A Stay Against Confusion : Essays on Faith and Fiction
Author(s): Ron Hansen
“Erudite and meditative, A Stay Against Confusion. . . depicts a profound, complex spirituality. . . brims with intelligence, passion and conviction.” —San Francisco Chronicle
In this vivid and deeply felt collection of essays, Ron Hansen talks about his novels, childhood, family, and mentors such as John Gardner. He explores prayer, stigmata, twentieth-century martyrs, and the Eucharist. A profile of his grandfather, a "tough-as-nails, brook-no-guff Colorado rancher," finds a place alongside a wonderfully informative portrait of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. A brilliant reading of a story by Leo Tolstoy follows an appreciation of the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins.
Surprisingly intimate, A Stay Against Confusion brings together the literary and religious impulses that inform the life of one of our most gifted fiction writers.
Review(s):
“Erudite and meditative, A Stay Against Confusion…depicts a profound, complex spirituality…brims with intelligence, passion and conviction.”
"Refreshing and enlightening … only rarely does any writer explain himself so clearly and so courageously."
“Wise and searching.”
“A book that shines as a consequence of an accomplished writer’s deeply felt (and understood) moral and spiritual energy.”
"Rich, eloquent and thoughtful. . . . This is a deeply satisfying read."
"Clean prose. . . . Striking ideas."
"This vital new collection of essays. . . is a generous benefaction. . . fascinating. . . courageous."
ISBN: 9780060956684