Nadya Williams and Evie Solheim discuss Wuthering Heights, what makes it a gothic classic, why Emily Brontë's moral ambiguity still provokes, how the novel speaks to a generation starved for romance, and why the new film adaptation trades subtlety for TikTok-style spectacle. Also: Anna Karenina, Virginia Woolf, and Greta Gerwig's Narnia.

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Get the Mere Orthodoxy ebook, Spiritual Formation for the Family, at http://mereorthodoxy.com/family

Mere Fidelity is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership.

Get 30% of the Baker Book of the Month, R30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity: Inspiring True Stories from the Early Church Around the World, by going to: http://bakerbookhouse.com/pages/mere-fidelity

Apply for Beeson Divinity School's Ph.D program by April 1 for Fall 2026 admission here: https://bit.ly/BeesonPhD

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Chapters

• 00:11 – Opening reading from Wuthering Heights and intro to the Brontë sisters
• 01:54 – Welcome to Season 2 of Christians Reading Classics; introducing Evie Solheim
• 03:25 – What makes a classic? Timelessness, breaking the mold, and the canon
• 06:35 – Plot summary: key characters, places, and the structure of the novel
• 08:43 – The gothic genre: origins, elements, and its American descendants
• 10:22 – Southern Gothic: Flannery O'Connor, Faulkner, and True Detective
• 13:12 – How we first meet Cathy — and the unreliable narrators telling her story
• 16:28 – Advice for first-time readers: Emily Brontë's biography and creative world
• 19:43 – Virginia Woolf's essay on Wuthering Heights and what it means to write like that
• 22:56 – Why Wuthering Heights resonates with Americans today: romance, apps, and longing
• 27:21 – The new film adaptation: competing with TikTok, not other movies
• 31:43 – Comparing Wuthering Heights to Gone with the Wind: land, love, and star-crossed tropes
• 36:28 – Good cinematic adaptations: Greta Gerwig's Little Women vs. Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights
• 41:10 – Is Wuthering Heights amoral? Reading Heathcliff's fate through a biblical lens
• 47:29 – Closing question: the classic Evie wishes she had written — Anna Karenina

Nadya Williams and Obbie Tyler Todd explore Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin as part of season two's focus on classics American Christians should read for America's 250th. They discuss the Beecher family's influence, the Fugitive Slave Law as the book's impetus, Stowe's deeply scriptural approach to critiquing slavery, the Christ-likeness of Uncle Tom, and why the novel's theological vision — not merely its abolitionism — gave it such enduring power.

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Get your copy of Mere Orthodoxy's ebook, Spiritual Formation for the Family, by going to http://mereorthodoxy.com/family

Christians Reading Classics is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership.

Apply for fall 2026 admission to Beeson Divinity School's MDiv (or M.Div., your choice) and be considered for a full-tuition scholarship.: https://bit.ly/OurRisenLord

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Chapters

Nadya Williams and Carolyn Weber explore the literary significance of Dorothy L. Sayers' 'Gaudy Night', discussing its themes of women's roles in academia, the intersection of murder mysteries and theology, and the nature of what constitutes a classic. They look into Sayers' complex character, her contributions to literature, and the broader implications of her work in the context of 20th-century society. 

Chapters

Nadya Williams and Jon Parrish Peede discuss the literary legacy of Flannery O'Connor, exploring her impact on American literature and the theological themes present in her work. They highlight the Southern Gothic genre, O'Connor's unique storytelling style, and the reader's engagement with her stories. It also touches on her reception over the years and personal reflections on her most significant works.

Nadya Williams and historian Daniel K. Williams examine Sinclair Lewis's 1935 novel "It Can't Happen Here," analyzing its treatment of democracy, authoritarianism, and religion's political role. Their discussion covers what qualifies a work as a literary classic, the historical circumstances surrounding Lewis's writing, and how his observations about democratic institutions' vulnerability and the manipulation of religious sentiment for political ends continue to resonate with contemporary American political debates and concerns about authoritarianism.

Chapters

Nadya Williams discusses C.S. Lewis's novel 'That Hideous Strength' with experts Philip Bunn and Ronni Kurtz. They explore the themes of the book, its place in Lewis's Space Trilogy, and the significance of literary classics. The theological implications of Lewis's work, character analysis, the role of academia, and the ethical considerations surrounding technology are discussed as well. The conversation highlights the relevance of Lewis's ideas in today's context, particularly regarding the nature of humanity and the purpose of fiction.

Chapters

Nadia Williams speaks with church historian John Wilsey about Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America," marking its 190th anniversary. They explore what makes this political work a classic, Tocqueville's aristocratic background and surprising observations about American equality, religion's central role in preserving democratic freedom, and why American conservatives should appreciate his insights about the balance between individual liberty and community responsibility.

Chapters

• 0:00 - What Makes a Classic
• 7:30 - Tocqueville's Aristocratic Background
• 23:17 - The Prison Reform Pretext
• 26:16 - Structure of Democracy in America
• 39:56 - Religion's Surprising Role in Democracy
• 55:24 - The Book's Reception Then and Now
• 57:53 - Why Conservatives Should Read Tocqueville
• 1:06:19 - Freedom Requires Responsibility
• 1:09:20 - The Book John Wishes He'd Written

Nadya Williams talks with theologians Coleman Ford and Shawn Wilhite about the Nicene Creed, marking its 1700th anniversary. They explore what makes a theological work a "classic," the historical background of the Council of Nicaea, the meaning of key Christological terms, and how to "think Nicenely" in the Christian life. The discussion blends history, theology, and practical discipleship, showing how the Creed shapes Christian identity and worship.

Chapters
00:04 – Introduction and Reading of the Nicene Creed
02:18 – Guests' Backgrounds and Book Collaboration
02:57 – What Makes a Theological Classic?
07:19 – Defining the Work of Theologians as "Doctors of the Soul"
17:18 – Historical Background of the Council of Nicaea
22:47 – Why the Debate over Christ's Relationship to the Father Mattered
28:21 – Constantine's Role and Political Context
32:23 – Structure of the Creed and Differences Between 325 and 381 Versions
38:25 – Christology in the Creed: Begottenness, Substance, and "Light from Light"
49:50 – Visual Imagery and Theological Language
54:32 – Thinking "Nicenely" and Why It Matters Today
01:00:18 – Writing Together as Friends
01:04:21 – Classics the Guests Wish They Had Written

Links

Nadya Williams talks with theologian Kirsten Sanders about J.R.R. Tolkien's The Return of the King, exploring its vision of good and evil, the tragic imagination, and the "faith of hobbits." They discuss why classics endure, the theological depth of Tolkien's world, the moral resonance of small acts of faithfulness, and the book's bittersweet ending.

Chapters
00:03 – Tolkien's life, The Hobbit, and the birth of The Lord of the Rings
02:44 – What makes a book a classic?
05:19 – A reluctant Tolkien reader finds unexpected resonance
10:53 – The quest, the ring, and the nature of evil
14:11 – Evil's hunger and the metaphors of light and darkness
17:56 – Frodo's smallness and the anthropology of humble creatures
20:49 – The tragic tone of The Return of the King
23:02 – Denethor's despair and Gandalf's call to do good
28:30 – The faith of hobbits and resisting nihilism
30:38 – Tolkien's gift for character and detail
31:42 – Gandalf, Tom Bombadil, and the mystery of the unaffected
34:27 – Elves, tradition, and the long memory of history
36:46 – Everything is theological: why the story works
39:03 – Sanders' current and future book projects
41:21 – The faith of hobbits in daily life
42:40 – The power of tangible care and the visible good
44:06 – The devastating beauty of Kristin Lavransdatter
44:59 – Rethinking feminist novels and facing "big books"

Links

Nadya Williams and guest John Shelton explore Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland on its 160th anniversary. They discuss what makes a book a "classic," the balance between whimsy and seriousness, Carroll's satirical brilliance, and the enduring cultural impact of Alice. The conversation highlights themes of logic, absurdity, moral imagination, and the shaping of children's literature.

Chapters
00:03 – Introduction to Lewis Carroll and Alice's enduring appeal
03:00 – What makes a literary work a "classic"?
06:16 – Why Alice's humor still works
07:43 – Iconic phrases and cultural influence
09:19 – Whimsy as serious work
11:42 – The sacredness of delight
13:38 – Influence on later works and pop culture
14:58 – The importance of the written form and illustrations
24:30 – The challenge of adapting Alice to other media
25:08 – Children's classics and parental reading traditions
27:27 – Violence, absurdity, and what's "too scary" for kids
31:16 – The rise of children's literature in Carroll's time
36:49 – Logic, madness, and education
37:18 – Carroll's faith and the spiritual dimension of whimsy
39:14 – The purpose of children's literature
41:20 – Selecting books for children and moral lessons from stories
45:13 – Learning the right use of force and justice
46:34 – Recognizing and mocking true absurdity
50:27 – Subtle moral norms in Alice
52:17 – Books the guest wishes he had written
54:56 – The relational nature of children's books
57:27 – Stories as moral frameworks for life

Links

In this episode of Christians Reading Classics, Nadya Williams talks with historian John Fry and children's literature scholar LuElla D'Amico about Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie. They explore what makes a children's book a classic, Wilder's life and historical context, the collaboration with her daughter Rose, and the enduring moral and cultural resonance of the series. The conversation touches on themes of virtue, nostalgia, cross-cultural appeal, and the complexities of reading historical works through modern eyes.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Little House on the Prairie and Guests
02:18 – What Makes a Classic in Children's Literature?
07:54 – Personal Connections to the Little House Books
12:02 – Laura Ingalls Wilder's Life and Historical Context
22:02 – Story Overview and Thematic Highlights
31:38 – Advice for First-Time Readers
37:17 – Why Wilder Wrote the Books and the Role of Rose Wilder Lane
48:32 – Wilder's Faith and Its Influence in the Series
52:02 – Reading with a Theological Imagination
55:19 – Closing Thoughts and Books the Guests Wish They Had Written

Links

Nadya Williams and Katelyn Walls Shelton discuss Aldous Huxley's Brave New World — its haunting parallels to embryo selection, reproductive biotechnology, and pleasure-maximizing culture — and what Christians should make of a novel that reads less like dystopian fiction and more like this morning's news.

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Christians Reading Classics is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership.

Apply for a full-tuition scholarship for Beeson Divinity School's M.Div program that begins Fall 2026 here: https://bit.ly/OurRisenLord

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Chapters

• 00:00 — Introduction & what makes a classic
• 05:00 — Brave New World mirrors our world: embryo selection, Orchid, Gattaca
• 07:16 — Why Christians in America should read this book
• 14:19 — Plot overview: hatcheries, Bernard, Lenina, John the Savage
• 23:40 — Life in the World State: conditioning, sexuality, soma, death
• 35:40 — Huxley's own contradictions: Doors of Perception and his LSD death
• 39:17 — Current reproductive biotechnologies: embryo grading, gene editing, artificial wombs
• 49:43 — Closing: The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula Le Guin

Nadya Williams talks with Geoffrey Kurtz about Ignazio Silone's Bread and Wine, exploring its political, spiritual, and literary significance. They discuss what makes a classic, Silone's shift from communism to a more open-ended moral vision, the novel's blend of politics and clandestine faith, and the transformation of its protagonist, Pietro Spina, through solitude and friendship.

Chapters
00:02 – Silone's author's note and the idea of rewriting one's "soul book"
02:29 – Defining a classic: resonance across time and place
04:24 – Silone's life, politics, and exile
08:54 – From political collapse to becoming a novelist
11:00 – The 1936 and 1955 editions: from didactic to subtle
13:13 – Setting and premise of Bread and Wine
14:35 – Disguise, solitude, and unexpected friendships
17:45 – Growth in character and writing craft
18:10 – How much is Spina autobiographical?
21:51 – Political and religious dimensions rooted in the same moral impulse
24:53 – Don Benedetto as a bridge between action and contemplation
29:33 – God's clandestine presence in the novel
31:08 – Solitude as the seed of transformation
35:48 – Loneliness, community, and the longing for safe relationships
36:30 – Reception in Italy, the U.S., and among leftists and Catholics
43:50 – Politics bounded by love and human dignity
47:26 – Kurtz's intellectual journey and democratic socialism
50:55 – On "democratic socialist" vs. "social democrat"
51:38 – Current reading: Wendell Berry and parallels to Silone
54:21 – A classic Kurtz wishes he'd written

Links

Nadya Williams is joined by Ivana Greco and Dixie Dillon-Lane to explore Winnie-the-Pooh as a children's classic. They discuss what makes a book timeless, how Milne's humor and characterization capture the child's mind, the role of family lore and shared cultural touchstones, and how to navigate classics that don't click with every child.

Chapters
00:03 – Origins of Winnie-the-Pooh and its enduring appeal
03:19 – Defining a "classic" in children's literature
07:11 – Story plots, character development, and the child's perspective
09:16 – Humor, literal thinking, and being "in on the joke"
13:10 – Power dynamics, Christopher Robin, and imaginative escape
15:32 – Re-reading classics through different life stages
17:05 – Songs, riddles, and the child's interior life
21:25 – The instinctive music of childhood
24:55 – Character archetypes: Eeyore, Tigger, and self-recognition
29:46 – Literary touchstones in family culture
33:43 – When classics don't click with your kids
41:22 – Encouraging literacy in homeschooling
47:12 – Adapting teaching methods to your child and yourself
49:51 – Avoiding power struggles in reading instruction
54:20 – Recognizing slow, steady progress
58:00 – Classics the guests wish they had written
01:07:18 – Books that become part of who we are

Links

Nadya Williams interviews Dr. Timothy Larsen on G.K. Chesterton's The Everlasting Man, exploring its enduring insights on humanity, Christ, and the joy of Christian apologetics. They discuss what makes a "classic," Chesterton's playful paradoxes, his cultural context after WWI, and how to approach the book today.

Key Idea:
Chesterton re-narrates the human story and the gospel with wit, joy, and surprise, inviting readers to see faith anew.

Chapters:
00:00 – Chesterton's Introduction: Seeing Home for the First Time
02:20 – What Makes a Classic Book?
05:15 – Chesterton's Life and Many Roles
07:30 – Why The Everlasting Man Was Written
10:05 – Part One: The Creature Called Man
12:30 – Part Two: The Man Called Christ
14:40 – Paradox and Wit in Apologetics
19:00 – Chesterton as an "Earthy" Christian
21:30 – Reception and Legacy
26:30 – Advice for First-Time Readers
29:40 – Larsen's Upcoming Book on WWI Clergy
33:15 – The Classic Larsen Wishes He'd Written
35:20 – Nadia's Choice of a Classic

Links:

Welcome to Christians Reading Classics! A new Mere Orthodoxy podcast hosted Nadya Williams. In this introductory episode, you'll learn what this podcast is all about and what you can look forward to. If you love classic books, or are even interested in learning more about them, you're in the right place.

Nadya Williams, Books Editor for Mere Orthodoxy, talks with Leah Libresco Sargeant, author of The Dignity of Dependence, about Henry Adams's The Education of Henry Adams—specifically the chapter "The Dynamo and the Virgin." They explore Adams's experience of the sublime at the 1900 Paris World Fair, his unresolved spiritual longings, what his Unitarian background reveals about American Christianity, and how Leah's work on embodiment and dependence offers a striking counterpoint to Adams's life of the mind. Plus: Leah's classic pick, Flatland.

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Mere Fidelity is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership.

Get 30% of the Baker Book of the Month, 30 Key Moments In Church History: Inspiring True Stories from the Early Church Around the World by Mark W. Graham, by going to: http://bakerbookhouse.com/pages/mere-fidelity

Apply for a full-tuition scholarship for Beeson Divinity School's M.Div program that begins Fall 2026 here: https://bit.ly/beesonscholarships

Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction & Background on Henry Adams
• 03:44 – Memoir as a Genre
• 06:27 – Why Read Adams for America's 250th
• 09:21 – The Dynamo and the Virgin Explained
• 13:18 – Adams's Faith and Spiritual Longings
• 20:34 – Technology, Awe, and False Worship
• 26:45 – Tips for First-Time Readers
• 28:24 – The Dignity of Dependence
• 37:31 – Classic You Wish You'd Written

Dr. Shilo Brooks joins Nadia Williams to explore Frederick Douglass's Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845), examining how this 60-page masterwork remains profoundly relevant for understanding liberty, education, and authentic Christianity. Brooks illuminates how Douglass's self-taught literacy became an act of spiritual and intellectual liberation—proving that "education and slavery are incompatible." The conversation traces Douglass's journey from Maryland plantation to becoming America's greatest orator, while addressing his critique of slaveholding Christianity versus genuine faith and the enduring lessons on what liberal education requires for sustaining free citizenship.

Chapters:

• 00:05 Opening: Douglass's Unknown Birthday
• 04:14 Why This Book Is a Classic
• 09:49 Target Audiences: Then and Now
• 13:47 Adjusting to Freedom
• 16:32 Teaching Himself to Read (Illegally)
• 19:51 Education and Slavery Are Incompatible
• 23:04 Convincing Students That Reading Changes Lives
• 27:36 The Cast of Characters: Slaveholders and Fellow Slaves
• 33:11 The Wrestling Match with Covey
• 37:15 Teaching Bible School to Fellow Slaves
• 40:18 How Did He Become Such a Beautiful Writer?
• 42:21 Douglass's Theology and Providence
• 45:48 Noble Ambition: Brooks's Forthcoming Book
• 50:25 Classic Books I Wish I'd Written

In this preview episode for Season 2 of Christians Reading Classics, host Nadya Williams sets the stage for an ambitious exploration of books that American Christians should read in honor of America's 250th birthday in 2026.

Opening with Thomas Jefferson's 1771 letter to Robert Skipwith about building his Monticello library, Williams frames the season around a central question: What role do books play in forming the American Christian imagination? Jefferson argued that fiction and classical works are "useful" because they "fix us in the principles and practice of virtue"—exercising our moral dispositions like muscles until they become habits.

This season examines how classic books—both American and those that shaped American thought—enrich our imagination while alleviating modern anxiety. As Williams puts it, "reading classic books really is the intellectual equivalent of touching grass."

Upcoming episodes include:

• Frederick Douglass's Narrative with Dr. Shiloh Brooks
• Henry Adams's The Education of Henry Adams with Leah Libresco Sargent
• Aldous Huxley's Brave New World with Caitlin Walls Shelton
• Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin with Obie Tyler Todd
• Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics with ultra-marathoner and virtue philosopher Sabrina B. Little (including discussion on teaching virtues to children)

• How classic books form a "library of the mind" that shapes souls and affections
• The timeless, good, true, and beautiful qualities that define a classic
• How books grow with us, revealing new insights with each reading
• The relationship between reading and virtue formation

Nadya Williams is Books Editor at Mere Orthodoxy and author of Christians Reading Classics (Zondervan Academic).

Nadya Williams explores the myth of Tantalus and its implications on the nature of success and temptation. She delves into how Tantalus' horrific actions reflect the seductive nature of victory and the potential consequences of testing divine powers. Nadya highlights the duality of success as both a reward and a burden, emphasizing the need for caution in the pursuit of greatness.

As we wrap up season 1 of Christians Reading Classics, Nadya reflects on the scandal of the Christian imagination and the role of reading classic books in forming a nourished imagination.

Nadya Williams and Eric Hutchinson delve into T.S. Eliot's poem 'The Hollow Men', exploring its themes, complexities, and the nature of classic literature. They discuss what defines a classic, the challenges of appreciating poetry today, and how to cultivate an appreciation for it. The conversation also touches on the role of poets in society and the importance of art and poetry in the human experience, concluding with reflections on the necessity of literature and the interconnectedness of past and present works.

Chapters

Nadya Williams and Dr. Leslie Baynes explore the works of C.S. Lewis, particularly focusing on 'The Great Divorce.' They discuss the definition of a classic, the significance of free will, and the themes of choice and divine grace in Lewis's writing. The conversation also touches on Lewis's influences, his relationships with women, and the timeless messages found in his works that resonate with modern readers. Additionally, Dr. Baynes shares insights about her upcoming book on Lewis and the Bible.

Chapters

Jane Austen's most underrated novel is also her most serious. In this conversation, books editor Nadya Williams and essayist Beatrice Scudeler explore what Mansfield Park has to say about virtue, vocation, wealth, and the formation of character -- and why Fanny Price, the novel's quiet, overlooked heroine, may be Austen's most carefully drawn moral portrait.

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Get the ebook Spiritual Formation for the Family at http://mereorthodoxy.com/family.

Christians Reading Classics is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership.

Apply for Beeson Divinity School's Ph.D program by April 1 for Fall 2026 admission here: https://bit.ly/BeesonDivinityPhD

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Chapters

• 00:03 -- Opening: Austen reads the opening lines of Mansfield Park; Nadya introduces the episode and season premise
• 01:48 -- Defining a classic: what makes a work speak across centuries without losing its rootedness in its own time
• 05:29 -- Why Mansfield Park for America's 250th: Austen, evangelical Christianity, and the values that crossed the Atlantic
• 08:48 -- The plot: Fanny Price, the Bertrams, and what happens when the Crawfords arrive from London
• 13:35 -- The problem of Fanny Price: why modern readers resist her, and why Lionel Trilling diagnosed the real issue in the 1960s
• 19:57 -- Fanny as a sympathetic character: what it means to be 10 years old, sent away from your family, and expected to be grateful
• 25:09 -- The absent adults: Sir Thomas, Lady Bertram, and the novel's indictment of parenting by principle without presence
• 27:09 -- Was Fanny autobiographical? The case for Jane Austen as observer, introvert, and moral compass
• 33:15 -- What money buys: education, time, space for contemplation -- and what it cannot buy
• 39:07 -- Marriage as formation: why Austen's vision of marriage is still revolutionary, and what we've lost by privatizing it
• 41:16 -- Why Mansfield Park may be Austen's best: constancy, prudence, and the virtue of being the quiet center that holds everything together
• 48:45 -- Closing question: what classic would Beatrice have written? Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Nadya Williams and Sabrina Little explore Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics — its account of virtue as habit, the teleological shape of a good life, and how athletics and daily practice form character. Little connects Aristotle to Aquinas, parenting, and her own work as an elite ultramarathoner and philosopher.

Christians Reading Classics is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership.

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 02:35 - What is a classic?
• 03:51 - Why the Nicomachean Ethics for American Christians?
• 07:19 - Aristotle's aims: eudaimonia and virtue
• 10:24 - The contemplative life vs. the practical life
• 13:38 - How college life trains students in virtue
• 18:13 - Advice for first-time readers of Aristotle
• 22:27 - The Examined Run: athletics and moral formation
• 28:29 - Teaching virtue to young children
• 32:03 - Would Aristotle recognize our struggles today?
• 34:57 - Aristotle and women
• 36:07 - What classic do you wish you had written?