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Phil Klay joins us on the podcast to talk about his essay, \u201cTales of War and Redemption,\u201d in our Winter issue. It\u2019s an essay that starts on a humorous note, describing the horrible, ridiculously gory deaths of the Christian saints in The Big Book of Martyrs\u2014a comic book for kids. And then he reminds you that he\u2019s been in war, and he\u2019s seen horrible deaths, and horrible suffering. What follows is a beautiful, moving look at suffering, not as sacrifice or cynical constant, but as a reminder of its inverse: joy, of a life lived, or one snuffed out.

Visit the episode page for Phil Klay\u2019s recommendations of writers to read after listening.

Go beyond the episode:

• Phil Klay\u2019s \u201cTales of War and Redemption\u201d
• Photos from his own deployment, released while he was a public affairs officer serving in Iraq
• Want more joy? Read Christian Wiman\u2019s essay, \u201cStill Wilderness,\u201d a meditation on a feeling (and poetry, and faith, and \u2026)

Tune in every two weeks to catch interviews with the liveliest voices from literature, the arts, sciences, history, and public affairs; reports on cutting-edge works in progress; long-form narratives; and compelling excerpts from new books. Hosted by Stephanie Bastek.

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Have suggestions for projects you\u2019d like us to catch up on, or writers you want to hear from? Send us a note: podcast [at] theamericanscholar [dot] org. And rate us on iTunes!

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