A deeper understanding

Jackie Macadam meets author Diana Janney, who describes her faith journey – and the inspiration for her new book.

“I GREW up with a strong Christian faith. However, my parents encouraged me to explore other beliefs too. It was important to them that I developed a questioning, reflective mind – my favourite word from a young age was ‘why’, and I was drawn to thought-provoking subjects, which is reflected in my writing as a novelist.”

Diana Janney is a the daughter of a preacher, a wife, an ex-lawyer and a novelist.

Diana says her faith is an integral part of her creative process. Her latest novel, A Man of Understanding, is a story about a recently orphaned boy called Blue who is sent to live in the mountains of Mallorca with his enigmatic poet-philosopher grandfather Horatio, a former clergyman. Blue discovers that finding his talents can be an unexpected and life-changing experience.

“I had (and still have) a particular interest in moral philosophy and aesthetics, both of which I explore in A Man of Understanding,” she explains. “I try to make these subjects accessible in my books. This is a particular aim in my writing. My goal is to encourage readers to reflect on matters they may not have considered before, or in any detail, by making them interesting through strong characters and riveting plots.

“My late father was a Methodist minister, as his father had been before him. My father’s mother’s father was also a clergyman. My parents were particularly devoted to encouraging young people into the Church and helping them with their faith. Together they made discussions about religion interesting and contemporary.

“ My goal is to encourage readers to reflect on matters they may not have considered before, or in any detail, by making them interesting through strong characters and riveting plots.

“I left school with many A and O levels but without a desire at that time to go to university. I excelled at languages and at a party in London a fashion editor from Vogue gave me a list of model agencies in London. I was signed up by one of these agencies and soon I was being photographed by the likes of David Bailey and travelling to different parts of the world on fashion assignments (shoots for fashion magazines, advertising, and high fashion shows). When I turned from modelling to an academic life my father, who had also gone to London University, was thrilled. He always praised and admired my intellect, from the time that he taught me to play chess at the age of four. It is a sadness (to me and to my mother) that my father didn’t live long enough to see me qualify as a City solicitor and then a barrister in London, and become a successful novelist, although he was very proud to see me succeed as a graduate and postgraduate in philosophy, and to receive three scholarships and a First for my Master’s thesis on Kant and Hume, which I achieved as he was dying. I think my father would have been particularly proud of A Man of Understanding.”

“I’ve been fascinated by philosophy since my school days. For me, studying philosophy was a way of learning more about a subject I already loved. It could have been easy to step away from faith at this period – many philosophers do not believe in God and argue against His existence. During those university years as an undergraduate and postgraduate I did question my faith occasionally from an analytic perspective. I remember raising my doubts with my father at that time, not long before he was diagnosed with cancer. His faith remained unmoved when he discovered that he was dying – rather than being angry with God, he told me and my mother that he marvelled at his good fortune in having us by his side,” she says.

“He asked my mother to read him sermons from his favourite books. He discussed his unswerving faith with me, assuring me that he was unafraid of death. He maintained his dry sense of humour and joie de vivre. He wrote articles about his faith. He asked us to take him to different churches to compare their responses to such a common but tragic situation of pending death. I admired his courage and dignity in death. He was a true role model. Did my doubts at that time about faith disappear as a result of this? Partly, but not entirely, not until later. But I was influenced by my father’s words to me in response to my doubts, that a questioning mind is a good thing, that ultimately it brings you closer to God and to faith. I write in A Man of Understanding about the faith that Horatio, poet, philosopher and former clergyman, thinks he has lost, but which his grandson Blue, who, like Horatio, is grieving from sudden loss, sets out to show Horatio is still part of his life. My own suffering and grief through loss have ultimately strengthened my faith. Not as a crutch in despair, but after a first automatic response of blaming God, being angry with Him. Why take them, God? Why take those who still have so much to say? Blue asks of God in A Man of Understanding. It’s a question many of us ask at one time or another. It is also the beginning of a journey to a deeper understanding of God and the self.”

She says: “I met my husband, Alistair, when we were both at a top international law firm in the City. A strong bond soon grew between us as we fell in love. We share a Celtic background – Alistair is from Northern Ireland, and my mother’s ancestors came from Scotland on both sides. From the time of my father’s death, three years before Alistair and I met, I had been drawn to the Church of Scotland in London, which I attended regularly, and still attend when we are in London. The people, many of whom became good friends, were so welcoming, the sermons were interesting, there was such warmth at a time of great sadness. From the time that Alistair and I began going out together, Alistair loved the Church too. We were married in that Church almost twentythree years ago, and a year later we had a blessing ceremony there.

“I couldn’t write my books without God’s help and guidance.” She says.

“I believe that He even chose the title A Man of Understanding. I was struggling to find the right title and considered thousands! Finally, I turned to the bible, opened it where it fell and read the first words I saw, which were in Proverbs 10:23 ‘…a man of understanding hath wisdom.’ It summed up exactly how I felt about Horatio and the man that young Blue was to become.” ¤

A Man of Understanding was shortlisted for the People’s Book Prize 2023.