When it came to writing about the “permanent things”, Thomas Howard was without peer. An English professor and Catholic convert, Howard wrote prolifically over his long career, in a style that will never cease to be both relevant and refreshing. This collection of his essays is a sampling of his finest work.
The secular world is a rushing whirlwind, often devoid of the consideration of eternal truths. Seeking to voice the beauty of such truths, Howard articulates and respectfully engages with the world’s ideas, contrasting them with the slower-paced, heaven-directed worldview inherent in the tradition of Christian thought. In doing so, he makes this tradition accessible to everyone.
With clarity, wit, and culture evident throughout, Howard adds a personal touch to many of his essays, coloring them with anecdotes and writing in a concise, engaging style. Topics include imagination and storytelling, great literature, poetry, the writings of the Inklings, modern attitudes toward sin and evil, proper worship of God, and the significance of daily, ordinary choices. Howard melds the richness of a deeply Christian worldview with graceful prose, and Musings on a Starry Night is sure to enrich anyone who reads it.
