Owen Barfield is not a well-known writer, at least not as well-known as some of the varied writers he influenced: Nobel Prize-winner Saul Bellow and J.R.R. Tolkien, Pulitzer Prize-winner Howard Nemerov and C.S. Lewis. Most of Barfield’s name recognition is due to his affiliation with Tolkien and Lewis as one of the Inklings, because his name is usually included as one of the four best-known members, rounded out by Charles Williams. This post is intended to be a frequently updated resource for anyone interested in Barfield, as well as a depository for my own notes as I try to understand his thought.
Susanna Clarke on Owen Barfield
The author of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke, talks about Owen Barfield’s influence on her latest novel, Piranesi, in this Church Times interview with Sarah Lothian. Read Susanna Clarke: rescued by faith and Strictly.
Mark Vernon: Barfield and Evolving Consciousness
Mark Vernon is the author of the recently released book A Secret History of Christianity: Jesus, the Last Inkling, and the Evolution of Consciousness. In November 2019, Vernon hosted a one-day conference in London with several guest speakers. Watch or listen to the lectures and discussions on Vernon’s Evolving Consciousness page.
Stephen L. Talbott on Barfield
The Nature Institute has reprinted an appendix devoted to Owen Barfield in the book The Future Does Not Compute: Transcending the Machines in Our Midst by Stephen L. Talbott. Read Owen Barfield: The Evolution of Consciousness.
Saul Bellow writes a letter to Barfield
The American Reader has published a letter Saul Bellow wrote to Owen Barfield. Read Bellow’s Nov. 11, 1979, letter to Barfield.
The Owen Barfield Literary Estate
The Owen Barfield Literary Estate is a rich resources, especially its page of links to articles written by Barfield. Go to the Barfield articles page.
More to come, including links to videos of Malcolm Guite’s lectures on Barfield and Bruce Charlton’s blogs about Barfield.