Graham Tomlin: re-enchanting Blaise Pascal

Pascal's biographer on the polymath's huge contributions to science, culture, and more.

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

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Graham Tomlin is the Director of the Centre For Cultural Witness, and Editor in Chief of Seen & Unseen. As the former bishop of Kensington he has been involved in theological education and cultural engagement for several years. His latest book is Blaise Pascal: The man who made the modern world.

Justin, Belle and Graham explore the life and legacy of Pascal, a polymath who, in a relatively short lifetime, made huge contributions not only to science, mathematics, technology and culture but also offered arguments for Christianity that are still widely discussed today.

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Visionaries

5 September 2025

1 min read

Visionaries: Milton's indelible mark on poetry and politics

Jessica Martin discusses the writer's literary legacy with the GodPod hosts

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

A painting of a young John Milton wearing a neck ruff.

National Portrait Gallery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

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About this episode

In this episode of GodPod’s Visionaries series, we explore the profound impact of John Milton's personal life and Christian faith on his mighty literary works.

Milton's journey from a loyal servant of the crown to a passionate advocate for political reform and freedom of speech is deeply intertwined with his spiritual beliefs. His faith underpinned his writings and fuelled his desire to address the pressing issues of his time – shaping his approach to both poetry and politics.

Join Graham Tomlin, Jane Williams and – special guest - Jessica Martin, as they uncover how Milton's deep faith not only guided his personal life but also left an indelible mark on his literary legacy.

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