In the Light of Christ: Writings in the Western Tradition

by Lucy Beckett

The good, the true and the beautiful―it is for these that our souls long. Though they reside in unity and perfection in God alone, the written word is one place we can discover glimmers of divine light. 
The writings of great souls can turn our gaze toward God as he is revealed in Jesus Christ. Even authors who do not know Christ or who reject Christ can still point to him, for anyone who seeks the truth finds it; and any one who turns his back on the truth turns away from a someone whose presence can often be more keenly felt in his absence. 
In this volume, Lucy Beckett illuminates some of the finest writings in the Western tradition and trains our eye to discover in them the Christian vision of God. She masterfully guides us through Sophocles, Plato, Augustine, Dante, Shakespeare, Dostoyevsky and many others, deftly demonstrating each author's worth as a bearer of truth.

Genres: Catholic, History

664 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2006

Reviews

[M Christopher · Rating 1 out of 5]

The problems with this book start with the title. "In Light Of Christ" promises to be a review of some of the great works of Western Lit "in light of Christ;" that is, how did the work and message of Jesus influence the authors in their work or how did the work of pre-Christian authors foreshadow the Christ event. Alas, while the concepts are well-applied to those Greek and Roman works, the chapters on works written during the Christian era rapidly reveal Lucy Beckett's unspoken agenda. Rather that being titled "In Light of Christ," this tome should have been called "In Light of Augustine" or "In Light of the One True Holy Roman Catholic Church."

Not that there's anything wrong with that. The book was probably created to be a textbook for a Western Lit class at a Catholic University. At over 600 pages, it certainly looks like a textbook and it has all the footnotes and bibliography a college professor might want for her class. The problem is that Beckett's insistence that all of these pieces of great literature knowingly or unknowingly reflect the Bishop of Hippo's take on the message of Jesus strains credulity at a number of points. And she slowly develops a belittling tone toward not only the cultural polytheism of the Greeks and Romans but non-RC versions of Christianity as well. Her snide remarks about George Herbert's honest and pious reflections from the standpoint of an Anglican vicar finally made me lay down the book only half-read.

There are many other books that explore the Christian virtues of Shakespeare, Dante, et al., which are, indeed, rich and wonderful. But "In Light of Christ" and Lucy Beckett's parochial approach should be consigned to the cut-out bin.

[Jason Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book undertakes a highly selective but interesting overview of literature pre , post and mid the main Christian era and how it reflects faith, and the relationship of faith and culture. There is much of interest here but the criticism that the books Catholicism limits its scope and blinkers it is well founded , especially Augustinian Catholicism. Too many writers are judged solely on their views of Catholicism while some important Catholic writers are also missing - I was surprised for instance by the absence of Chesterton ,
Passing quotes aside, or Greene or Waugh . Writers such as Newman are seemingly here just as important Catholic apologists rather than because their role in literary history merits it. And why John Paul II and not the popes who were major theologians such as Gregory ? The books focus also rules out Bunyan Lewis and other figures of importance .

The whole medieval era is summed up as Augustinian here- where is the twin Catholic Aquinas strand? Still, great chapters on Shakespeare , Russian literature etc and some interesting groupings . I’m not prepared though to look at TS Eliot and his grappling with faith in a fractured modernity and judge it for not finding supposed Catholic peace - is that why Graham Greece is not here as he would have countered that with his exploration of damaged Catholic frailty?

The books strength is a strong summation of eras , Especially Russian and some nice looks at great novels individually. It’s always interesting and I could wish for for a more comprehensive version of this .

[Ruth Paszkiewicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phew. This was a monster of a book. So much interesting information, well presented and researched, but certainly not for the mildly interested.
In the light of Christ, through the lens of St Augustine - this is a fantastic book of Christian literary criticism from the Ancient Greeks to modern times. The works covered are extraordinary and sometimes surprising and cover a good range of nationalities within Western culture. I now have a to-read list almost as long as the book, based on the introductions and analysis that is presented here.

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

My brother recommended this travel through Western literature from the ancient Greeks to T.S. Eliot, tracing the Augustinian Catholic tradition from those who influence Augustine, through the man himself, and then those he influenced. Interesting and enjoyable.

[Stephen Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rather powerful survey of literature from Aeschylus to Czeslaw Milosz, from a thoroughly Christian, Augustinian perspective.