This volume is a literary and cultural investigation of the discord and resonance between classical ideals of heroic actions and the imperatives of the Christian life, from the Homeric epic to the present day. Its central theme is the difficulty of recognizing, imitating, and participating in heroic excellence--a difficulty that has been a concern for classical, Renaissance, and modern writers alike.
Specifically, the authors trace this theme of recognition, imitation, and participation from Homer and Virgil to the New Testament, through Spencer and Milton, to Bonhoeffer, Camus, and contemporary American culture.
Human excellence, both classical and Christian, cannot simply be commended, the authors conclude. It must be made manifest to become a model for the actions of others.