Stay Against Confusion: Essays on Faith and Fiction

"Erudite and meditative, A Stay Against Confusion. . . depicts a profound, complex spirituality. . . brims with intelligence, passion and conviction." --San Francisco Chronicle

In this vivid and deeply felt collection of essays, Ron Hansen talks about his novels, childhood, family, and mentors such as John Gardner. He explores prayer, stigmata, twentieth-century martyrs, and the Eucharist. A profile of his grandfather, a "tough-as-nails, brook-no-guff Colorado rancher," finds a place alongside a wonderfully informative portrait of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. A brilliant reading of a story by Leo Tolstoy follows an appreciation of the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Surprisingly intimate, A Stay Against Confusion brings together the literary and religious impulses that inform the life of one of our most gifted fiction writers.

This inquiry into the life of a writer of faith considers:

• Writing as Sacrament: An exploration of how storytelling can be a religious act, providing graced occasions of encounter between humanity and God.
• Literary Masters: Incisive readings of literary and spiritual mentors, from the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins and stories of Leo Tolstoy to the guidance of novelist John Gardner.
• Saints and Martyrs: A wonderfully informative portrait of Saint Ignatius of Loyola alongside a moving reflection on the Jesuit Martyrs of El Salvador.
• A Writer's Roots: An intimate look at the author's own childhood, family, and "tough-as-nails" Colorado rancher grandfather, revealing the origins of a literary life.
• Catholic Faith in Practice: Deeply felt meditations on the core tenets of belief, including the meaning of prayer, the mystery of stigmata, and the power of the Eucharist.