Was Auden an Inkling?

No. No, he wasn't.

But have we played him reading a stanza of this poem (in which he mentions Williams and Tolkien) every week we've published an episode?  

Yes. Yes, we have.

So here's the whole thing in full, for the sake of sweet context.

Again, I am absolutely stealing the pattern of Poetry Thursdays from the wonderful Daily Poem podcast by Goldberry Studios.  Listen to it and be enlightened, if you like this sort of thing.

Next time: We wrap up our Silver Chair discussion!

If you're enjoying The Inklings Variety Hour and want to support the show without paying us a dime, please consider leaving us a review on iTunes.  

Feel free to follow us on Instagram: @inklingsvarietyhour

And shoot us an email to tell us that our work this week has not been in vain: [email protected].

This week, Chris is joined by a panoply of first-time and returning guests, such as Eric Geddes, Jonathan Geltner, Joseph Weigel, and Glencora Pipkin, to talk about The Silver Chair, Chapters 7-9.  Hopefully you'll find our many digressions refreshing and stimulating--not irritating and uncomfortable, like so many irregular trenches carved into a hill.

Among other things, we discuss:

• Whether we're more afraid of heights or depths (we'd love to hear from you on this question).

Here's a link to Jonathan Weigel's podcast, "Men with Chests": Men with Chests on Apple Podcasts

Here's a link to Jonathan Geltner's substack, blog, and books.

This Thursday: A poem!  By one of the Inklings, probably!  You'll know when I do!

Next week: Finale of The Silver Chair!

If you're enjoying the podcast, please consider leaving us a review on itunes.  If you're not, you probably have better things to do with your time than to bother with reviews!

As always, feel free to email us at [email protected]!

Welcome back to Poetry Thursday.

Here's something from the planet Mercury for you all!

Also, the show now has an Instagram--follow us @inklingsvarietyhour

Feel free to let me know if there are poems by Inklings you'd really like to hear.  

We'll be back Tuesday with more of The Silver Chair!

In the meantime, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Happy Easter to you! Cristos Anviat!

If you enjoy this podcast, please rate us on iTunes and leave a positive review.

If you'd like to reach out to us or suggest ideas for an episode, email us at [email protected].  We'd love to hear from you.

Also, we have an Instagram account now.  Follow us at inklingsvarietyhour.

Chris resumes his conversation with Jonathan Geltner and Eric Geddes about the first half of Lewis' fourth Narnia book, The Silver Chair.

Among other things, we discuss:

• A bit more of Chapter 4, "Parliament of Owls."

• Fred Paxford

• Lanval, by Marie de France

Thanks to Jonathan Geltner and Eric Geddes for a great conversation. Follow Jonathan's work at his blog and his substack, and buy his book.

This Week's Poetry Thursday: C.S. Lewis' "The Birth of Language."

Next Tuesday: Joined by Joseph Weigel from the Men with Chests podcast, we'll discuss civilized giants!  And maybe we'll even get to the Underworld. Stay tuned!

Coming this Season:

Perelandra, more podcast crossovers (Thinklings, Men with Chests), Arthurian Torso, "The Golden Key," Inkwell Chronicles: Race to Krakatoa, Lewis and Tolkien and a whole lot more. 

Welcome again to the new "Poetry Thursday" feature of The Inklings Variety Hour.

This week, we're reading a poem by Ruth Pitter, someone who was not an Inkling but knew C.S. Lewis and a few of the other Inklings.  I had Don W. King on the show to talk about her, and you can find that interview here.

You can find the poem I read here, by the way.

And here's a book of Pitter's poetry.

I hope you enjoy--if you do, please leave a five-star review on iTunes so that others will be more likely to find the show.

Also, please feel free to write me at [email protected] if you have ideas for poems you would like to hear read on the show.

The idea for the format of Poetry Thursday is ripped pretty shamelessly from The Daily Poem, which is a great podcast.

If you're enjoying The Inklings Variety Hour, please leave us a five-star review on .  We'd also love to hear from you--email us at [email protected].  

Chris' wife, Glencora, joins him to talk about chapters 3 and 4 of The Silver Chair. Among other things, we discuss:

• The Signs and Sudden Quizzes

Hopefully you'll enjoy this episode, which is slightly more lighthearted and relaxed than usual.  Also, happy birthday to Glencora!

If not, I'll be back with Eric and Jonathan next week to talk about Puddleglum!

Next: 

• Poetry Thursday: "The Sparrow's Skull," by Ruth Pitter

This Season:

Shows on their way include:

• Interview with J.D. Peabody about The Inkwell Chronicles: Race to Krakatoa

Apologies for any sound problems on this one!  We were in the same room, and I am not a professional sound guy.

We're trying a new thing this season--each Thursday, I plan to release a brief recording of a poem by one of the Inklings. 

This is more or less directly inspired by the excellent podcast, The Daily Poem by Goldberry Studios, so check it out and subscribe if you want more of this sort of thing.

The poem this week is "Imram," by J.R.R. Tolkien.

You can find a text of the poem here.

You can find it reprinted in Sauron Defeated in the History of Middle Earth Series.

Do you have a favorite poem by one of the Inklings (or someone associated with them in some way) that you'd like to hear read on the podcast?  Feel free to shoot me an email if so, at [email protected]

As always, give us a five-star rating if you want to encourage us to keep doing what we do.

See you Tuesday for The Silver Chair, Part 2!

Please leave a five-star review of this podcast if you enjoy it. 

We'd also love to hear from you--feel free to send us an email at [email protected].  

Welcome to Season Four!  

Chris is joined by Eric Geddes and author Jonathan Geltner to discuss Chapters 1 and 2 of the fourth book in the Narniad (is that what we're calling that now?), The Silver Chair. 

Among other things, we discuss:

• How we're all graduates of Experiment House now

Things we didn't discuss but I'd planned to:

• The Door in the Wall, a beautiful fairy-story by H.G. Wells

Next:

• I'll be releasing brief recordings of poetry by the Inklings each Thursday. This coming Thursday, it'll be "Imram," by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Next Week:

• My wife Glencora and I will discuss Chapters 3 and 4 of The Silver Chair. Never fear--we will get to Puddleglum the following week!

This Season:

Shows on their way include:

• Interview with J.D. Peabody about The Inkwell Chronicles: Race to Krakatoa

The last (weirdest) part of Chris' "An Inklings Christmas Carol." 

Oh, didn't realize it was still Christmas, did you? Well, it is, but it's getting close to Epiphany, time of magi and revelations.  

Happy Twelfth Night!

Thanks again to Sørina Higgins and her talented authors' circle, of which I am a part. Feel free to join us.

Write me at [email protected] if there are specific things you'd like to see in Season 4 of The Inklings Variety Hour!  

I plan to kick things off with a discussion about The Silver Chair. I'd like this discussion to be with a group of enthusiasts rather than scholars, per se. So please email me if you'd like to join in.

Enjoy, and have a Merry Christmas!

Part 3 will post in a week or so (which is, by the way, still Christmastide).

Thanks to Joe Hoffman, Ed Powell, and Sørina Higgins for their talents and help.

Apologies for the occasionally poor audio quality.  We did the best we could!

Email me at [email protected]. If you like the show, I'd love to hear from you.