The July/August issue of StAR has now gone to the printers and will be winging its way to our subscribers in about two weeks from now. Here’s a sneak preview of the articles gracing this particular issue, the theme of which is “Literary Converts”:

Angela Gracey gives personal memories of her real-life encounters with Hilaire Belloc, Malcolm Muggeridge and the Catholic novelist, Antonia White. Similarly, Gillian Tatham presents us with a personal memoir of her uncle, Roy Campbell, arguably the most controversial of all the twentieth century’s literary converts. The memories of Mrs Gracey and Mrs Tatham are exclusive to StAR and have never been published anywhere else. As such, subscribers to StAR will be getting insights into these great Catholic writers that are not to be found in any of their biographies.

This issue also includes two interviews. The first is an interview that I gave to a Spanish newspaper during my speaking tour of Spain earlier this year. The theme of the interview is “Literary Converts and the Future of Eruope”. The other interview is with the world-renowned composer, Michael Kurek, who talks about his return to Catholicism after years in the agnostic and protestant wilderness.

Other highlights include articles on Chesterton’s Apologetic; Roy Campbell’s Flaming Terrapin; Greene’s End of the Affair; and an excellent article from Hungary on reading Graham Greene behind the Iron Curtain.

The issue also boasts the first English language translation of a speech by the French novelist Georges Bernanos on “The Role of the Catholic Writer”.

The full colour art feature focuses on the work and the aesthetic of North Carolina artist, Cameron Smith.

Fr. Dwight Longenecker’s regular film column focuses on the films of the Catholic convert, Sir Alec Guinness.

Kevin O’Brien in the first of a new regular feature series on the Theatre discusses his one-man show on St Paul, “the first literary convert”.

Susan Treacy’s regular music feature focuses on the work of the convert composer Lennox Berkeley.

Also featured is the second and final part of Amanda Guilnger’s article on Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

We must not forget the regular columnns by Patrick Riley and Fr. Benedict Kiely.

And last, but by no means least, there’s a review of a new book on Alexander Solzhenitsyn, that most famous convert from atheism to Russian Orthodoxy.

Don’t miss out on the next issue. If you are not a subscriber, you can rectify your sin of omission by subscribing on-line from this very site!