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The Inklings were a group of early 20th-century Oxford thinkers who regularly met at The Eagle and Child pub to discuss mythology, theology, and literature. Today, they are best known for their contributions to fantasy literature, including The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia, as well as Christian apologetics. In recent years, four members—C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Owen Barfield, and Charles Williams—have gained recognition not only as authors of imaginative works but also as serious philosophers of the creative imagination. This talk will offer an overview of the Inklings, with special attention to what Barfield (after S.T. Coleridge) called "the shaping spirit of imagination."This lecture kicks off the new Inklings Series at The Port. Over the course of the fall and winter we will be exploring works from member of the Inklings in various media, including a book discussion group of C.S. Lewis' "That Hideous Strength" and viewings of Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings."
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About the presenter:
Jake Grefenstette is the president and executive director of the International Poetry Forum. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, an M.A. from the University of Chicago, and an M.Phil. from Peking University in Beijing; he completed undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Oxford. A scholar of Romantic philosophy and literature, he has instructed undergraduates at Carnegie Mellon University, Saint Vincent College, and the University of Cambridge, where he is Senior Non-Resident Member of King’s College. Grefenstette has also published and worked on film, including a “Special Thanks” credit on the extended cut of Terence Malick’s The Tree of Life.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Dr. Grefenstette’s love of literature was shaped by a generation of local educators who benefited from the International Poetry Forum’s poetry programs and educational outreach. In 2023, Samuel Hazo appointed Grefenstette as the second executive director of the International Poetry Forum.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Port, 3620 Butler St,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
