The Zeal of thy House

by Dorothy L. Sayers, Ann Loades (Introduction), Laurence Irving (Preface)

Preface by Laurence Irving. Original blue gilt cloth with single date on title and copyright pages. Book is fine and unmarked. Jacket has a small chip to the head of the spine extending 1/4"" to the rear panel, and another small chip to the bottom of same not affecting text, and is otherwise whole, clean and bright, and protected by a Brodart cover. Scarce Sayers title, especially in the dust jacket.

Genres: Plays, Christian, Christianity, Fiction, Drama, Classics, Medieval

134 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

The detective stories of well-known British writer Dorothy Leigh Sayers mostly feature the amateur investigator Lord Peter Wimsey; she also translated the Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri.

This renowned author and Christian humanist studied classical and modern languages.

Her best known mysteries, a series of short novels, set between World War I and World War II, feature an English aristocrat and amateur sleuth. She is also known for her plays and essays.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy...

Reviews

[Mariangel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this play, the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael visit Canterbury to ensure that God’s will is done regarding the reconstruction of the cathedral, damaged by fire. They discreetly influence the Chapter in the election of William of Sens as the architect, and keep watch over the works for years. But despite their vigilance, they cannot prevent “the vengeance of God or the spite of the Devil", as the monk Gervais of Canterbury chronicled it. Since work was the life, heart, and downfall of William, the play ends with an address by St. Michael regarding work’s relation with the Trinity, a summary of Sayers’s thesis in “The Mind of the Maker”.

This play was first represented at Canterbury Cathedral in 1937.

[claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was an admittedly artistic way to establish a relatively simple concept of ora et labora. I enjoyed reading it and found the concluding monologue from Michaël on a Trinitarian conception of creativity an appropriate theatrical finish. like any script, I lament this would have been far more fulfilling to see performed than it was to read. but for the rhetorical tact, I’ll be kind and use my own imaginative power to stretch the quality.

[Chrystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I make my way through Sayers' sacred plays I am staggered anew, cut to the quick with each play that I read. THE ZEAL OF THY HOUSE was not her first play, but it was her first sacred or religious play. After the success of her second (secular) play, BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON (1935), she was invited to write a sacred play for the 1937 Canterbury Festival (the third such play commissioned by Canterbury Cathedral, the Festival's first and second plays having been written by TS Eliot in 1935 and Charles Williams in 1936). She would go on to develop the theme of this play (the creative process of human work as a reflection of the creative nature of the triune God) in her amazing book THE MIND OF THE MAKER, published in 1941.

"Look then upon this Cathedral Church of Christ: imagined by men's minds, built by the labour of men's hands, working with power upon the souls of men; symbol of the everlasting Trinity, the visible temple of God. As you would honour Christ, so honour His Church; nor suffer this temple of His Body to know decay."

[Mary Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play dealt with a concern of mine about her theology of work. I love the exalted place she gives work and think it's a beautiful way of glorifying God for His goodness to us, but I was concerned that she gave it too high a place. Here she shows that as beautiful and exalted as work can be (in the sense good workmanship itself being praise to God), work that is the result of pride in one's ability rather than a response to God is deeply flawed.

[Aleks · Rating 3 out of 5]

The discussion was much more interesting than the text itself. If you’ve read this you know why I read it.

[Brynna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to see this play. Better yet, I want to help perform this play.
Dorothy Sayers's dialogue is always impeccable. A remarkable and entrancing spiritual reliving of the rebuilding of Canterbury Cathedral's choir after the fire of 1174.

[Hamster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this a perfect play? Certainly not. But did I enjoy reading it quite a bit? Yeah, it's hilarious and the commentary on work and art is really interesting. As someone who has also been thinking a lot about that question, I appreciated Sayers's perspective on the topic. But also, the ideas about Christ's role in salvation were also really abnormal, giving a new way to look at his life on earth.
Is the ending a bit lame? Yes, but it doesn't really ruin the play. Just get a few friends together, do a dramatic reading, and you'll have a pretty good time with it.

[Ansley Burnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually dislike reading plays because it’s often the direction and design that really makes a play good, but the story of this one was so strong and good!

[^ · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a cast of three angels, one recording angel, a cherub, twelve brothers seven other members of the Cathedral Chapter, one architect, two rival architects, three workmen, two Cantors and a Choir, a boy, a lady, monks, lay-brothers, pilgrims, and other workmen; this play would still today make an interesting, uplifting, and educational project for a parish play.

For this play Dorothy Sayers chose to mainly use everyday colloquial language, often shot through with humour. However where thoughts are hung to dwell she employs a rich and graceful vein in language:

“Knit unto stone and growing, as in the womb
Bone grows to bone; to build a world out of nothing –
That is my dream; that is the craftsman’s dream, “

Can the Cathedral Chapter stand the pecuniary cost of it all? How can the rich widow be encouraged to contribute generously to the rebuilding project? Will the archangels overstep the mark? There’s even a good moan scripted about the English weather!

[Froggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Dorothy L. Sayers, but I have never read any of her plays. This one is great. The story is wonderful and keeps your interest. I would have loved to have seen it performed!

[Miss Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

An engaging look at the 12th century construction of the chour loft at Canterbury Cathedral and the personages involved, with a spiritual battle being waged all the while.

Read from Four Sacred PlaysFour Sacred Plays

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play mixes stately pageantry with real drama and tension in the central crisis, where each character cannot help but act according to their own character, and so the fatal thing happens. I enjoyed reading it, but as ever with Sayers’ religious dramas am always impressed at how she confidently imagines what is going on in the mind of the angels. Would be interesting to see a revival.

[Michael Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This play by Dorothy Sayers is phenomenal with so much insight into the nature of the Incarnation and humility in the works we do for the Lord. None of us are indispensable, but must do all our work "as to the Lord and not to man". I wish I could find a live-performance of this play. This is a play that every Chrisitan ought to read and, if possible, see performed.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would LOVE to have the experience of seeing this play performed! However, the next best thing is to read it. A powerful piece on pride, a thoughtful look at the Creator and the gift of creating. This little book will stay with me and be chewed upon!

[Daniel Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unusual. I didn't know Sayers wrote it until I finished it.

[josie march · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny, until it gets preachy at the end