Few writers in the twentieth century were as creative and productive as Dorothy L. Sayers, the English playwright, novelist, and poet. Her justly renowned works include detective fiction featuring Lord Peter Wimsey, theological reflections, literary criticism, and her translation of Dante's Divine Comedy.
Among the prominent themes of her work was the need for and challenges of developing community. Sayers, who was herself an active member of various writing groups throughout her lifetime, offers her readers visions of both fractured and harmonious communities. In this third volume in the Hansen Lectureship Series, Christine Colón explores the role of community in Sayers's works. In particular, she considers how Sayers offers a vision of communities called to action, faith, and joy, and she reflects on how we also are called to live in community together. The Hansen Lectureship series offers accessible and insightful reflections by Wheaton College faculty members on the transformative work of the Wade Center authors.
"This book is itself a satisfying act of community: Colón and her commentators draw out and riff on the Sayersian themes of communal action, faith, and joy in a way that the reader can sense-and join-the original dynamic of live lecture and response. Colón makes illuminating connections between various works of Sayers, showing a firm grasp of the canon of Sayers's detective and dramatic writing, and makes a compelling case for the breadth and rightness to Sayers's thinking about community. Kriner, Mangin, and McGraw draw out the life and implications of this vision of community for their own disciplines of literary analysis, drama, and politics-the kind of discussions that Sayers herself would have relished. This book is a pleasing and meaty communal conversation with Sayers."
Kathryn Wehr, Sayers scholar, Anselm House, St. Paul, MN
"Christine Colón has written an original and thoroughly fascinating book on Dorothy L. Sayers and community. Sayers enthusiasts will appreciate her meticulous research, but even the general reader who doesn't know Sayers will learn something about how people can live together in harmony despite the traumas of this world."
Suzanne Bray, professor of English, Lille Catholic University
