The Catholic Culture Podcast: Ep. 70 - The Flannery-Haunted World

March 24, 2020

This episode features two young Catholic publishers who are doing cutting-edge work to preserve and carry on the legacy of Catholic literature, especially building on the work of the great Catholic writers of the 20th century .

Our first guest is Joshua Hren, founder and editor-in-chief of Wiseblood Books. Wiseblood focuses on cultivating and publishing new works that maintain high literary quality.
and Catholic Vision: Featuring up-and-coming authors alongside established successes such as Dana Gioia, Samuel Hazo, James Matthew Wilson, and Michael O’Brien.

In addition to introducing the Wiseblood catalog, Joshua also talks about his fiction and nonfiction writing and his mission as an editor. He and Thomas discuss the dangers of a narrow obsession with modern neuroses and flaunting the secular taboo of “cultural appropriation” (e.g., the idea that white authors can’t write black characters). and other issues in Catholic fiction.

Our second guest is John Emmett Clarke, Editor-in-Chief of Cluny Media. This family business preserves and reintroduces forgotten 20th century Catholic classics, and celebrates some of our favorite authors by republishing important authors such as François Mauriac, Charles Péguy, and Romano Guardini. It brings many hidden genealogies to the surface.

A recurring theme in both interviews is the influence of Flannery O’Connor. Of course, Wiseblood Books is named after her first novel, but that doesn’t stop Thomas and Joshua from criticizing her dominance in the discussion of 20th century Catholic “literary” novels. That doesn’t stop him from casting a small but friendly shadow. On the other hand, if John Emmett Clark described the South he painted as “Christ-obsessed,” Cluny’s catalog includes many influential writers, so he meant the opposite. He said that one could say that he was “obsessed with Flannery O’Connor.” she.

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joshua fren

[4:11] Workshop for Poets and Novelists with Josh Fullen and James Matthew Wilson, Next Coliseum Summer Institute

[9:25] The need for “cultural appropriation” in fiction

[12:59] Wiseblood Books’ mission: “Be on the lookout for the continuum of beauty and truth.”

[15:55] Using short-form publications to increase interest in Catholic literary heritage

[18:10] Dana Gioia’s critical support and encouragement

[21:48] Michael O’Brien’s writings on Wiseblood about the apocalypse and sexual abuse

[24:59] Wiseblood’s latest novel: Samuel Hazo’s If no one calls, I’m not home

[27:20] Wiseblood Residency Program Realizes Promising Work-in-Progress

[32:22] Apology for the role of fiction editor

[42:43] The Story of Joshua’s Conversion and Marriage

[50:41] Joshua’s novel writing: stream of consciousness, poetic prose, and people under pressure

[1:05:30] Examining his book “Christ-Haunted Fiction” How to read and write like a Catholic

[1:13:43] Flannery O’Connor’s dominance in our consciousness of the 20th century. The need to rediscover Catholic novels and other great writers like JF Powers

[1:18:24] Is there a narrowness in O’Connor’s focus on the particular neuroses of our time? Contrast with Tolkien and Manzoni

John Emmett Clark

[1:26:18] Cluny Media’s mission: To promote the Catholic literary tradition of the 20th century.

[1:29:46] Process of republishing out-of-print works

[1:32:39] Discover the hidden genealogy of famous Catholic writers. Mauriac’s novel. Writers who influenced O’Connor. fulton sheen

[1:41:10] Venn’s academic work. scene

[1:42:21] Cluny’s new release

[1:44:09] Cluny’s connection with the Dominicans

[1:46:18] Family run. Looking to the past for direction for the future

[1:49:06] Sales partnership with the diocese of Cluny

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Cluny offered a discount offer to listeners of the Catholic Culture Podcast. To receive your discount code, sign up for our mailing list using this link and complete the form.[所属]Include “Catholic Culture Podcasts” in your tab. http://eepurl.com/gNrNq1

All Wiseblood products are discounted when purchased directly from the website. http://www.wisebloodbooks.com

Coliseum Summer Institute https://www.colosseuminstitute.com/Summer-institute.html

Wiseblood books mentioned in this episode:

ryan wilson how to think like a poet

https://www.wisebloodbooks.com/store/p97/How_to_Think_Like_a_Poet%2C_by_Ryan_Wilson.html

Dana Gioia Today’s Catholic Writers and Other Essays
https://www.wisebloodbooks.com/store/c4/Wiseblood_Essays_.html

james matthew wilson River of the Immaculate Conception

https://www.wisebloodbooks.com/store/p96/The_River_of_the_Immaculate_Conception.html

Michael D. O’Brien (contributor); Sexual abuse in the Catholic church

https://www.divineprovidencepress.com/store/p10/Abuse_of_Sexuality_in_the_Catholic_Church_%28 Shipping_Included%29.html

Michael D. O’Brien Revelation: Warning, Hope, Comfort

https://www.wisebloodbooks.com/store/p93/The_Apocalypse%3A_Warning%2C_Hope%2C_%26_Consolation.html

Samuel Hazo If no one calls, you’re not home: Bim Nakeley’s open letter

https://www.wisebloodbooks.com/store/p98/IF_NOBODY_CALLS%2C_I%27M_NOT_HOME%3A_THE_OPEN_LETTERS_OF_BIM_NAKELY%2C_by_Samuel_Hazo.html

Joshua Fullen’s writings mentioned in this episode:

“The First Commandment of Fiction”
https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2020/03/the-first-commandment-of-fiction

“Crisis of Curiocetus” https://www.crisismagazine.com/2019/a-crisis-of-curiositas

Joshua Hren has two upcoming books. with wine presshis second collection of short stories from Angelico Press, and How to read and write like a Catholicfrom TAN Books. His previously published books include:

This Our Exile: Short Stories https://angelicopress.org/product/this-our-exile/

Middle-earth and the return to the common good: JRR Tolkien and political philosophy

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K81KLQ5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1

Mentioned in Cluny Media books:

Lyra Martyrum: Poems of an English Martyr, 1503-1681 https://www.clunymedia.com/product/lyra-martyrum/

François Mauriac https://www.clunymedia.com/?s=mauriac

caroline gordon bad guys https://www.clunymedia.com/product/the-malefactors/

fulton sheen https://www.clunymedia.com/?s=sheen

Augustin di Noia, OP, seasonal blessings https://www.clunymedia.com/product/grace-in-season/

Reginald Garrigou Lagrange, OP, philosophize faith https://www.clunymedia.com/product/philosophizing-in-faith/

Humbert Klerisak, OP; church mystery
https://www.clunymedia.com/product/the-mystery-of-the-church/

In a past podcast interview, he mentioned: