Looking For The King, An Inklings Novel

I have just finished reading this great Catholic novel, which my wonderful Wife gave me for Christmas. Strange that a review copy did not show up in the post, but there we go. It is a great book for many reasons, but the great thing about it for me is that you could give a copy to anyone who likes Tolkien, Lewis etc. My Dad is unlikely to read a book by Scott Hahn or the like, but this one may go down quite well, and expose him to some Good Old Time Religion. Below is the blurb from the publishers (yes the ones that did not send me a review copy) Ignatius Press & you will also find a book trailer video on their website.

"It is 1940, and American Tom McCord, a 23-year-old aspiring doctoral candidate, is in England researching the historical evidence for the legendary King Arthur. There he meets perky and intuitive Laura Hartman, a fellow American staying with her aunt in Oxford, and the two of them team up for an even more ambitious and dangerous quest.

Aided by the Inklings-that illustrious circle of scholars and writers made famous by its two most prolific members, C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien-Tom and Laura begin to suspect that the fabled Spear of Destiny, the lance that pierced the side of Christ on the cross, is hidden somewhere in England.

Tom discovers that Laura has been having mysterious dreams, which seem to be related to the subject of his research, and, though doubtful of her visions, he hires her as an assistant. Heeding the insights and advice of the Inklings, while becoming aware of being shadowed by powerful and secretive foes who would claim the spear as their own, Tom and Laura end up on a thrilling treasure hunt that crisscrosses the English countryside and leads beyond a search for the elusive relics of Camelot into the depths of the human heart and soul.

Weaving his fast-paced narrative with conversation based on the works of the Inklings, author David Downing offers a vivid portrait of Oxford and draws a welcome glimpse into the personalities and ideas of Lewis and Tolkien, while never losing sight of his action-packed adventure story and its two very appealing main characters."

Happy St Crispian's Day

Today is the 595th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt. Immortalised by Henry V speech in Shakespeare's play;

WESTMORELAND. O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!
KING. What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

(Sorry if that is a bit long for some of my younger readers, here is a video of it.)

I cannot help, but think of this speech when standing with the few, the happy few at a abortuary. So do not stay a-bed, but get ye to thy nearest abortuary and pray!

Catholic Novel in Bookshops

There are many, many anti-catholic books for sale in most bookshops and newsagents up and down the country. Many of these novels have titles like "The Secret....", "The Crusade.....", "The .......Gospel" etc, etc. I have thought for a number of years that someone should write a good Catholic novel packaged to look like these secular books. I was so pleased to see Tom Grace interviewed on EWTN as he has done just that, as the back of his book says;

The Pope lies dying in the Vatican. A man of faith suffers in a Chinese prison. The fate of these two men could change the lives of millions....Ex-Navy Seal Nolan Kilkenny is called to Rome on the pretence of examining the Vatican library. But on arrival, he discovers his real mission, one that will ultimately involve China, the Mafia, and the conclave to elect the next Pope. In agony, the ailing Pope reveals the whereabouts of the 'secret cardinal' who has been imprisoned by the Chinese for 30 years and who could become the next leader of the Catholic Church.With the assistance of the US President, American Special Forces and the CIA, Kilkenny assembles a crack team, and in doing so attempts a daring rescue mission that could determine the fate of mankind...

The Secret Cardinal by Tom Grace, £6.99

I would recommend the book for family and friends who do not go to Mass. However, be aware that there is one torture scene that is in a bit more detail than I would like and a bit of swearing.