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The Very Rev. Dr. Ian Markham &

The Rev. Ann Gillespie

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The Author: Susan Howatch Born in the United Kingdom, Surrey in 1940 Married an American and became a writer Her first novel, The Dark Shore,was published in 1965

In 1976, having separated from her husband, she moved toIreland Prior to the Starbridge series, Penmarric (set in Cornwalls

Tin Mines) was the same basic model narrated throughdifferent perceptions of family

The Starbridge series was part of her growing love of thechurch Current series was conceived in Salisbury, but she currently

lives near Westminister Abbey in London

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Introduction to the Starbridge seriesThe books:

Glittering Images, 1987 Glamorous Powers, 1988

Ultimate Prizes, 1989

Scandalous Risks, 1990

Mystical Powers, 1992

Absolute Truths, 1994

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Three Howatch PatriarchsAshworth:

Conservative

Traditionalist

Middle Way

churchmanshipUpper Class,

Studied

Theology at Oxford

The Devil = real, atwork in the world,

must be stopped

Darrow:

Monastic Mystic

Anglo-Catholic,

but connecting

through the spiritwith the church as

a whole

Classless

The Devil =the Great Pollutant

Aysgarth:

Liberal Modernist

Protestant

Working class,

Studied the GreatPhilosophers at

Cambridge on

scholarship

The Devil =disintegrated

personality which

separates one from

God

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First and Second Trilogies1stTrilogy:

Set in the 1930s and 40s

One book is narrated by each ofthe three patriarchs.

Each main character is stripped

down and turned inside out, so

that thereader knows them better than

anyone else can

and the reader is in the position

of being God.

2ndTrilogy:

Set in the 1960s

Scandalous Risks, first one

Patriarchs interact with

younger generation

Effects of legacy revealed

Final scenes of last book all

generations stand together at

last in harmony

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Howatchs Intentions, Literary Techniques Each book is designed to be read on its own,

More books = Multi-dimensional reality

Example of Jon Darrow

Respect for Clergy Real People Her metanoia/ love for Christianity

Howatch theology of sin

Christian progression: sin, repentance, forgiveness, redemption,

resurrection, renewal.

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Historical Inspiration Each book is inspired by a real historical theologian or clergy

clergyperson. Sometimes the thoughts of this real person are putinto the mouths of her characters. But more often, she uses realquotes from the real people to begin each chapter and frame eachsection of the books.

For you Anglican history buffs, heres who they are:

GI: Herbert Hensley Henson (1863-1947)

GP: William Ralph Inge (1890-1954) UP: Charles Earl Raven (1885-1964)

SR: John Arthur Thomas Robinson (1919-1983)

MP: Christopher Bryant, SSJE & Jungian Pscyhologist (1905-1985)

AT: Austin Farrer (1904-1968)

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Women of Starbridge Starbridge series mostly written and set before C of E

Ordination of Women(1992)

Per mom role for women in the church, non-institutional , wives, secretarieserotic attraction ofdamaged women to male clergy

Venetia, only female Starbridge narrator, hangs around

edges of church, bored with slots for society women,loves discussing theology

Her childhood friend, Primrose Aysgarth, becomesadvocate for Womens Ordination

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Scandalous Risks Set in 1963

The Honest to God controversy is the back drop

Venetia Flaxton, a daughter of the aristocracy, getsinvolved with the Dean of Starbridge Cathedral

Norman Neville Aysgarth (mother called him Nevilleand wife called him Stephen) was a close friend of

Venetias Father The novel describes the gradual attraction between

Neville and Venetia

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Scandalous Risks Part Two Endless letters

Weekly meetings

Some sexual intimacy Backdrop: a conservative Bishop dictating a book

attacking liberal theology; a liberal Dean arguing thatthis expression of love is a gift to him; a sculpture

commissioned which might be pornographic; and theripples around other key characters (Dido married tothe Dean, Eddie the canon who tries to rescueVenetia).

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Faith and BrokennessThe experience of the holy always involves trembling.

Sam Keen, in Hymns to an Unknown God:Awakening the Spirit in Everyday Life

Brokenness in Howatch Brokenness in Clergy

Necessity for Brokenness to Develop Faith

Parker Palmer, Rollo May, Frederick Buechner, Jean Houston,

Buggy/Spencer, Susan Howatch Next Howatch series Venetia, now in late 50s, alcoholic and

lost, sobers up as she gets healing through Nick Darrows Center,goes off to Cambridge to study Theology. Hallelujah!

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Faith, Doubt and EthicsA crucial hook is the Honest to God book by John

Robinson.

Drawing on Paul Tillich, God was no longer out therebut better understood as the Ground of our Being

Drawing on Joseph Fletcher and Situation Ethicsdefends the new morality that stresses the centrality of

love rather than rules in any given situation Book explores the possibility that often liberal

theology suggests a compromised ethic and is anexcuse for inappropriate behavior.

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Tying It All Together

Romans 8: and we know that all things work together

for good to them that love God.

... all things interminglefor good to them that loveGod!