The Very Rev. Dr.

Ian Markham &

The Rev. Ann Gillespie

The Author: Susan Howatch

Born in the United Kingdom, Surrey in 1940

Married an American and became a writer
Her first novel, The Dark Shore, was published in 1965
In 1976, having separated from her husband, she moved to
Ireland
Prior to the Starbridge series, Penmarric (set in Cornwalls
Tin Mines) was the same basic model narrated through
different perceptions of family
The Starbridge series was part of her growing love of the
church
Current series was conceived in Salisbury, but she currently
lives near Westminister Abbey in London

Introduction to the Starbridge series

The books:

Glittering Images, 1987

Glamorous Powers, 1988
Ultimate Prizes, 1989
Scandalous Risks, 1990
Mystical Powers, 1992
Absolute Truths, 1994

Three Howatch Patriarchs

Ashworth:
Conservative
Traditionalist
Middle Way
churchmanship
Upper Class,
Studied
Theology at Oxford
The Devil = real, at
work in the world,
must be stopped

Darrow:
Monastic Mystic
Anglo-Catholic,
but connecting
through the spirit
with the church as
a whole
Classless
The Devil =
the Great Pollutant

Aysgarth:
Liberal Modernist
Protestant
Working class,
Studied the Great
Philosophers at
Cambridge on
scholarship
The Devil =
disintegrated
personality which
separates one from
God

First and Second Trilogies

1st Trilogy:
Set in the 1930s and 40s
One book is narrated by each of

the three patriarchs.

Each main character is stripped
down and turned inside out, so
that the
reader knows them better than
anyone else can
and the reader is in the position
of being God.

2nd Trilogy:
Set in the 1960s
Scandalous Risks, first one
Patriarchs interact with
younger generation
Effects of legacy revealed
Final scenes of last book all
generations stand together at
last in harmony

Howatchs Intentions, Literary Techniques

Each book is designed to be read on its own,

More books = Multi-dimensional reality

Example of Jon Darrow
Respect for Clergy Real People
Her metanoia/ love for Christianity
Howatch theology of sin
Christian progression: sin, repentance, forgiveness, redemption,
resurrection, renewal.

Historical Inspiration
Each book is inspired by a real historical theologian or clergy

clergyperson. Sometimes the thoughts of this real person are put

into the mouths of her characters. But more often, she uses real
quotes from the real people to begin each chapter and frame each
section of the books.
For you Anglican history buffs, heres who they are:
GI: Herbert Hensley Henson (1863-1947)
GP: William Ralph Inge (1890-1954)
UP: Charles Earl Raven (1885-1964)
SR: John Arthur Thomas Robinson (1919-1983)
MP: Christopher Bryant, SSJE & Jungian Pscyhologist (1905-1985)
AT: Austin Farrer (1904-1968)

Women of Starbridge
Starbridge series mostly written and set before C of E

Ordination of Women(1992)
Per mom role for women in the church, noninstitutional , wives, secretaries erotic attraction of
damaged women to male clergy
Venetia, only female Starbridge narrator, hangs around
edges of church, bored with slots for society women,
loves discussing theology
Her childhood friend, Primrose Aysgarth, becomes
advocate for Womens Ordination

Scandalous Risks
Set in 1963
The Honest to God controversy is the back drop
Venetia Flaxton, a daughter of the aristocracy, gets

involved with the Dean of Starbridge Cathedral

Norman Neville Aysgarth (mother called him Neville
and wife called him Stephen) was a close friend of
Venetias Father
The novel describes the gradual attraction between
Neville and Venetia

Scandalous Risks Part Two

Endless letters
Weekly meetings
Some sexual intimacy
Backdrop: a conservative Bishop dictating a book

attacking liberal theology; a liberal Dean arguing that

this expression of love is a gift to him; a sculpture
commissioned which might be pornographic; and the
ripples around other key characters (Dido married to
the Dean, Eddie the canon who tries to rescue
Venetia).

Faith and Brokenness

The experience of the holy always involves trembling.
Sam Keen, in Hymns to an Unknown God:
Awakening the Spirit in Everyday Life

Brokenness in Howatch

Brokenness in Clergy
Necessity for Brokenness to Develop Faith
Parker Palmer, Rollo May, Frederick Buechner, Jean Houston,

Buggy/Spencer, Susan Howatch

Next Howatch series Venetia, now in late 50s, alcoholic and
lost, sobers up as she gets healing through Nick Darrows Center,
goes off to Cambridge to study Theology. Hallelujah!

Faith, Doubt and Ethics

A crucial hook is the Honest to God book by John

Robinson.
Drawing on Paul Tillich, God was no longer out there
but better understood as the Ground of our Being
Drawing on Joseph Fletcher and Situation Ethics
defends the new morality that stresses the centrality of
love rather than rules in any given situation
Book explores the possibility that often liberal
theology suggests a compromised ethic and is an
excuse for inappropriate behavior.

Tying It All Together

Romans 8: and we know that all things work together

for good to them that love God.

... all things intermingle for good to them that love

God!