Soon from Lehigh University Press -
Identifying an important subgenre of horror literature, Catholic Horror and Rhetoric Dialectics argues that Catholic horror literature distinctively inspires the philosophical, theological, and spiritual imaginations of readers from all backgrounds and faith traditions. Hurley analyzes four novels that are foundational to the genre of Catholic horror: J.K. Huysmans’s Là-Bas (1891), Robert Hugh Benson’s The Light Invisible (1903) and A Mirror of Shalott (1907), and William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist (1971). Consulting the classical liberal arts, Catholic horror literature is uniquely positioned to draw readers into a contemplative mindset. In presenting ghost stories, tales of possession, and narratives about evil, Catholic horror invites audiences to confront and reflect on profound existential questions—questions about the line between life and death, the nature of being, and the meaning of reality.
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What is thoughtful storytelling, really?
How do stories inspire us to think more deeply—and want to think more deeply? How do stories guide us toward sounder judgments about the things around us, and the nature of things around us? How do they motivate us toward a 360-degree version of reality?
Throughout my publications and talks, I have explored these crucial questions. And I will continue to do so. After all, in today’s age of distraction, we may be tempted to abandon the art of thinking—and surrender thoughtfulness to others or artificial intelligence. To counter these temptations, I trace how storytelling—whether formally (such as, films or novels) or informally (such as, the tales that you tell your buddies at happy hour)—can deliver us back to vertical, philosophical head-spaces and heart-spaces.
If done well, stories edify and upbuild. They can stretch our intellectual imaginations. They can motivate, instruct, and dazzle us to take thoughtfulness seriously—so we can live freer, fuller, and more productive lives.
With contemplative storytelling, there is much more than meets the eye. So let’s peer beneath the surface.
About Me
For over fifteen years, I have taught writing, rhetoric, and communication courses at the university-level. I began publishing articles while earning my Ph.D. in 2014. Since then, I continue to coach rhetorical communication and publish books/essays on the art of rhetoric.