The Zeal of thy House

Dorothy L. Sayers took her inspiration from a monks account of the fire of 1174 and the subsequent rebuilding of Canterbury Cathedral Quire. She portrays William of Sens the chosen architect as eaten away by pride in his splendid work unable to give glory to God for his achievement. Enacted in the presence of a group of graciously influential archangels the play reveals the carelessness of some of the monks resulting in the terrifying fall that cripples William. His agony brings him to repentance and gratitude before God and finally to the renunciation of his role leaving the completion of the rebuilding to others. This edition also comes with an English translation of the Latin texts in the play. I am delighted at the long overdue re-publication of Dorothy L. Sayers religious plays which will help make these valuable texts available to the current generation. Let us hope that some theatre enthusiasts will be encouraged to re-stage them! Suzanne Bray Lille Catholic University As Ann Loades makes clear in her extremely informative introduction Dorothy L. Sayers plays are arguably the place where she did her best theological work. The re-publication of these plays makes it possible again for this remarkable writer to have the readers she so richly deserves. Stanley Hauerwas Duke Divinity School Dorothy L. Sayers (1893-1957) born and educated in Oxford was an accomplished novelist poet playwright scholar and Christian apologist. Along with her religious drama her numerous writings include translations of Dante detective stories theological works and studies of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.