View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by St Andrews Research Repository THE HISTORICAL IMAGINATION OF CHRISTOPHER DAWSON Glen Austin Sproviero A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of MPhil at the University of St. Andrews 2008 Full metadata for this item is available in the St Andrews Digital Research Repository at: https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/760 This item is protected by original copyright The Historical Imagination of Christopher Dawson by Glen Austin Sproviero A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment Of the requirements of the degree of Master of Philosophy Department of Modern History University of St Andrews January 2007 i For Kathleen ii The men of the East may spell the stars, And times and triumphs mark, But the men signed of the cross of Christ Go gaily in the dark. The men of the East may search the scrolls For sure fates and fame, But the men that drink the blood of God Go singing to their shame. The wise men know what wicked things Are written on the sky, They trim sad lamps, they touch sad strings, Hearing the heavy purple wings, Where the forgotten seraph kings Still plot how God shall die. The wise men know all evil things Under the twisted trees, Where the perverse in pleasure pine And men are weary of green wine And sick of crimson seas. But you and all the kind of Christ Are ignorant and brave, And you have wars you hardly win And souls you hardly save. I tell you naught for your comfort, Yea, naught for your desire, Save that the sky grows darker yet And the sea rises higher. Night shall be thrice night over you, And heaven an iron cope. Do you have joy without a cause, Yea, faith without a hope?" — G.K. Chesterton, Ballad of the White Horse iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATIONS ....................................................................................................................I COPYRIGHT......................................................................................................................... II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.........................................................................................................III ABSTRACT..........................................................................................................................IV INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER ONE: SOCIOLOGY AND THE CULTURAL VIEW OF HISTORY ......................... 9 I ...................................................................................................................................... 9 II .................................................................................................................................. 12 III ................................................................................................................................ 42 IV .................................................................................................................................. 59 CHAPTER TWO: HISTORY AND PROGRESS ..................................................................... 65 I .................................................................................................................................... 65 II .................................................................................................................................. 69 III ................................................................................................................................ 97 CHAPTER THREE: CHRISTIANITY, CATHOLICISM, AND HISTORY ......................... 115 I .................................................................................................................................. 115 II ................................................................................................................................ 120 III .............................................................................................................................. 148 CONCLUSION.................................................................................................................... 162 APPENDIX: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, CONVERSION, AND INTRODUCTION TO MAJOR WRITINGS........................................................................................................................ 176 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................... 197 SECTION A: PRIMARY SOURCES ...................................................................................... 197 Unpublished Sources and Private Collections ...................................... 197 Newspaper and Periodical Contributions by Christopher Dawson... 197 Published Books by Christopher Dawson................................................... 198 SECTION B: SECONDARY SOURCES................................................................................... 199 General Accounts............................................................................................... 199 Applicable Dissertations .............................................................................. 202 Critical Articles and Reviews.................................................................... 202 Reference Materials......................................................................................... 205 0 Declarations I, Glen Austin Sproviero, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 44,000 words in length, has been written by me, that it is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. Date:________________________ Signature:________________________________ I was admitted as a research student in September, 2004 and as a candidate for the degree of Master of Philosophy in June, 2005; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between 2005 and 2007. Date:________________________ Signature:________________________________ I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of Master of Philosophy in the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in February 2007. Date:______________________ Supervisor:______________________________ i Copyright In submitting this thesis to the University of St Andrews I understand that I am giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby. I also understand that the title and abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bona fide library or research worker, that my thesis will be electronically accessible for personal or research use, and that the library has the right to migrate my thesis into new electronic forms as required to ensure continued access to this thesis. I have obtained any third-party copyright permissions that may be required in order to allow such access and migration. Date:_______________________ Signature:___________________________ ii Acknowledgements This dissertation is the product of research funded by the generosity of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, the Marguerite Eyer Wilbur Foundation, and the Department of Modern History, University of St Andrews. Additionally, many individuals and institutions have contributed vast resources and energy to help develop this study and bring it to completion. Dr. Michael J. Bentley, Professor of Modern History in the University of St Andrews, provided countless hours of criticism, advice, and direction. A mentor and friend, this study would not have been possible without his constant effort and counsel. It is from him that I came to know the difference between history and the dead past. His dedication to this project, despite its short- comings and its author’s colorful faults, is remarkable. Dr. Bradley Birzer, Professor of History at Hillsdale College, Michigan, provided much of the advice needed to adequately use Dawson’s archives and papers. His guidance had a substantial impact on materials used in the research phase of this study. The librarians and archivists at the University of Oxford, University of Notre Dame, University of St Andrews, and Princeton University, were all instrumental in providing the materials necessary for this project. Special thanks are required for Anne Kenne of the University of St Thomas for her help and cooperation with the Dawson Archives. None of this could have been possible without the consistent help and support of my aunt, Annette Kirk, “Duchess of Mecosta.” It is from the Kirk’s that I first found my love of St Andrews and a love for scholarship. Aunt Annette is a walking institution who easily ranks among the grandest of the generals in the battle of ideas. The typescript was read and criticized by Miss Kathleen M. Goggins, the Earhart Foundation Scholar in the University of St Andrews, and by Mr. David Hunsicker, St Mary’s College, University of St Andrews. Dr. Francesca Murphy, Reader in Systematic Theology, University of Aberdeen, and Dr. Nick Rengger, Professor of Political Theory and International Relations, University of St Andrews, have generously agreed to examine and criticize