A Conversation with Joseph Pearce on Sounds and Words

In this interview of Joseph Pearce on Sounds and Words, we spend the first part of the podcast discussing C.S. Lewis' conversion from atheism to theism, then finally to Christianity (with the help of J.R.R. Tolkien and Hugo Dyson). Of course, we also talk a great deal about his splendid book C.S. Lewis and the Catholic Church.  In the course of the conversation we also explore the marvelous fiction of Lewis and Tolkien, as well as their associated motion pictures. In the podcast's second half, we take a close look at Joseph Pearce's poetry. He also graces listeners with a reading of several works from Divining Divinity, A Book of Poems.

About Joseph Pearce 

A native of England, Joseph Pearce is Director of Book Publishing at the Augustine Institute, and editor of the St. Austin Review, editor of Faith & Culture, series editor of the Ignatius Critical Editions, senior instructor with Homeschool Connections, and senior contributor at the Imaginative Conservative. His personal website is found at jpearce.co.

The internationally acclaimed author of many books, which include bestsellers such as The Quest for Shakespeare, Tolkien: Man and Myth, The Unmasking of Oscar Wilde,C. S. Lewis and The Catholic Church, Literary Converts, Wisdom and Innocence: A Life of G.K. Chesterton, Solzhenitsyn: A Soul in Exile and Old Thunder:  A Life of Hilaire Belloc, Joseph Pearce is a world-recognized biographer of modern Christian literary figures.  Hisbooks have been published and translated into Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Croatianand Polish.

 

Pearce has hosted two 13-part television series about Shakespeare on EWTN, and has also written and presented documentaries on EWTN on the Catholicism of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. He has participated and lectured at a wide variety of international and literary events at major colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, Britain, Europe, Africa and South America.


Behind this Podcast

There's nothing quite like doing a podcast from home.  Sometimes things don't always go according to plan, though, and that was actually one of the themes of this particular interview.  Have you ever listened to PDQ Bach on the Air?  Well, let's just say a few things went very wrong pretty quickly in this little audio adventure.  When my Garage Band software application first mysteriously stopped recording shortly after the interview began, I should have realized that it was "Houston, we have a problem" moment, but we persevered.  Frantically, hitting the record button every so often was a unique way to way to do the podcast, after all.  

Of course, that wasn't the only little technical issue.  Making sure that I had turned the ringer off on my phone next to my (not so) trusty iMac, I was somewhat surprised when it loudly rang in my ear.  After throwing the phone a short distance, I detected a dreaded sound outside my office door.  Unknown to Joseph Pearce on the other side of the line (sitting somewhere in a nice, quiet, and tranquil university office, I imagine), our part Siamese cat named Dante had decided it was high time to open this particular door for a routine inspection.  As soon as that characteristic door handle swat began, I was up and managed to lock said door before the cat and his ever-watchful Newfoundland companion (named Chesterton, of course) could enter my man cave.  It's not that I don't appreciate animals, you see, but having Dante and Chesterton in the same small room...would be nearly as distracting as having Dante and G.K. Chesterton in the same small room.  Less cigar smoke perhaps...

Just when things began to seem ready to calm down slightly, Zoom, the meeting software I was depending upon to speak with Mr. Pearce across much of the continental United States, stopped zooming altogether.  It didn't just slow its zoom; its zoom was there one moment and mysteriously gone the next.  About the same time, my iPhone began to signal an exciting new text message.  It's possible my particular reply was not the kindest or gentlest thing I've ever texted (during a podcast, at least).  

In the end, though, we made it through successfully.  I must also add that Joseph Pearce could not have been more kind, gracious, and patient.  

After I finished repairing my recorded audio, I was thankful to have only lost about 5% of the interview.  Unfortunately, however, this does include the first question, which was to have been "Given Lewis' Irish upbringing, what do you believe his early impressions or feelings were about Catholicism?"  

Suffice to say that Joseph Pearce's response was insightful and brilliant--and altogether lost.  The good news?  Even though it may have begun in "medias res," I think the podcast remains an outstanding conversation that explored C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and Pearce's own wonderful and insightful poetry.  

PS.  I think I also solved the mystery of my errors on both Garage Band (using audio files like repeatedly used Word templates) and the Zoom problem, which was likely caused by limiting the meeting schedule to an hour.  This being the case, I'm sure Joseph is ready for Part 3 of our audio adventure...  Joseph?  Joseph?  Can you hear me now?

What I Learned from Samwise, My Interview with Sean Astin FREE on Kindle (May 24th-May 27th)

I am excited to announce that my latest e-book, What I Learned from Samwise, My Interview with Sean Astin is scheduled to be available for free between May 24th and May 27th.  I hope you can check it out!

You may recognize Sean Astin first as that brave hobbit, Samwise Gamgee, from Peter Jackson's motion picture The Lord of the Rings, but there is a lot more to Sean than this brilliantly played role. This is a man for whom theater runs in his blood--hard to avoid when Patty Duke is your mother!

This e-book features my wide-ranging interview of Sean Astin from 2011. The interview touches on everything from his role as Sam and spiritual reflections to his thoughts on the much loved children's book he and his wife hope to bring to the big screen soon. (Lois Lowry's Number the Stars)

It also contains a review of Sean Astin's impressive book, "There and Back Again," as well as a short essay on Sean's newest project known as #Run3rd. What does he hope to accomplish with his newest endeavor?

The e-book concludes with a variety of links which may be helpful to the reader in learning more about this great actor/director.

A Short Review of Sean Astin's "There and Back Again" (and book giveway details)

Before diving into this review, I should make a few personal disclosures.  Sean Astin has been one of my favorite actors for a very long time. His performance in  Lord of the Rings as the hobbit Sam Gamgee was a heroic interpretation of a challenging and often misunderstood character.  As J.R.R. Tolkien has always been one of my most loved authors (I still enjoy re-reading the LTR books.), Sean's absolutely masterful nailing of this character as a performer made a huge impression.  Last, but not least, his gracious review of my children's book, Tristan's Travels, was deeply appreciated.  


I wanted to also briefly announce that my interview of Sean Astin will be shared on this blog on Friday evening.  If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Number the Stars, all you need to do is (publicly) follow the blog.  (The book selection is to celebrate Sean's current movie project.)  If new followers come along in the journey, I will donate one copy of the book to a randomly-selected follower.  (I'm sorry, but I need to exclude immediate family and immediate friends.)  Depending on the numbers of new followers, we also may include one copy of Tristan's Travels to a second person. 


The description of There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale that most often comes to mind is open and honest.  Sean Astin, star in movies from Goonies to Lord of the Rings and Rudy, holds virtually nothing back, as he bares his soul to the reader.  It's written in a very conversational tone, which is really a remarkable achievement for a book of this type.  I don't usually care for books by actors, but this is clearly a book by a strong writer, one who understands how to tell a story.  


The narrative is often punctuated by perfectly-timed flashbacks on earlier points in his career or personal life that illustrate the chapter's present focus.  When done incorrectly, flashbacks are an interruption and a distraction to the reader.  Sean's flashbacks, however, strengthen the narrative as a whole, painting a more complete picture of the performer and his journey.


Of course, as a huge Lord of the Rings fan, the insights into the filming, production of the movies, and other cast members such as Elijah Wood is a fascinating journey in and of itself.  In fact, I'd go on to say that the arduous and painful process of making those three movies exemplifies what it means to be on one's own personal journey.  Do we sit back and allow ourselves to be satisfied with who and what we are and have done, or do we try to improve ourselves and accomplish greater things?  The book really is an inspirational work.  While Sean's account can be heartbreakingly honest, it really is a story of a man's maturing and growing as a husband, father, and world class performer.  I look forward to reading and watching more from this writer, performer, and director.




As a final aside, I even briefly alluded to Frodo and Sam in one of my favorite articles: "Mysterious Tools," published by America, the National Catholic Weekly.

*Enjoyed reading this?  For the more Sean Astin information, please see my new e-book!