"The Man Born to be King: Wade Annotated Edition" by Sayers and ed. by Wehr. A Review

 

Long before "The Chosen," or "The Passion of the Christ," or "Jesus Christ, Superstar," or "Godspell" there was "The Man Born to be King" by Dorothy L. Sayers. Sayers was commissioned to pen 12 radio plays on the life of Christ to be reenacted on BBC Radio in 1941, in the heat of the Second World War. Recently Kathryn Wehr, creative author and scholar, has compiled a new, 420-page paperback including all twelve plays, with writer's notes, scripture references and more in "The Man Born to be King: Wade Annotated Edition". The work is a slow read, which in this case is a good thing. It is packed with background details, the history of the work, the adversity Sayers received early on, footnotes, commentary, and more.

Dorothy L. Sayers, a contemporary of C.S. Lewis, and one who corresponded with him, was quite the woman. Theological, thoughtful, literary, astute, and at times, a bit saucy. She penned numerous short stories, novels and poems. She even translated and published "The Song of Roland" a poem about Charlemagne and his battle with the Saracens. And her theological and perceptive acumen are on full display in many of her doctrinal works, like "Letters to a Diminished Church" where she showed clearly that "the dogma is the drama". She was just the right person to craft a radio drama on the life of Christ.

Kathryn Wehr has neatly taken this dramatic presentation, and added many details about its history, sources, and descriptions of it's reception. Sayers's notes are attached, where appropriate, which adds invaluable insight into the woman. Not only is there a load of frontmatter to help readers get ready (including the original Foreword by Dr. J.W. Welch and Sayers's own introduction), but before each play Wehr gives editorial introductions bringing the readers up to speed with what was happening inside the script and behind the scenes. Reading Sayers's notes to the cast, and Wehr's introductions was very penetrating. The psychological shrewdness of Sayers as she develops Judas, Matthew, and Caiaphas was amazing.

If you enjoy reading Sayers, or if your a Christian artist and dramatist, you will find this edition a valuable resource. Wehr has given us a masterful work. This volume would be a good edition to college libraries. It would also by a useful resource for Christian scriptwriters and thespians. And if you are about to purchase and listen to the original recordings of this dramatic presentation, you need to take up this work and carry it with you as a traveling companion. I highly recommend the book.

My thanks to IVP for sending me the manuscript, at my request, used for this review. Such generous people, they even allowed me free rein to write my evaluation, and didn't use thumbscrews or the rack. Therefore, my evaluation is freely made and freely given.