice can elevate even if it doesn't enlighten.

You can find a worksheet that helps with word choice at www.sayersguild.com/sayers-podcast-transcripts or click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FcykfAE7wrdKqkmgxUNHplL8MvnQWTb2HIz1eyP3AXY/edit?usp=drive_link.

Season 4 is about writing. As one of the most accomplished authors of the early 20th century, Sayers is a good person to teach us how to write. In this episode, we learn the value of concrete - how something solid and tangible can wake us up. On the other hand, abstract words and cliches lull us to sleep. Join us as we learn Sayer's opinion from two articles: "Ink of Poppies" and "Words I am Weary of."

You can find a worksheet that helps with concrete nouns at www.sayersguild.com/sayers-podcast-transcripts or follow this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17JXjv02LUcl5fDnWaK48Sq4WXVqbeGgJxOBrZ0edAS8/edit?usp=drive_link

In this short episode, we learn about Lord Peter's pedigree and also hear the voice of his friends through a discussion of two books: The Wimsey Family and The Wimsey Papers. If you're just getting to know Lord Peter, this is a good place to learn just how real he is, fictionally speaking. It's also a good place to learn about some creative publishing during World War II.

In this episode, we are continuing our conversation with Dr. Brown. We'll be addressing Sayers's essay, "The Other Six Deadly Sins," her play about pride, and also get a recommendation from Dr. Brown about some of Sayers's works that aren't widely published.