Christians Reading Classics
Christians Reading Classics
Podcast Description
Christians Reading Classics is a podcast about classic books being read through a distinctly Christian lens. Hosted by author and classicist, Nadya Williams, Christians Reading Classics introduces—or should we say—re-introduces listeners to classic works that have inspired generations. Interviewing experts who know these books well, the hope is to inspire listeners and awaken their imagination to God's world through literary, theological, and even children's works that have stood the test of time.
Christians Reading Classics is a Mere Orthodoxy podcast.
Find out more at mereorthodoxy.com
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores significant literary works and their theological implications, covering a range of themes such as morality, culture, and imagination. Specific episodes include discussions on Tolkien's The Return of the King focusing on good and evil, Carroll's Alice in Wonderland highlighting whimsy and morality, and Wilder's Little House on the Prairie addressing nostalgia and virtue.
Christians Reading Classics is a podcast about classic books being read through a distinctly Christian lens. Hosted by author and classicist, Nadya Williams, Christians Reading Classics introduces—or should we say—re-introduces listeners to classic works that have inspired generations. Interviewing experts who know these books well, the hope is to inspire listeners and awaken their imagination to God’s world through literary, theological, and even children’s works that have stood the test of time.
Christians Reading Classics is a Mere Orthodoxy podcast.
Find out more at mereorthodoxy.com
Nadya Williams and Evie Solheim discuss Wuthering Heights, what makes it a gothic classic, why Emily Brontë’s moral ambiguity still provokes, how the novel speaks to a generation starved for romance, and why the new film adaptation trades subtlety for TikTok-style spectacle. Also: Anna Karenina, Virginia Woolf, and Greta Gerwig’s Narnia.
—
Get the Mere Orthodoxy ebook, Spiritual Formation for the Family, at http://mereorthodoxy.com/family
Mere Fidelity is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership.
Get 30% of the Baker Book of the Month, R30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity: Inspiring True Stories from the Early Church Around the World, by going to: http://bakerbookhouse.com/pages/mere-fidelity
Apply for Beeson Divinity School’s Ph.D program by April 1 for Fall 2026 admission here: https://bit.ly/BeesonPhD
—
Chapters
- 00:11 – Opening reading from Wuthering Heights and intro to the Brontë sisters
- 01:54 – Welcome to Season 2 of Christians Reading Classics; introducing Evie Solheim
- 03:25 – What makes a classic? Timelessness, breaking the mold, and the canon
- 06:35 – Plot summary: key characters, places, and the structure of the novel
- 08:43 – The gothic genre: origins, elements, and its American descendants
- 10:22 – Southern Gothic: Flannery O’Connor, Faulkner, and True Detective
- 13:12 – How we first meet Cathy — and the unreliable narrators telling her story
- 16:28 – Advice for first-time readers: Emily Brontë’s biography and creative world
- 19:43 – Virginia Woolf’s essay on Wuthering Heights and what it means to write like that
- 22:56 – Why Wuthering Heights resonates with Americans today: romance, apps, and longing
- 27:21 – The new film adaptation: competing with TikTok, not other movies
- 31:43 – Comparing Wuthering Heights to Gone with the Wind: land, love, and star-crossed tropes
- 36:28 – Good cinematic adaptations: Greta Gerwig’s Little Women vs. Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights
- 41:10 – Is Wuthering Heights amoral? Reading Heathcliff’s fate through a biblical lens
- 47:29 – Closing question: the classic Evie wishes she had written — Anna Karenina
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.