Support First Things by turning your adblocker off or by making a  donation. Thanks!

At Uncommon Knowledge, Peter Robinson has the first of a five part interview with historian and literary critic René Girard.

Peter Robinson interviews Rene Girard

“To read René Girard,” wrote Edward T. Oakes , “is to want to slap one’s forehead and say, ‘Of course, why didn’t I think of that?’”

If I might pump up the volume on my praise a bit more, he is the direct opposite of that sad figure in George Eliot’s masterpiece Middlemarch , the Rev. Mr. Casaubon, who spent his whole adult life pathetically trying to complete a “Key to All Mythologies,” a project that brought both him and his marriage to ruin. But Girard has pulled it off, at least in my estimation: Here we do have a key to all mythologies.

Over the years, First Things has presented number of articles by and about Girard. See Girard’s ” On War and Apocalypse ” and ” Are the Gospels Mythical? “, his interview with Cynthia Haven, and Joseph Bottum’s review essay, ” Girard Among the Girardians .”

Also, for those new to Girard’s intriguing but difficult thoughts, see my post How to Read Girard .”


Comments are visible to subscribers only. Log in or subscribe to join the conversation.

Tags

Loading...

Filter First Thoughts Posts

Related Articles