New to the Directory

Step into the wardrobe and journey through Narnia with scholar and storyteller Brenton Dickieson, author of the acclaimed A Pilgrim in Narnia blog. This ongoing series invites readers to explore The Chronicles of Narnia one book at a time in a relaxed, discussion-based setting. Each module offers a space to read closely, reflect deeply, and engage in thoughtful conversation about Lewis’s rich storytelling—its literary beauty, spiritual resonance, and enduring cultural impact. Together, we’ll follow familiar paths and discover new insights, asking how these beloved stories continue to speak to readers today. Whether you are new to Narnia or returning once more, this series welcomes you to walk with wonder, ask meaningful questions, and journey ever deeper into Lewis’s imaginative world. Future installments will continue the voyage as interest grows—so come along and see where the path leads next. [show less]

Return to Narnia with Brenton Dickieson as we continue our journey through C.S. Lewis’s beloved other world. In this discussion-based module, we’ll read Prince Caspian, a story of wandering, restoration, and the marks of true leadership. In <Prince Caspian, the Pevensie children are called once again into their beloved land of Narnia in a great moment of need. This "return to Narnia" is a book very much set in its natural world, so a "mapping" theme makes sense. The topography of Narnia has changed, but the adventurers are carrying with them old and outdated maps. They discover that they need to redraw various maps in their heads—mental maps they use to navigate their worlds—including the relational cartographies of boys and girls, kings and servants, leaders and followers, past griefs and future hopes, empires and indigenous folks, new friends and old memories, and the like. Whether you are continuing from Part 1 or joining us anew, come ready to read closely, share insights, and journey further into C.S. Lewis's imaginative other worlds on the next Narnian pilgrimage with Prof. Dickieson. [show less]

Set sail for the eastern seas of Narnia with Brenton Dickieson as our journey continues. In this discussion-rich module, we’ll read The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, a story of exploration, transformation, and the search for the utter East. As we travel from island to island, we’ll encounter dragons, dreams, and deep questions about identity, desire, and grace. Together, we’ll reflect on the personal and spiritual journeys of the characters, and consider how Lewis invites readers into their own voyage of discovery. Whether you are following the series or embarking for the first time, join us as we journey further into the wonder and mystery of Narnia. [show less]

Step into the most wondrous and unconventional corners of William Shakespeare’s imagination, where shipwrecks, enchanted forests, lost heirs, and improbable reunions unfold with dreamlike intensity. Shakespeare’s Epic Fairy Tales gathers the playwright’s late romances and collaborations into a single sweeping journey—one that moves fluidly between tragedy and comedy, history and fantasy, the natural and the supernatural. Across these modules, we encounter stories shaped by medieval lore, Renaissance experimentation, and a fascination with the boundary between art and magic. Storms scatter families across distant shores; disguises and mistaken identities conceal and reveal the truth; time itself bends to allow for repentance, reconciliation, and wonder. Whether set in ancient kingdoms, pastoral landscapes, or imagined realms, these plays share a deep concern with loss and recovery, the testing of love, and the possibility of renewal. From seafaring adventures and courtly intrigues to strange stagecraft and collaborative reinventions, this series explores how Shakespeare and his contemporaries reimagined the fairy tale for the early modern stage. Future modules will continue to expand this tapestry, including encounters with enchanted islands, powerful sorcerers, and the transformative force of storytelling itself. Designed as a flexible, non-sequential series, Shakespeare’s Epic Fairy Tales invites participants to explore these rich and often overlooked works in any order—tracing the threads that connect them while discovering the singular magic of each. [show less]

Did you grow up hearing a beloved poem? Have you ever wanted to recite a cherished fragment of a story? This is a workshop for those who wish to honor the stories and poems they love by committing them to memory. You choose the text in the language of your choice—be it a series of poems in English, a story, or a favorite passage in a language you’re studying—and join a group of like-minded folks on a journey to memorize and learn to recite the literature that they cherish. Whether you share the recitation with us in class or challenge yourself to make a recording you can be proud of, the goal remains: To take the literature we love from the page and learn to carry it in the heart. [show less]

The John Newbery Medal is given by the Association for Library Service to Children to the author of "the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children"; an annual award, it has been given from 1922 to the present. Winners must have been written by an American citizen or resident and its first publication must be in English. Read Newbery Medal award winners and discuss with Sparrow and your fellow SPACE students: what do these stories reveal about their times and what is timeless about them? Where does this work fall in the old discussion about whether children's literature should provide education or delight? What cultural values and developmental landmarks does the work deliver to readers? Each month we will read two different works and gently travel through time with Stories. [show less]