Old Books with Grace

Listening to the past can help us to understand our present, but it is so difficult to read ancient works of literature and theology alone. I’m Dr. Grace Hamman, a scholar of medieval literature and mother of three. Old Books With Grace shares my love for old books and listens to the wisdom emanating from these long dead voices. My hope is that Old Books With Grace will empower you to approach often intimidating works of literature and theology and as a result, ask questions of our current age. We live in a time that values the new and the now more than ever. But I truly believe that these books speak outside of the echo-chambers in which we so often find ourselves and help us to find ageless truth from lost centuries.

Old Books with Grace is a arts podcast hosted by Dr. Grace Hamman, with 97 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Dr. Grace Hamman hosts Old Books with Grace, a arts show with 97 episodes published.

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  Old Books with Grace

  Thinking through Samuel Taylor Coleridge with Mischa Willett

  Apr 22, 202659 min

  Today, the poet and professor Mischa Willett joins Grace to discuss the Romantic era of literature and one of its greatest writers in particular: Samuel Taylor Coleridge. For Philip James Bailey's Festus: https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-philip-james-bailey-festus.html Mischa Willett is the author of several poetry books, including the forthcoming This Gift Card Has Already Been Redeemed. He is Director of the Whitworth Writers’ Workshop, a low-residency MFA program in creative writing at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. His poems, essays, translations, and academic articles appear in a wide range of venues. More information can be found at www.mischawillett.com .

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  Episode #11

  Thinking through Samuel Taylor Coleridge with Mischa Willett

  Apr 22, 202659 minS6

  <p>Today, the poet and professor Mischa Willett joins Grace to discuss the Romantic era of literature and one of its greatest writers in particular: Samuel Taylor Coleridge.</p> <p>For Philip James Bailey's Festus: https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-philip-james-bailey-festus.html</p> <p>Mischa Willett is the author of several poetry books, including the forthcoming This Gift Card Has Already Been Redeemed. He is Director of the Whitworth Writers’ Workshop, a low-residency MFA program in creative writing at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. His poems, essays, translations, and academic articles appear in a wide range of venues. More information can be fo...

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  Old Books with Grace

  Lenten Poetry 2026: Abram Van Engen on George Herbert

  Apr 1, 202645 min

  Today is the last installment of this year's Lent series. Grace welcomes Dr. Abram Van Engen to discuss all things George Herbert, much to her delight (a bit of fangirling over Herbert is always in order). They focus on the beautiful, dense, multilayered poem "The Altar." Abram Van Engen is Stanley Elkin Professor in the Humanities, Chair of the English Department, and Professor of Religion and Politics (by courtesy) at Washington University in St. Louis. Van Engen has published widely on religion and literature, focusing especially on seventeenth-century Puritans and the way they have been remembered and remade in American culture. His book, Word Made Fresh, introduces reading poetry as a spiritual practice. He hosts the podcast Poetry for All. Here is the text, but be forewarned that the shape of it might be altered (get it?) in the podcast notes, so do look it up to see the poem's proper shape. A broken ALTAR, Lord, thy servant rears, Made of a heart and cemented with tears: Whose parts are as thy hand did frame; No workman's tool hath touch'd the same. A HEART alone Is such a stone, As nothing but Thy pow'r doth cut. Wherefore each part Of my hard heart Meets in this frame, To praise thy name: That if I chance to hold my peace, These stones to praise thee may not cease. Oh, let thy blessed SACRIFICE be mine, And sanctify this ALTAR to be thine.

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  Episode #10

  Lenten Poetry 2026: Abram Van Engen on George Herbert

  Apr 1, 202645 minS6

  <p>Today is the last installment of this year's Lent series. Grace welcomes Dr. Abram Van Engen to discuss all things George Herbert, much to her delight (a bit of fangirling over Herbert is always in order). They focus on the beautiful, dense, multilayered poem "The Altar."</p> <p>Abram Van Engen is Stanley Elkin Professor in the Humanities, Chair of the English Department, and Professor of Religion and Politics (by courtesy) at Washington University in St. Louis.</p> <p>Van Engen has published widely on religion and literature, focusing especially on seventeenth-century Puritans and the way they have been...

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  Episode #33

  Lenten Poetry 2026: Amy Baik Lee on John Milton

  Mar 19, 202645 minS0

  <p>In the latest installment of the Lent series, Grace welcomes Amy Baik Lee to discuss the poignant Sonnet 19 by the great John Milton.</p> When I consider how my light is spent,    Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,    And that one Talent which is death to hide    Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present    My true account, lest he returning chide;    “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”    I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need    Either man’s work or his own gifts; who best   ...

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