One review I read recently described Festschriften as those ‘essays from the bottom drawer which could find no other home, and a disparate volume for which the many are asked to pay high prices for the sake of the few’. A bit harsh perhaps, but all too familiar isn’t it: volumes of essays with very little inter-connection, of interest to about 3 people in the world (including the authors’ mothers), and with a print run so small that basically only libraries can afford them, or remortgaging is required.

It made me wonder though, what is it that makes a good Festschrift? And what one/s have you placed on your must read list?

For my money, there’s four that jump to mind:

• Christ in Our Place: The Humanity of God in Christ for the Reconciliation of the World: Essays Presented to Professor James Torrance. Edited by Trevor A. Hart and Daniel Thimell. Princeton Theological Monograph Series. Allison Park/ Exeter: Pickwick/Paternoster, 1989.
• Incarnational Ministry: the presence of Christ in church, society, and family: essays in honor of Ray S. Anderson. Edited by Christian D. Kettler and Todd H. Speidell. Colorado Springs: Helmers & Howard, 1990.
• Creation, Christ and Culture: Studies in Honour of T.F. Torrance. Edited by Richard W.A. McKinney. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1976.
• Denkwürdiges Geheimnis: Beiträge zur Gotteslehre: Festschrift für Eberhard Jüngel zum 70. Geburtstag. Edited by Ingolf U. Dalferth, Johannes Fischer, and Hans-Peter Großhans. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2004.

At least the first three of these volumes could not be accused of throwing the family budget into turmoil, and none of them of nebulous unrelated content. Each of them is packed with significant essays that contribute to not only some key themes explored by the one being honoured, but do so with a view to engaging with an ongoing conversation about those very themes in a way that will appeal to a wider audience.

But are there other criteria? Fidelity to the work/themes of the one being honoured? Brevity? Does it come with a DVD?

Thoughts?

[One I’m yet to read is Daniel J. Adams’ From East to West: Essays in Honor of Donald G. Bloesch. I’d be keen to hear from anyonwe who is familiar with this volume]