Giving the Devil His Due: Demonic Authority in the Fiction of Flannery O’Connor and Fyodor Dostoevsky

Reviewed by:

G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing alumnus from Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Title:

Giving the Devil His Due: Demonic Authority in the Fiction of Flannery O’Connor and Fyodor Dostoevsky

Author:

Jessica Hooten Wilson

Publisher:

Cascade Books (an imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers)

https://wipfandstock.com

Publication Date:

February 28, 2017

Format:

Paperback

Length:

158 pages

OVERVIEW

Flannery O’Connor and Fyodor Dostoevsky occupy interesting places in Christian literature. Their stories present shocking portraits of sin in all its complexity, and often show the unusual ways that grace can reach even the worst sinners. Still, at least for Western Christians, their stories seem a bit too dark. Jessica Hooten Wilson uses historical research to show O’Connor’s interest in Dostoevsky’s work, and examines both writers’ works to show how they explored three theological motifs:

  • Characters who curse God for allowing suffering
  • Dangers of Christianity that tries to leave out Christ
  • Demonic figures and what makes them not just evil but distinctly demonic

Wilson does a great job of looking across both writers’ collected works to prove her thesis. She considers not only how these themes show up in well-known works like O’Connor’s Wise Blood and Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, but also their lesser-known short stories. She also  backs up her ideas with biographical research, noting that O’Connor studied Dostoevsky and citing notes that O’Connor made in her personal copies of his work.

A fascinating new look into an understudied topic in Christian literature.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5 stars)

5 stars

Suggested Audience

Book lovers and literature students interested in theological themes in the works of Flannery O’Connor and Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Christian Impact

Christians looking for book with unique theological themes will appreciate this study of two seminal and often underappreciated Christian writers.

Giving the Devil His Due


Giving the Devil His Due


Trackbacks/Pingbacks

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    […] they find God inside their trials. Fyodor Dostoevsky and Flannery O’Connor (whose works have been compared in interesting ways) wrote compelling stories about twisted people trying to determine their spiritual beliefs. Graham […]

  2. Notes on Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley (2021) – G. Connor Salter - January 30, 2022

    […] scenes, plus Stan referencing his Bible-based Southern background, add dark comedy as well as a Flannery O’Connor undertone of bizarre judgment. More than a few friends have noted that Gresham’s novel […]

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