(Here is the story of the pilgrim John and his odyssey to ...)
Here is the story of the pilgrim John and his odyssey to an enchanting island which has created in him an intense longing 7mdash; a mysterious, sweet desire. John's pursuit of this desire takes him through adventures with such people as Mr. Enlightenment, Media Halfways, Mr. Mammon, Mother Kirk, Mr. Sensible, and Mr. Humanist and through such cities as Thrill and Eschropolis as well as the Valley of Humiliation.
(The Allegory of Love is a landmark study of a powerful an...)
The Allegory of Love is a landmark study of a powerful and influential medieval conception. C. S. Lewis explores the sentiment called courtly love and the allegorical method within which it developed in literature and thought, from its first flowering in eleventh-century Languedoc through to its transformation and gradual demise at the end of the sixteenth century.
(Here, that estimable man is abducted by a megalomaniacal ...)
Here, that estimable man is abducted by a megalomaniacal physicist and his accomplice and taken via spaceship to the red planet of Malacandra. The two men are in need of human sacrifice, and Dr. Ransom would seem to fit the bill. Once on the planet, however, Ransom eludes his captors, risking his life and his chances of returning to Earth, becoming a stranger in a land that is enchanting in its difference from Earth and instructive in its similarity.
(In The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis, one of the most renow...)
In The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis, one of the most renowned Christian authors and thinkers, examines a universally applicable question within the human condition, If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain?
(The classic Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis, the most impor...)
The classic Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis, the most important Christian writer of the 20th century, contains nine sermons delivered by Lewis during World War Two. The nine addresses in Weight of Glory offer guidance, inspiration, and a compassionate apologetic for the Christian faith during a time of great doubt.
(The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is a classic masterpi...)
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is a classic masterpiece of religious satire that entertains readers with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life and foibles from the vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to Our Father Below.
(In the classic, The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis, the mos...)
In the classic, The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis, the most important Christian writer of the 20th century, sets out to persuade his audience of the importance and relevance of universal values such as courage and honor in contemporary society.
(Perelandra continues the adventures of the extraordinary ...)
Perelandra continues the adventures of the extraordinary Dr. Ransom. Pitted against the most destructive of human weaknesses, temptation, the great man must battle evil on a new planet, Perelandra, when it is invaded by a dark force.
(C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce is a classic Christian alle...)
C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce is a classic Christian allegorical tale about a bus ride from hell to heaven. An extraordinary meditation upon good and evil, grace and judgment, Lewis’s
a revolutionary idea in The Great Divorce is that the gates of Hell are locked from the inside.
(The final book in C. S. Lewis's acclaimed Space Trilogy, ...)
The final book in C. S. Lewis's acclaimed Space Trilogy, which includes Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, That Hideous Strength concludes the adventures of the matchless Dr. Ransom. The dark forces that were repulsed in Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra are massed for an assault on the planet Earth itself. Word is on the wind that the mighty wizard Merlin has come back to the land of the living after many centuries, holding the key to ultimate power for that force that can find him and bend him to its will.
(In the classic Miracles, C.S. Lewis, the most important C...)
In the classic Miracles, C.S. Lewis, the most important Christian writer of the 20th century, argues that a Christian must not only accept but rejoice in miracles as a testimony of the unique personal involvement of God in his creation.
(Four adventurous siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy...)
Four adventurous siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie, step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change and a great sacrifice.
(The Pevensie siblings travel back to Narnia to help a pri...)
The Pevensie siblings travel back to Narnia to help a prince denied his rightful throne as he gathers an army in a desperate attempt to rid his land of a false king. But in the end, it is a battle of honor between two men alone that will decide the fate of an entire world.
(In the classic Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, the most im...)
In the classic Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, the most important writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of Christian faith stand together.
(A king and some unexpected companions embark on a voyage ...)
A king and some unexpected companions embark on a voyage that will take them beyond all known lands. As they sail farther and farther from charted waters, they discover that their quest is more than they imagined and that the world's end is only the beginning.
(Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, a noble...)
Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, a noble band of friends is sent to rescue a prince held captive. But their mission to Underland brings them face-to-face with an evil more beautiful and more deadly than they ever expected.
(On a desperate journey, two runaways meet and join forces...)
On a desperate journey, two runaways meet and join forces. Though they are only looking to escape their harsh and narrow lives, they soon find themselves at the center of a terrible battle. It is a battle that will decide their fate and the fate of Narnia itself.
(On a daring quest to save a life, two friends are hurled ...)
On a daring quest to save a life, two friends are hurled into another world, where an evil sorceress seeks to enslave them. But then the lion Aslan's song weaves itself into the fabric of new land, a land that will be known as Narnia. And in Narnia, all things are possible.
(A repackaged edition of the revered author’s spiritual me...)
A repackaged edition of the revered author’s spiritual memoir, in which he recounts the story of his divine journey and eventual conversion to Christianity.
(Till We Have Faces is a brilliant examination of envy, be...)
Till We Have Faces is a brilliant examination of envy, betrayal, loss, blame, grief, guilt, and conversion. In this, his final and most mature and masterful novel, Lewis reminds us of our own fallibility and the role of a higher power in our lives.
(During the last days of Narnia, the land faces its fierce...)
During the last days of Narnia, the land faces its fiercest challenge not an invader from without but an enemy from within. Lies and treachery have taken root, and only the king and a small band of loyal followers can prevent the destruction of all they hold dear in this, the magnificent ending to The Chronicles of Narnia.
(A candid, wise, and warmly personal book in which Lewis e...)
A candid, wise, and warmly personal book in which Lewis explores the possibilities and problems of the four basic kinds of human love- affection, friendship, erotic love, and the love of God.
(Written after his wife's tragic death as a way of survivi...)
Written after his wife's tragic death as a way of surviving the mad midnight moment, A Grief Observed is C.S. Lewis's honest reflection on the fundamental issues of life, death, and faith in the midst of loss.
(Why do we read literature and how do we judge it? C. S. L...)
Why do we read literature and how do we judge it? C. S. Lewis's classic An Experiment in Criticism springs from the conviction that literature exists for the joy of the reader and that books should be judged by the kind of reading they invite. He argues that good reading, like moral action or religious experience, involves surrender to the work in hand and a process of entering fully into the opinions of others.
(In the form of warm, relaxed letters to a close friend, L...)
In the form of warm, relaxed letters to a close friend, Lewis meditates on many puzzling questions concerning the intimate dialogue between man and God. Lewis also considers practical and metaphysical aspects of private prayer, petitionary prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, and other forms of prayer.
(C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia has captivated rea...)
C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia has captivated readers of all ages for over sixty years, enchanting them with fantastical talking creatures, epic battles between good and evil, and magical doorways into new lands.
Clive Staples Lewis, commonly called C. S. Lewis, was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most prominent writers. Besides, he was an academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist.
Background
Lewis was born on November 29, 1898, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, but most of his life he lived in England. His family was strictly protestant. His father, Albert James Lewis (1863-1929), was a solicitor. His mother, Augusta Hamilton Lewis (1862-1908), the daughter of a clergyman, died of cancer when Clive was a child. He had an elder brother, Warren Hamilton Lewis.
Education
Lewis was schooled by private tutors until age 9. In September 1908, he was sent to the Wynyard School in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. But the school was closed not long afterwards due to a lack of pupils.
In September 1913, Lewis enrolled at Malvern College. After spending a year in studies there, he continued his education privately under the tutelage of W. T. Kirkpatrick, formerly headmaster of Lurgan College.
In 1917, Lewis enrolled in Oxford University College. But soon he left it and was drafted into the British Army as a subaltern. He was demobilized in December 1918 and soon returned to his studies. In 1923, Lewis got his bachelor's degree and a bit later – master’s degree.
Among his honorary degrees was a D. D. from St. Andrew's University (1946).
Lewis began his career as a philosophy tutor at University College, Oxford in 1924.
In 1925 he was appointed fellow and tutor at Magdalen College, England, where he lectured on English literature. His subjects at Oxford were medieval and Renaissance English literature, in which he became a scholar, lecturer, and tutor of renown. His reputation was made secure by his English Literature in the 16th Century (1954) and Experiment in Criticism (1961).
Aside from scholarly writings, his output included science-fiction, children's stories, and religious apology. In 1926 his first publication, Dymer, a narrative versification in Rime Royal, appeared under the pseudonym Clive Hamilton. Dymer revealed something of his satirical gift. The Pilgrims' Regress, an allegory published in 1933, presented an apology for Christianity.
The same year Lewis convened a circle of friends in his room at Magdalene College. J.R.R. Tolkien, Warnie, Hugo Dyson, Charles Williams, Dr. Robert Havard, Owen Barfield, Nevil Coghill and others founded a literary-discussion group "The Inklings".
Lewis's broader reputation rests especially on his books dealing with religion. In 1942 The Screwtape Letters (1942), for which he is perhaps best known, appeared. It is a satire in which the devil, here known as Screwtape, writes letters instructing his young nephew, Wormwood, how to tempt souls to damnation. The Great Divorce (1945) is a modern prose equivalent of the Divine Comedy. Three of his novels--Out of the Silent Planet (1938), Perelandra (1943) and That Hideous Strength (1945)--form a memorable interplanetary trilogy, dealing with the cosmic struggle between good and evil. A later novel, Till We Have Faces (1956), is a retelling of the story of Cupid and Psyche. In certain of his books, Lewis dealt with specific theological or philosophical problems: The Problem of Pain (1940), The Abolition of Man (1944), and Miracles (1947).
In 1954, Lewis left for Cambridge to teach the English Language and Literature at Magdalene College.
His later works include Reflections on the Psalms (1958), The World's Last Night (1959), and The Four Loves (1960). Less familiar to the general public, but one of Lewis' most notable achievements, is his series of "Narnia" books for children, which were published between 1950 and 1956. The seven volumes constitute, among other things, a retelling of the Christian story in fairy-tale form. The best books of the series are The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Magician's Nephew; and The Last Battle.
Lewis early grew disillusioned with religion and only later "converted" to Christianity, joining the Anglican Church. It happened in 1931 after his long talk about Christianity with J.R.R. Tolkien, who was a devout Roman Catholic, and Hugo Dyson. Christian faith gave eternal significance to Clive’s works. No doubt, Lewis gathered most of his exalted themes in Christianity.
Politics
"I believe in political equality. But there are two opposite reasons for being a democrat. You may think all men so good that they deserve a share in the government of the commonwealth, and so wise that the commonwealth needs their advice. That is, in my opinion, the false, romantic doctrine of democracy. On the other hand, you may believe fallen men to be so wicked that not one of them can be trusted with any irresponsible power over his fellows."
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
Views
One of the main theses in Lewis's apologia is that there is a common morality known throughout humanity. Lewis discusses the idea that people have a standard of behaviour to which they expect people to adhere. This standard has been called Universal Morality or Natural Law. Lewis claims that people all over the earth know what this law is and when they break it. He goes on to claim that there must be someone or something behind such a universal set of principles.
Quotations:
"These then are the two points that I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in."
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else."
"Friendship ... is born at the moment when one man says to another "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . ."
"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."
"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
"A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest."
"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world."
"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us."
"No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond."
Membership
In 1955, Lewis became a member of the British Academy.
The British Academy
,
United Kingdom
1955
Personality
Lewis had a remarkable talent for friendship, particularly for friendship of an uproarious kind, masculine and argumentative but never quarrelsome. It was the common testimony of many visitors that once in his presence they found nowhere a more genial, courteous, and thoughtful host.
His autobiography does reveal, however, that he had little interest in sports as a boy and that he was a voracious reader. Widely read as an adult, his knowledge of literature was prodigious and made of him a superb conversationalist much sought after for his company. Lewis thoroughly enjoyed sitting up into the wee hours in college rooms" ... talking nonsense, poetry, theology, and metaphysics over beer, tea, and pipes."
Interests
Writers
G. K. Chesterton
Connections
In 1952, Lewis met his future wife, who was fifteen years younger. She was a graduate of Hunter College and for a time belonged to the Communist Party. She was separated from her alcoholic and abusive husband, the novelist William L. Gresham, left the Communist Party and came to England with her two sons, David and Douglas.
In 1956, Lewis married Joy. By that time she had developed bone cancer. In 1960, Lewis, Joy and their friends went to Greece (April, 3 - April, 14). They visited such cities as Athens, Mycenae, Rhodes, Herakleon and Knossos.
Joy died on July 13, shortly after their trip to Greece. She died at the age of 45.
Lewis continued to raise Gresham's two sons after her death.