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Speak what we feel (not what we ought to say) : reflections on literature and faith

Author: Frederick Buechner
Publisher: [San Francisco] : HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. ©2001
Edition/Format:  Print book : English : First editionView all editions and formats
Summary:
"In this compelling book, the great contemporary spiritual writer and novelist Frederick Buechner plumbs the mysteries and truths behind the literature that speaks to him most powerfully. Buechner presents the four authors who have been his greatest influences, focusing on the question that has emerged at the center of his life - how to face mortality, failure, and tragedy. Through sensitive biographical exploration
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Genre/Form: Criticism, interpretation, etc
History
Nonfiction
Named Person: G K Chesterton; Gerard Manley Hopkins; Mark Twain; William Shakespeare; Gerard Manley Hopkins; Mark Twain
Document Type: Book
All Authors / Contributors: Frederick Buechner
ISBN: 006251752X 9780062517524 0062517538 9780062517531
OCLC Number: 46321009
Description: xi, 161 pages ; 22 cm
Responsibility: Frederick Buechner.
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Abstract:

"In this compelling book, the great contemporary spiritual writer and novelist Frederick Buechner plumbs the mysteries and truths behind the literature that speaks to him most powerfully. Buechner presents the four authors who have been his greatest influences, focusing on the question that has emerged at the center of his life - how to face mortality, failure, and tragedy. Through sensitive biographical exploration and close reading of Gerard Manley Hopkins's sublime later sonnets, Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, G.K. Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday, and William Shakespeare's most powerful play, King Lear, Buechner invites readers to discover the deeper joy and purpose of reading.

He shows how these writers - by putting their passion and pain into their work - have enabled him to bear the weight of his own grief and sadness by "speaking out from under the burden of theirs."Buechner's ruminations on their writings leads to the revelation that God accepts us for doing the best we can, even if our lives are in some ways a failure; even if we have lived a life haunted by tragedy, as Buechner's has been haunted by his father's suicide."--Jacket.

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Primary Entity<\/h3>
<http:\/\/www.worldcat.org\/oclc\/46321009<\/a>> # Speak what we feel (not what we ought to say) : reflections on literature and faith<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:CreativeWork<\/a>, schema:Book<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0library:oclcnum<\/a> \"46321009<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0library:placeOfPublication<\/a> <http:\/\/id.loc.gov\/vocabulary\/countries\/cau<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/35416987#Topic\/christianity_and_literature_great_britain_history<\/a>> ; # Christianity and literature--Great Britain--History<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/9847864<\/a>> ; # Gerard Manley Hopkins<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/50566653<\/a>> ; # Mark Twain<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/859681<\/a>> ; # Christianity and literature<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/14767719<\/a>> ; # Gilbert Keith Chesterton<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1394979<\/a>> ; # Man who was Thursday (Chesterton, G. K.)<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/96994048<\/a>> ; # William Shakespeare<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/911989<\/a>> ; # English literature<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1204155<\/a>> ; # United States.<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1356110<\/a>> ; # Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Twain, Mark)<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1204623<\/a>> ; # Great Britain.<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.loc.gov\/authorities\/subjects\/sh2009118538<\/a>> ; # Christianity and literature--United States<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/dewey.info\/class\/820.9382\/e21\/<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/919968<\/a>> ; # Faith in literature<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/35416987#Person\/hopkins_gerard_manley_1844_1889<\/a>> ; # Gerard Manley Hopkins<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1732559<\/a>> ; # Religion in literature<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.loc.gov\/authorities\/subjects\/sh85043833<\/a>> ; # English literature--History and criticism<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1356322<\/a>> ; # King Lear (Shakespeare, William)<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:bookEdition<\/a> \"First edition.<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:bookFormat<\/a> bgn:PrintBook<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:copyrightYear<\/a> \"2001<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:creator<\/a> <http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/66589484<\/a>> ; # Frederick Buechner<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:datePublished<\/a> \"2001<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:description<\/a> \"He shows how these writers - by putting their passion and pain into their work - have enabled him to bear the weight of his own grief and sadness by \"speaking out from under the burden of theirs.\"Buechner\'s ruminations on their writings leads to the revelation that God accepts us for doing the best we can, even if our lives are in some ways a failure; even if we have lived a life haunted by tragedy, as Buechner\'s has been haunted by his father\'s suicide.\"--Jacket.<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:exampleOfWork<\/a> <http:\/\/worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/id\/35416987<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:genre<\/a> \"History<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:genre<\/a> \"Nonfiction<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:genre<\/a> \"Criticism, interpretation, etc.<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:inLanguage<\/a> \"en<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Speak what we feel (not what we ought to say) : reflections on literature and faith<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:productID<\/a> \"46321009<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:reviews<\/a> <http:\/\/www.worldcat.org\/title\/-\/oclc\/46321009#Review\/-1166521604<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:workExample<\/a> <http:\/\/worldcat.org\/isbn\/9780062517524<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:workExample<\/a> <http:\/\/worldcat.org\/isbn\/9780062517531<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0wdrs:describedby<\/a> <http:\/\/www.worldcat.org\/title\/-\/oclc\/46321009<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>

Related Entities<\/h3>
<http:\/\/dewey.info\/class\/820.9382\/e21\/<\/a>>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/35416987#Person\/hopkins_gerard_manley_1844_1889<\/a>> # Gerard Manley Hopkins<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Person<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:birthDate<\/a> \"1844<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:deathDate<\/a> \"1889<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:familyName<\/a> \"Hopkins<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:givenName<\/a> \"Gerard Manley<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Gerard Manley Hopkins<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/35416987#Topic\/christianity_and_literature_great_britain_history<\/a>> # Christianity and literature--Great Britain--History<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:hasPart<\/a> <http:\/\/id.loc.gov\/authorities\/subjects\/sh85025247<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Christianity and literature--Great Britain--History<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/id.loc.gov\/authorities\/subjects\/sh2009118538<\/a>> # Christianity and literature--United States<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Christianity and literature--United States<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/id.loc.gov\/authorities\/subjects\/sh85043833<\/a>> # English literature--History and criticism<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"English literature--History and criticism<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/id.loc.gov\/vocabulary\/countries\/cau<\/a>>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Place<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0dcterms:identifier<\/a> \"cau<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1204155<\/a>> # United States.<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Place<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"United States.<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1204623<\/a>> # Great Britain.<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Place<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Great Britain.<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1356110<\/a>> # Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Twain, Mark)<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:CreativeWork<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Twain, Mark)<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1356322<\/a>> # King Lear (Shakespeare, William)<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:CreativeWork<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"King Lear (Shakespeare, William)<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1394979<\/a>> # Man who was Thursday (Chesterton, G. K.)<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:CreativeWork<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Man who was Thursday (Chesterton, G. K.)<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1732559<\/a>> # Religion in literature<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Religion in literature<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/859681<\/a>> # Christianity and literature<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Christianity and literature<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/911989<\/a>> # English literature<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"English literature<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/919968<\/a>> # Faith in literature<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Faith in literature<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/14767719<\/a>> # Gilbert Keith Chesterton<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Person<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:birthDate<\/a> \"1874<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:deathDate<\/a> \"1936<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:familyName<\/a> \"Chesterton<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:givenName<\/a> \"Gilbert Keith<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:givenName<\/a> \"G. K.<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Gilbert Keith Chesterton<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/50566653<\/a>> # Mark Twain<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Person<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:birthDate<\/a> \"1835<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:deathDate<\/a> \"1910<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:familyName<\/a> \"Twain<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:givenName<\/a> \"Mark<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Mark Twain<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/66589484<\/a>> # Frederick Buechner<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Person<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:birthDate<\/a> \"1926<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:familyName<\/a> \"Buechner<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:givenName<\/a> \"Frederick<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Frederick Buechner<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/96994048<\/a>> # William Shakespeare<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Person<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:birthDate<\/a> \"1564<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:deathDate<\/a> \"1616<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:familyName<\/a> \"Shakespeare<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:givenName<\/a> \"William<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"William Shakespeare<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/9847864<\/a>> # Gerard Manley Hopkins<\/span>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:Person<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:birthDate<\/a> \"1844<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:deathDate<\/a> \"1889<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:familyName<\/a> \"Hopkins<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:givenName<\/a> \"Gerard Manley<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:name<\/a> \"Gerard Manley Hopkins<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/worldcat.org\/isbn\/9780062517524<\/a>>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:ProductModel<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:isbn<\/a> \"006251752X<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:isbn<\/a> \"9780062517524<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
<http:\/\/worldcat.org\/isbn\/9780062517531<\/a>>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a schema:ProductModel<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:isbn<\/a> \"0062517538<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0schema:isbn<\/a> \"9780062517531<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.<\/div>
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Content-negotiable representations<\/p>