The front cover of the book say, unapologeticwhy, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising emotional sense. He has been longlisted or shortlisted for prizes in. In this strange, risky and compelling book, effectively a collection of short stories with the soviet economy of the 1950s and 60s as its theme, francis spufford. February 16, 2017 february 15, 2017 leave a comment. Refuting critics such as richard dawkins, sam harris, and the new atheist crowd, spufford, a former atheist and fellow of the royal society of literature, argues that christianity is recognizable, drawing on the deep and deeply ordinary vocabulary of human feeling, satisfying those who believe in it by offering a ruthlessly realistic account of the grownup dignity of christian experience. Francis spufford writes for the guardian and lives in cambridge, england, with his wife and daughter. Frankly, i havent enjoyed a book about christianity or, more accurately, about being christian so much since well, i am not quite sure when because francis spuffords unaplogetic is in fact quite unlike any other book i. This is a book born of patience, of knowledge accrued and distilled over decades, a style honed by practice. Some of my other posts that i thought you might like.
Frankly, i havent enjoyed a book about christianity or, more accurately, about being christian so much since well, i am not quite sure when because francis spuffords unaplogetic is in fact quite unlike any other book ive read on the experience of being christian despite the warnings. He received a somerset maugham award for his book on ice exploration, i may be some time. In 2007 he was elected a fellow of the royal society of literature. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He studied english literature at trinity hall, cambridge, gaining a ba in 1985. The simplest way of putting this is that there wont be much of a market for a book called scenes from clerical life if no one has a clue what the life of the clergy is like. Francis spuffords first novel is a swashbuckling tale.
Oct 29, 20 im reading the english novelist francis spufford s new book unapologetic, his case for christianity, written for a culture his own that has little or no feeling for the faith. He tells us that he did no research for the book and wrote at. But when im excited by what im writing about, what i want to do with my excitement is always to tell a story and every one of my nonfiction books has borrowed techniques from the novel, and contained sections where i came close to behaving like a novelist. Francis spuffords unapologetic revives christianitys deepest meaning. It was said of cardinal newman that he was such a good. Refuting critics such as richard dawkins, sam harris, and the new atheist crowd, spufford, a former atheist and fellow of the royal society of literature, argues that christianity is recognizable, drawing on the deep and deeply ordinary vocabulary of human. How do novelists write about faith in a culture thats moving past it. His third book, backroom boys, was called a beautifully written book by the. Francis spufford leads one of the general workshops on the creative writing ma. Francis spufford, a former sunday times young writer of the year 1997, has edited two acclaimed literary anthologies and a collection of essays about the history of technology. Why, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising emotional sense cdaudio.
Francis spuffords books cover a wide variety of subjects, from polar exploration to his childhood reading to a blend of fiction and nonfiction about soviet russia in red plenty, which dwight garner named one of his 10 favorite books of 2012. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. He works through basic components of a christian view of the world in. After 40 years that included struggle, war, starvation and stalin, the marxist dream looked as if it might be taking off under nikita khrushchev. Professor francis spufford goldsmiths, university of london. Spufford began as a writer of nonfiction, though always with a strong element of storytelling. Francis spufford is currently considered a single author. Sep 18, 2012 the first session of the st pauls forum autumn series the case for god held under the dome of st pauls cathedral. Why, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising emotional sense spufford, francis on.
Francis spufford writes for the guardian and lives in cambridge, england, with. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. For information on forthcoming events in this series visit. Francis spuffords unapologetic is a wonderfully pugnacious defense of. Ice and the english imagination, was awarded the writers guild award for best nonfiction book of 1996 and a somerset maugham award. The first, i may be some time, won three literary prizes, and helped create a small new academic field, dedicated to the cultural history of antarctica.
Read red plenty by francis spufford available from rakuten kobo. Spufford cunningly maps out a literary genre of his own. How do novelists write about faith in a culture thats. Francis spuffords first book, i may be some time, won the writers guild award for best nonfiction book of 1996, the banff mountain book prize and a somerset. Unapologetic is a book for believers who are fed up with being patronized, for nonbelievers curious about how faith can possibly work in the twentyfirst century. The title, a last quote from one explorer to his party. Francis spufford s unapologetic is a wonderfully pugnacious defense of christianity. Spufford is best known for his admirable career in nonfiction, including as the writer of the punchy and pithy unapologetic, a very modern defence of christianity, and i may be some.
His first book, i may be some time, won the writers guild award for best nonfiction book of 1996, the banff mountain book prize, and a somerset maugham award. His second, the child that books built, gave neil gaiman. Spufford was born to professor margaret spufford and professor peter spufford. The first session of the st pauls forum autumn series the case for god held under the dome of st pauls cathedral. About the author francis spuffords first book, i may be some time, won the writers guild award for best nonfiction book of 1996, the banff mountain book prize and a somerset maugham award. Why, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising emotional sense main by francis spufford isbn. May 24, 2016 officially, ive been a writer of nonfiction for the last twenty years. Margaret was a social historian while peter specialized in economic history. The strain of his whole weight on his outstretched arms hurts too much. Explore books by francis spufford with our selection at. Francis spufford is the author of the child that books built and two other books. Despite its title, unapologetic by francis spufford, is, in part, an apologia, a defense, of christianity and the church, arguing not from first principles of science and logic, but from emotion and experience. Im reading the english novelist francis spuffords new book unapologetic, his case for christianity, written for a culture his own that has little or no feeling for the faith. Unapologetic, 2012, translated into dutch as dit is geen verdediging.
Spufford is best known for his admirable career in nonfiction, including as the writer o. Officially, ive been a writer of nonfiction for the last twenty years. His second book, the child that books built was described as witty, compelling and elegant by the new statesman. He teaches writing at goldsmiths college and lives near cambridge. The brilliance of unapologetic is in francis spufford s writing style and the fresh approach he takes to creating space for christianity to thrive in contemporary society. Basic christianity for weirdoes the american conservative.
Spuffords language isnt exactly aquinian or augustinian, but it gets to the pointto several points, in fact. In his new book, francis spufford has made a significant. This interview may not be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the holder. Francis spufford primary author only author division. Why, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising emotional sense. The section that describes christs betrayal, suffering, and death is an especially powerful and poignant potrayal of various aspects of what christs work achieved. The most recent, unapologetic, has been translated into three languages. Francis spufford creates a world that is hypnotic and believable, brought to life in sparkling prose and pitchperfect dialogue, and tells a gripping story thats full of tension and surprise, with characters who live on after the book is closed. Unapologetic is a brief, witty, personal, sharptongued defence of. Francis spufford, a former sunday times young writer of the year 1997, is the author of five highlypraised books of nonfiction.
The picaresque novels of fielding and smollett were clearly powerful models for this book but spuffords extraordinary visual imagination and. Antarctica is discussed in the section entitled cold and the jungle book is discussed in the. Francis spufford leads one of the general workshops on the creative writing ma course. Unapologetic, has been translated into three languages.
Spufford adds to the diversity of his bibliography, this time. Francis spufford explores the british obsession with polar exploration in a book that jan morris, writing in the times, called, a truly majestic work of scholarship, thought and literary imagination. Please provide me with your latest book news, views and details of. The front cover of the book say, unapologetic why, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising emotional sense. Refuting critics such as richard dawkins, sam harris, and the new atheist. Francis spufford introduces his novel, red plenty unless otherwise stated, this interview was conducted at the time the book was first published, and is reproduced with permission of the publisher. The chatto book of cabbages and kings, 1989, about lists used as a literary device, the chatto book of the. Spufford adds to the diversity of his bibliography, this time mounting an impassioned argument for, as the subtitle. He is the son of the late social historian professor margaret spufford 19352014 and the late economic historian professor peter spufford 19342017. His book itself is an act of daring, a message from the frontline. Shop amongst our popular books, including 16, red plenty, unapologetic and more from francis spufford.
Francis spuffords unapologetic is a wonderfully pugnacious defense of christianity. Oct 24, 20 francis spuffords books cover a wide variety of subjects, from polar exploration to his childhood reading to a blend of fiction and nonfiction about soviet russia in red plenty, which dwight garner named one of his 10 favorite books of 2012. Read this book and over 1 million others with a kindle unlimited membership. The figurative language of francis spufford publication. In his new book, francis spufford has made a significant contribution to the genre. Francis spufford frsl born 1964 is an english author and teacher of writing. His first book, i may be some time, won the writers guild award for best nonfiction book of 1996, the banff mountain book prize and a somerset maugham award. Oct 23, 2012 i know what he means, even though having music imposed on me in public places drives me mad, which is one reason i dont write in cafes like spufford, who wrote his whole book in one. Francis spuffords unapologetic is a wonderfully pugnacious defense o. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over.
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