The Collegian

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News

On Monday, American Studies honorary Delta Pi Nu hosted a book signing featuring Associate Professor of History Brad Birzer's new book, "Sanctifying the World: The Augustinian Life and Mind of Christopher Dawson," published by Christendom Press. He spoke with The Collegian about his book and writing process behind it.

Collegian: Who was Christopher Dawson, and what particular significance should he hold for Hillsdale students?

Birzer: Dawson was an English historian. If he's remembered today, he's remembered as a major figure in founding meta-history, which was a movement that tried to look at large cultural shifts in world history [...] Dawson argued that history has to be based on fact, but that there is an art in history, that it has to be well written and well thought out [...] Ultimately, meta-history is a poetic way of looking at history.

Collegian: What motivated you to write on Dawson in particular?

Birzer: I was so taken with him. I heard about him in college, but my revival was a lecture by [historian] Gleaves Whitney. I was working on [my book about J.R.R.] Tolkien at the time and was astounded at how similar the two men were. I realized there was a whole group of scholars who were trying to make their faith the center part of their scholarship.

Collegian: In an interview with Ignatius Insight, you said: "Dawson believed that myth, theology, and a deep understanding of language should always inform one's understanding of history. History, too, should inform our understanding of myth, theology, and language." How have myth, theology and language influenced your own understanding of history?

Birzer: I'm personally almost always trying to connect mythology and history [...] Myth is very powerful because it connects with basic symbols those things that we as humans cherish. Myth has universal meaning, and yet it can be particular to a culture as well [...] Dawson actually believed all peoples were connected first by their worship of God, and second by their telling of stories through myth.

Collegian: How would you compare the rewards and disadvantages of teaching versus writing?

Birzer: They're very different. For me, my writing really helps my teaching and my teaching helps my writing. I've really enjoyed my year of sabbatical just writing, but I'm looking forward to getting back in the classroom [...] The great advantage of teaching is that I'm constantly working with sharp minds, both colleagues and students [...] You can really develop true conversation and discourse over a semester. The thing about a book is that it is an incredibly individualistic enterprise.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools