What We’re Reading

Miguel Cervantes, Don Quixote. The first novel, so-called, Don Quixote is a ironic satire on chivalric romance which calls into question the reality of the songs sung of by the Troubadours who were lauded as masters of the tongue by Dante. Though a blistering and funny critique of late medieval romance drama, Don Quixote’s endearing read to readers causes us to ask: what is reality? Does one really need to be a knight errant to have a memorable adventure? Does wealth and physical prowess buy friendship, or is friendship forged in adventures both fortunate and unfortunate? Cervantes calls into question the nature of reality, but in doing so through Horatian humor, he may have inadvertently called us back to the very reality he called into question. So there be the final irony: the reader gets the last laugh and turns the author’s intentions on its head—for the better.

~ Paul Krause

C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory. “Ah, but we want so much more—something the books on aesthetics take little notice of. But the poets and mythologies know all about it. We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else that can hardly be put into words—to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it in ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.” The older we get, the faster time seems to go by. And as 2024’s ending is rapidly approaching, and another year is soon dawning, we can only hope that 2025’s journey embraces a new vengeance for life and the desire to enjoy each moment, no matter how small and mundane they may be. C.S. Lewis is absolutely right when describing a yearning for something beyond ourselves. Maybe we can find the beauty of it in 2025. Here’s to a New Year and a fresh start.

~ Sarah Tillard

VOEGELINVIEW is free to read but depends on the generosity of its readers to ensure the highest quality of cultural and intellectual commentary is given to the world. With readers and contributors across all continents, we value our ability to bring commentary, reviews, and poems on the enduring questions of the human condition. While free to read, the journal is not free to host and maintain. Therefore, the Eric Voegelin Society, which publishes VOEGELINVIEW, asks that you consider a tax-deductible donation to continue the support of the journal. Your generosity allows us to give back to you in the form of our articles, essays, reviews, and creative writings.

VOEGELINVIEW is supported by the Arizona State University Foundation. You can make a donation through the ASU Foundation VOEGELINVIEW Fund.

The Eric Voegelin Society is a 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID 45-5508836). The Eric Voegelin Society, which publishes VOEGELINVIEW, can be supported through Nicholls State University. Make sure to write “Eric Voegelin Society” in the comments when providing a donation by credit card to support the Eric Voegelin Society and/or “VoegelinView” if you wish your donation to go to the support of the journal. Alternatively contact Dr. David Whitney at [email protected] for instructions of how to make a contribution by check.

Print