The voice of the heckler …

… Charles Williams: mightier and darker | TLS. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

Lewis is more indebted to Williams than Williams to Lewis; and these facts have to be spelled out with hard words hyphenated, if need be, in these times of extraordinary professional self-approval (“Join editor and writing coach Philippa Pride, who has worked with authors including Stephen King, for this truly inspirational writing course”: theGuardian, November 9, 2015). Many years ago, in an essay called “Redeeming the Time”, I invoked the “antiphonal voice of the heckler”. The voice of the heckler should always be listened to, even if the voice fails to be “inspirational” in modes that gain the Guardian’s commendation.