Are you looking for intelligent conversation about great books? Join us this summer for our seminar series on faith in fiction and philosophy. We meet Monday evenings in July and August to discuss the new translation of Georges Bernanos’ novel Diary of a Country Priest, Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling, and Chaim Grade’s story “My Quarrel With Hersh Rasseyner”. The format of the seminars is simple: read the assigned section of the book before you arrive and come up with a short question about the reading. Registration links and reading schedules are below.
All seminars are held in downtown Fairhaven: 1106 Harris Ave., Suite 307.
Diary of a Country Priest is best known to American readers as the inspiration for Robert Bresson’s 1951 film of the same name. This spare, beautiful book is finally available in an unabridged translation. Reading schedule:
- July 7th, 5-6:30 p.m. – pages 13-73
- July 14th, 5-6:30 p.m. – pages 73-141
- July 21st, 5-6:30 p.m. – pages 141-209
- July 28th, 5-6:30 p.m. – pages 209-288
The cost of the seminar is sliding scale: $0-$150. We are reading the new translation by Michael Tobin (to which the page numbers above correspond). You can order this translation from Village Books or Ignatius Press.
Register for the Diary of a Country Priest Seminar
Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling offers a philosophical exploration of faith in the story of Abraham and Isaac. Reading schedule:
- August 4th, 5-6:30 p.m. – Preface; Prelude; A Panegyric Upon Abraham
- August 11th, 5-6:30 p.m. – Problemata: Preliminary Expectoration; Problem I
- August 18th, 5-6:30 p.m. – Problem II; Problem III; Epilogue
The cost of the seminar is sliding scale: $0-$100. Read any translation or edition you wish. The Penguin Classics edition pictured above is available from Village Books.
Register for the Fear and Trembling Seminar
Our final reading in the seminar series is Chaim Grade’s story “My Quarrel With Hersh Rasseyner” (translated from the Yiddish by Ruth R. Wisse). Grade’s story is one of the great works of Yiddish literature. It portrays an argument between two men about faith and art, before and after the Shoah.
- August 25th, 5-6:30 p.m. – “My Quarrel With Hersh Rasseyner”
The cost of the seminar is sliding scale: $0-$60. Please read the Wisse translation, which is available as a printable PDF from Mosaic Magazine. Nota bene: we will only be discussing Grade’s story, not Wisse’s essay.
Register for the “My Quarrel With Hersh Rasseyner” Seminar
Questions? Text/call (360) 230-8012 or email info@fairhavenprogram.org. All seminars are held in downtown Fairhaven: 1106 Harris Ave., Suite 307. Take the elevator to the third floor.