TAN Direction The Authority

The Authority with Joseph Pearce introduces you to the men and women behind history’s greatest works of literature. Come along every week as we explore these renowned authors, the times and genres in which they wrote, why scholars praise their writing, and how we, as Catholics, should read and understand their works. This is The Authority.

Meet Your Host

Joseph Pearce is an English-born writer and convert to the Catholic Faith who lives in the USA.  He is Director of Book Publishing at the Augustine Institute, editor of the St. Austin Review, and series editor of the Ignatius Critical Editions. He is the author of numerous books, including the TAN Books best-seller Benedict XVI: Defender of the Faith.

Podcast Episodes:​

Episode 33: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Joseph Pearce explores the life and impact of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the first Russian author featured in the series. Solzhenitsyn, a dissident during the Soviet era, faced tyranny and terror under the communist regime. Pearce reflects on his personal connection with Solzhenitsyn, having met him in 1998, and emphasizes the author’s

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Episode 32: C.S. Lewis

Joseph Pearce delves into the life and literary contributions of C.S. Lewis. The discussion encompasses Lewis’s role in the Catholic cultural revival, highlighting key periods such as the Newman era and the Chester-Belloc period. Pearce explores Lewis’s stance against modernism and his attempt, much like G.K. Chesterton, to distill the

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Episode 31: J.R.R. Tolkien

Joseph Pearce delves into the life and philosophy of J.R.R. Tolkien, the renowned author of The Lord of the Rings. Understand Tolkien’s deep Catholic faith and how it influenced his works, especially the fundamentally religious and Catholic nature of The Lord of the Rings. Explore Tolkien’s upbringing, his love for

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Episode 30: Evelyn Waugh

Delve into the life of 20th century novelist Evelyn Waugh, his loss and rediscovery of faith, and the profound influence of Catholicism on his greatest work, Brideshead Revisited. This episode weaves through Waugh’s tumultuous experiences, his conversion, and concludes with his poignant death on Easter Sunday after a traditional Latin

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Episode 29: Graham Greene

Delve into the complex life of Graham Greene, a renowned Catholic novelist of the 20th century. Despite Greene’s struggles with his faith and a life marked by moral ambiguity, Joseph Pearce examines the profound themes of faith and disillusionment in Greene’s novels, emphasizing the paradoxes and conflicts that shape his

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Episode 28: Maurice Baring

Joseph Pearce introduces the relatively lesser-known writer Maurice Baring, emphasizing Baring’s significant contribution to Catholic literature between the two World Wars. Pearce explores Baring’s rich cultural background and extensive knowledge of various languages. The discussion delves into Baring’s conversion to Catholicism, highlighting pivotal moments and his struggle with intellectual and

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