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The Clown in the Belfry: Writings on Faith and Fiction
These 14 eclectic pieces explore faith and fiction, offer a novelist's view of the Bible, and comment on what Buechner believes the church is called by God to become. Buechner is the author of many works of fiction and nonfiction, including Godric (nominated for a Pulitzer Prize) and Telling Secrets.
171 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
5 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Frederick Buechner
93 books1,239 followersFrederick Buechner is a highly influential writer and theologian who has won awards for his poetry, short stories, novels and theological writings. His work pioneered the genre of spiritual memoir, laying the groundwork for writers such as Anne Lamott, Rob Bell and Lauren Winner.
His first book, A Long Day's Dying, was published to acclaim just two years after he graduated from Princeton. He entered Union Theological Seminary in 1954 where he studied under renowned theologians that included Reinhold Niebuhr, Paul Tillich, and James Muilenberg. In 1955, his short story "The Tiger" which had been published in the New Yorker won the O. Henry Prize.
After seminary he spent nine years at Phillips Exeter Academy, establishing a religion department and teaching courses in both religion and English. Among his students was the future author, John Irving. In 1969 he gave the Noble Lectures at Harvard. He presented a theological autobiography on a day in his life, which was published as The Alphabet of Grace.
In the years that followed he began publishing more novels, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist Godric. At the same time, he was also writing a series of spiritual autobiographies. A central theme in his theological writing is looking for God in the everyday, listening and paying attention, to hear God speak to people through their personal lives.
His first book, A Long Day's Dying, was published to acclaim just two years after he graduated from Princeton. He entered Union Theological Seminary in 1954 where he studied under renowned theologians that included Reinhold Niebuhr, Paul Tillich, and James Muilenberg. In 1955, his short story "The Tiger" which had been published in the New Yorker won the O. Henry Prize.
After seminary he spent nine years at Phillips Exeter Academy, establishing a religion department and teaching courses in both religion and English. Among his students was the future author, John Irving. In 1969 he gave the Noble Lectures at Harvard. He presented a theological autobiography on a day in his life, which was published as The Alphabet of Grace.
In the years that followed he began publishing more novels, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist Godric. At the same time, he was also writing a series of spiritual autobiographies. A central theme in his theological writing is looking for God in the everyday, listening and paying attention, to hear God speak to people through their personal lives.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 10, 2021
4.5/5. A marvelous collection of sermons and writings on fiction. Frederick Buechner has a sly way of preaching - not your typical evangelical three-point sermon, more focused on the extraordinary nature of the ordinary, suffused as it is with glimpses of God’s glory. At times I have been frustrated with this; in my desire for doctrine and definition Buechner can be more lackadaisical, more irreverent, but this time around at least it was refreshing (now, perhaps, I have wearied of the opposite, of the doctrinaire being so focused on right theology that they miss the forest for the trees).
May 9, 2016
Buechner again gets one of my 5* ratings. He is so humble and thoughtful, reading his books are just rest for the spirit. This book had lots of recommendation and reviews of books. Nothing beats book lists for me. He reads widely. I give his reading much of the credit for his sensitivity, understanding and acceptance of people. I want to think God sees and knows people as Buechner does, or perhaps the other way around.
* I am sixty-four years old...As far as the outer world is concerned, my acne cleared up around 1945, but in terms of my inner world, it is still with me to add to my general embarrassment and confusion about myself.
* ...just to keep the silence at bay I rattled on about it anyway.
* (Jesus) did not so much call them out of ordinary lives as he called them out of believing that ordinary life is ordinary.
* I am sixty-four years old...As far as the outer world is concerned, my acne cleared up around 1945, but in terms of my inner world, it is still with me to add to my general embarrassment and confusion about myself.
* ...just to keep the silence at bay I rattled on about it anyway.
* (Jesus) did not so much call them out of ordinary lives as he called them out of believing that ordinary life is ordinary.
January 14, 2023
Frederick Beuchner humbles me just when I start to believe I am a writer. While reading his insightful words I am made aware that my own insights barely scratch the surface of reality and faith. But Mr. Beuchner challenges me as well, drawing forth my higher aspirations to see the value of humanity that Jesus himself sees. There is nothing "typically Christian" about Beuchner's books, he follows no patented formula, but there is no denying his ability to stir one's emotions, reasoning, and faith.
The Clown in the Belfry is such a book.
The Clown in the Belfry is such a book.
October 30, 2016
I loved reading these words from someone who has followed God for a very long time, yet freely admits to still be learning how. I loved the simple ways in which he described how Christ appears in our everyday lives without taking away from His grandeur. This guy is absolutely brilliant.
October 22, 2022
I’ve finally found the Buechner book I’d most recommend to someone. It’s a perfect synopsis of his thoughts on faith and relationships and the Bible and family and books and so on and so on.
It’s wonderfully refreshing to read.
It’s wonderfully refreshing to read.
April 24, 2021
Masterful, as ever. Buechner's writings leave me stunned on every page. Exquisite prose. He is one of the last of the living greats, in my opinion.
March 4, 2024
Buechner has a gift to say with grit and honesty what most people feel but don’t have the words to convey.
My favorite quote in the whole book
“To whistle in the dark is more than just to try to convince yourself that dark is not all there is. It is also to remind yourself that dark is not all there is or the end of all there is because even in the dark there is hope. Even in the dark you have the power to whistle, and sometimes that seems more than just your own power because it is powerful enough to hold the dark back. The tunes you whistle in the dark are the images you make of that hope, that power. They are the books you write”
The tunes you whistle in the dark are the books you write.
Those are the kind of books I want to read and those are the kind of books I hope to one day write.
My favorite quote in the whole book
“To whistle in the dark is more than just to try to convince yourself that dark is not all there is. It is also to remind yourself that dark is not all there is or the end of all there is because even in the dark there is hope. Even in the dark you have the power to whistle, and sometimes that seems more than just your own power because it is powerful enough to hold the dark back. The tunes you whistle in the dark are the images you make of that hope, that power. They are the books you write”
The tunes you whistle in the dark are the books you write.
Those are the kind of books I want to read and those are the kind of books I hope to one day write.
February 14, 2009
Buechner NEVER gets less than four stars from me.
July 13, 2021
I borrowed this book from a friend of mine who had obviously loved it because she had written all kinds of notes in it. Since I don't own the book, I copied several sections of it.
In the forward, Buechner indicates that this book is a collection of talks he had given and sermons he had delivered. There is no real central theme to the collected pieces. Some of pieces just weren't that thrilling, but "Adolescence and the Stewardship of Pain" was outstanding, worth the whole of this short book.
His pieces on writing were also good: "Faith and Fiction," "The Good Book as a Good Book," "Flannery O'Connor" and "The Opening of Veins" are good pieces. The man can write so it's worth reading what he has to say.
Some of the pieces are just good things to read for what they say about living as a human being such as "The Emerald City: a Commencement Address." Ditto, "The Truth of Stories" although it is a sermon he preached.
In the forward, Buechner indicates that this book is a collection of talks he had given and sermons he had delivered. There is no real central theme to the collected pieces. Some of pieces just weren't that thrilling, but "Adolescence and the Stewardship of Pain" was outstanding, worth the whole of this short book.
His pieces on writing were also good: "Faith and Fiction," "The Good Book as a Good Book," "Flannery O'Connor" and "The Opening of Veins" are good pieces. The man can write so it's worth reading what he has to say.
Some of the pieces are just good things to read for what they say about living as a human being such as "The Emerald City: a Commencement Address." Ditto, "The Truth of Stories" although it is a sermon he preached.
January 4, 2021
I suppose I should give this two stars given that I've decided to set it down forever without finishing it. Sermons have never really been my thing and despite the slight humor and reference to modern popular topics scattered through these it just didn't hold me, though they are all well written. My mom gave me this book before she died so I really did want to like it - and I looked for her in those pages - but this book is closed.
January 30, 2024
I re-read this because I’ve thought about some of these essays (“Faith and Fiction,” “The Kingdom of God,” etc) many times since first reading this collection more than a decade ago. It holds up. Buechner at his best!
July 23, 2018
A series of talks, topical shorts .. A favorite repeat read ..
May 30, 2020
Really a beautiful book. Humble and gentle but still challenging.
May 8, 2023
Really good book! Couldn’t put it down. Definitely gory! Not the type of book I generally read, but I’m really glad I did.
March 29, 2024
Great collection of essays!
January 5, 2015
Part of a Christmas sermon:
"This story that faith tells in the fairy tale language of faith is not just that God is which God knows is a lot to swallow in itself much of the time, but that God comes. Comes here. 'In great humility.' ... Is it true-- not just the way fairy tales are true but as the truest of all truths? Almighty God, are you true? When you are standing up to your neck in darkness, how do you say Yes to that question? You say Yes, I suppose, the only way faith can ever say it if it is honest with itself. You say Yes with your fingers crossed. You say it with your heart in your mouth."
These are deep waters; this is strong medicine. This guy is honest and wise and funny and life affirming. I'm delighted to have read him and hope to find more of his stuff in the future.
"This story that faith tells in the fairy tale language of faith is not just that God is which God knows is a lot to swallow in itself much of the time, but that God comes. Comes here. 'In great humility.' ... Is it true-- not just the way fairy tales are true but as the truest of all truths? Almighty God, are you true? When you are standing up to your neck in darkness, how do you say Yes to that question? You say Yes, I suppose, the only way faith can ever say it if it is honest with itself. You say Yes with your fingers crossed. You say it with your heart in your mouth."
These are deep waters; this is strong medicine. This guy is honest and wise and funny and life affirming. I'm delighted to have read him and hope to find more of his stuff in the future.
October 16, 2011
Would like to read other books by this author. A new perspective for me on Christian thought and life. Familiar theme of grace, familiar story of the Prodigal Son and familiar doctrine of the Kingdom of God - all presented in such a different way, this book challenged my beliefs that have been so ground into me at times I felt afraid of the message the author was prescribing - however that's the good thing about reading books - to expose oneself to different ways of thinking and living!
January 19, 2014
I first read this collection of Buechner's essays and sermons in the early 90s, and over the years again and again have returned to read various selections. I pulled it off my shelf the other day to re-read his essay on 1 Corinthians ("Paul Sends His Love"), and ended up spending a couple of hours relishing half a dozen other pieces in the collection. Such good, good stuff.
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August 2, 2011Wow. Great collection of Beuchner. Poignant reflection on Flannery O Conner. Loved the last two chapters on The Church, and The Kingdom of God. He has a fresh way of looking at the art of writing, especially as it relates to the Christian life. He simply "opens up a vein" and lets it flow.
April 17, 2017
I've grown concerned over the years that my Christian experience might somehow be incomplete, based on the recurrence of various pastors' reverential adoration for one particular writer. Tonight I am quite pleased that I too have read Buechner. His writing is remarkably simple and straightforward. He's modest about his own talents and fame, and yet confidently able to relate himself to Flannery O'Connor. I especially appreciate how he's able to use the exact right example or two to convey his point, without having to explain it. This whole collection is brief and worth reading. The ones that influence me the most were "Light and Dark," "The Emerald City: A Commencement Address," and "The Good Book as a Good Book." Buechner lived from the Great Depression to the Gulf War, which spanned several cultural revolutions and plenty of questioning about the meaning of faith. He wrote not from a lofty pulpit but from the view of a child's sick bed and dark movie theater seats. He connected modern personalities like Flannery O'Connor and the Wizard of Oz to the real Jesus Christ. And he made the early church seem so much more real as well.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews