A Belated Introduction

The Manor at which?

My not-quite-finished study

So I’ve maintained a lurking presence on Substack for a couple of years now. I came initially to read more from

Mary Harrington

,

Leah Libresco Sargeant

,

Rod Dreher

and

Anne Kennedy

. I eventually discovered (well, discovered a secret Substack written by)

Sarah Elizabeth Smith

, my sister and one of the wisest people I have the privilege of knowing personally, who in turn introduced me to a slew of interesting writers including

Elizabeth Grace Matthew

,

O. Alan Noble

and

Ryan B. Anderson

. This week I posted my own work for the first time, but without any introduction; this post is intended to address that oversight. What follows is an edited and slightly expanded version of my About Page.

If you haven’t yet read That Hideous Strength, you really should.

I’m Patrick. Redeemed by Jesus Christ, married to one wonderful woman for a quarter-century and counting, father of six and grandfather of one, second-generation homeschooler; Presbyterian, gardener, blacksmith, and writer because I can’t help myself (I was nicknamed “Filibuster” by my father as a young boy).

Also, mea culpa; I’m a recovering political activist. Ten years ago, any bio of mine would have led with “libertarian-leaning conservative.” But libertarianism has lost its way (or perhaps I’ve found mine), and I don’t know what “conservative” even means in the West these days. I’ve gained a belated appreciation for the value of localism, but mostly I’m just focused on my family and the community of believers that I know personally. You might come close by calling me a Tolkien anarchist: with a soft spot for benevolent monarchy, but firmly of the opinion that not one in a million is fit to rule others, and least of all those who seek the opportunity.

I read widely, and return again and again to those authors whose writings challenge my own understanding and reveal my lack of wisdom. G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, and (more recently) Wendell Berry are among those who have most directly shaped my thinking.

I think by writing; very little of what I write sees the light of day; yet as I look back over my youth I can only conclude that I have said too much, rather than too little (Dad, you were clearly onto something). I frequently disagree with my younger self and am less than proud of much that I once put before the world. For many years now I have written nothing for public view. But as I enjoy more and more the wisdom of other authors, I long to distill and share some of that wisdom with others who, for various reasons, will probably never read them. That is the original purpose of this Substack.

As for what it may become, only God knows.

I did worry about the name – From The Manor at St. Anne’s – for some time. I’m aware that it could seem random to those who haven’t read the above-mentioned book, and presumptuous, even arrogant, to those who have. So here’s a bit of clarification. I mean only that as long as I remain in Thulcandra, I hope and intend to be, undeservedly but unapologetically, on the side of the resistance. I make no pretense to the good looks of the Pendragon, the discipline of Grace Ironwood, the faithfulness of Dr. Dimble, the diligence of Ivy Maggs, or even the appetite of Mr. Bultitude. I am neither as classy as the Dennistons nor as intelligent as Alexander MacPhee. If I have been allowed into Ransom’s little company, it is only because they are such a welcoming and interesting set; and besides, like Jane Studdock, I have nowhere else to go. But you really should join us.

Two things you will not find here: pictures of my children, or AI-produced content of any kind. I will not use AI creatively, or even as an editor, unless Apple’s meddling and officious autocorrect feature counts as AI. I don’t knowingly rely on search results that are AI generated; I try not to give authors content generators who use AI the time of day; and I’m open to the possibility that AI is becoming the portal to hell that Lewis imagined at the heart of the N.I.C.E. Having said that, I proofread my writing obsessively and always have, and I refuse to give up the pursuit of excellence in my work just to prove my humanity; I’m not going to leave typos or let AI control my choice of words. So there.

Projects in the works – or in the Drafts folder – include a post on J.R.R. Tolkien’s philosophy of mythology, a book review, and a deep dive into one of my favorite poems of all time, G.K. Chesterton’s Ballad of the White Horse. Next up, though: more thoughts on the limitations of Artificial Intelligence. Thank you for reading, and I hope to make it worth your while to come back.