Difference between revisions of "C. S. Lewis" - New World Encyclopedia

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'''Clive Staples Lewis''' (29 November 1898 – 22 November1963), known for his writings as '''C. S. Lewis''' and by his friends and associates as '''Jack''', was a famous Irish author and novelist. His friend Owen Barfield said that C.S. Lewis could be broken down into three very different and distinct C.S. Lewises—the first was the role he played as a distinguished Oxford scholar and teacher, the second as a popular author of science fiction and children's novels, and the third as a highly religious spokesman and writer of Christian apologetics. Lewis is most famous for his children's series entitled ''The Chronicles of Narnia''. The writings of C.S. Lewis have impacted not only the country of England, but have spread across the globe, bringing values and ideas to people everywhere. His books and writings continue to be translated in many language and are finding a greater audience than ever. His writings not only inspire a number of children who continue to discover his imaginative stories, but also a growing number of adults find themselves immersed in his commentaries on human nature and the human condition.
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'''Clive Staples Lewis''' (29 November 1898 – 22 November1963), known for his writings as '''C. S. Lewis''' and by his friends and associates as '''Jack''', was a famous Irish author and novelist. His friend Owen Barfield said that C.S. Lewis could be broken down into three very different and distinct C.S. Lewises—the first was the role he played as a distinguished Oxford scholar and teacher, the second as a popular author of science fiction and children's novels, and the third as a highly religious spokesman and writer of Christian apologetics. Lewis is most famous for his children's series entitled ''The Chronicles of Narnia''. The writings of C.S. Lewis have impacted not only the country of England, but have spread across the globe, bringing values, ideas and comfort to people from many nations. His books and writings continue to be translated into many languages and are finding a greater audience than ever. His writings not only inspire a number of children who continue to discover his imaginative stories, but also a growing number of adults find themselves immersed in his commentaries on human nature and the need for [[Christianity]] in the world.  
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== Early Life ==
 
== Early Life ==
  
Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast, [[Ireland]] on November 29, 1898 to Albert James Lewis and Flora Augusta Hamilton Lewis. His parents were dedicated members of the Church of Ireland and raised Lewis and his elder brother, Warren Hamilton Lewis (Warnie) in that faith. His father worked as a solicitor and his mother was a very promising mathematician. Both parents, but especially Flora, had a great love of books. She taught both of her children to love books and learning, encouraging them to learn Latin and French. Lewis's parents extensive library gave him the luxury of reading book after book, allowing his imagination to come alive, he often noted that he felt much more comfortable in the various lands of the past described in his novels, then he did in technological world of the 20th century.
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Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast, [[Ireland]] on November 29, 1898 to Albert James Lewis and Flora Augusta Hamilton Lewis. His parents were dedicated members of the [[Church of Ireland]] and raised Lewis and his elder brother, Warren Hamilton Lewis (Warnie) in that faith. His father worked as a solicitor and his mother was a very promising mathematician. Both parents, but especially Flora, had a great love of books. She taught both of her children to love books and learning, encouraging them to learn Latin and French. The Lewis's extensive library gave Jack the luxury of reading book after book, allowing his imagination to come alive, he often noted that he felt much more comfortable in the various lands of the past described in novels, then he did in the technological world of the 20th century.
  
  
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C.S. Lewis was blessed with a very happy childhood, until tragedy struck unexpectedly. When little Jack was just nine years old his mother passed away from cancer. It was the aftermath of his mother's death that eventually led Lewis to ask questions about the meaning and purpose of life, and his conversion to Christianity. The beauty and tranquility of the Lewis house was shattered and the three men left were unsure of how to continue without Flora. Albert dealt with his loss by sending Lewis and Warnie to boarding school. With both boys away, he was able to wallow in his grief. Lewis, who before this time had been educated by his mother and various tutors, left home in 1908 and went to the Wynyard School in Watford, Hertfordshire. This hard time in the boys life was accentuated by the cruelty of the school. The headmaster was a man named Robert "Oldie" Capron, a man so cruel, so abusive, and so unpredictable that many who knew him believed him to be insane. The school soon closed, Capron claimed it was lack of pupils, but this lack was certainly due to the harsh methods he implemented. It was while Lewis was being treated so harshly that he found solace and comfort in writing. He wrote about fantasy lands and kind characters, thus escaping from the school through his imagination. Lewis would refer to his time at this school in his autobiographical novel, ''Surprised By Joy'', in which he renamed the school "Belsen" after the World War II concentration camp.
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C.S. Lewis was blessed with a very happy childhood, until tragedy struck unexpectedly. When little Jack was just nine years old his mother passed away from cancer. It was the aftermath of his mother's death that eventually led Lewis to ask questions about the meaning and purpose of life, and led to his rejection of religion. The beauty and tranquility of the Lewis house was shattered and the three men left were unsure of how to continue without Flora. Albert dealt with his loss by sending Lewis and Warnie to boarding school. With both boys away, he was able to wallow in his grief. Lewis, who before this time had been educated by his mother and various tutors, left home in 1908 and went to the Wynyard School in Watford, Hertfordshire. This hard time in the boys life was accentuated by the cruelty of the school. The headmaster was a man named Robert "Oldie" Capron, a man so cruel, so abusive, and so unpredictable that many who knew him believed him to be insane. The school soon closed, Capron claimed it was lack of pupils, but this lack was certainly due to the harsh methods he implemented. It was while Lewis was being treated so harshly that he found solace and comfort in writing. He wrote about fantasy lands and kind characters, thus escaping from the school through his imagination. Lewis would refer to his time at this school in his autobiographical novel, ''Surprised By Joy'', in which he renamed the school "Belsen" after the World War II concentration camp.
  
  
C.S. Lewis went on to attend several other scholastic institutions, before finally taking charge of his own education. He attended the nearby Campbell College for a few months until illness made it impossible for him to stay. The educators and doctors felt that Lewis would benefit from time spend in the health-resort town of Malvern, Worcestershire and he was enrolled in the prep-school Cherbourg House (which Lewis knew as "Chartres"). It was during this time that Lewis officially denounced his Christian faith, although the trial of his mother's death along with his unanswered questions about the universe were the main contributing factors in his decision. Lewis went on to spend the 1913 school year at Malvern College, until eventually returning home to Belfast and remaining there until 1917. Along with being tutored by William T. Kirkpatrick, the former headmaster of Lurgan College, Lewis attributes his education to the family library. In ''Surprised by Joy'' Lewis says, "I am the product of long corridors, empty sunlit rooms, upstairs indoor silences, attics explored in solitude, distant noises of gurgling cisterns and pipes, and the noise of wind under the tiles. Also of endless books. There were books in the study, books in the drawing-room, books in the cloakroom, books in the great bookcase on the landing, books in a bedroom, books piled as high as my shoulder in the cistern attic, books of all kinds reflecting every transient stage of my parents' interests, books readable and unreadable, books suitable for a child and books most empathetically not. Nothing was forbidden me. In the seemingly endless rainy afternoons I took volume after volume from the shelves..."
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C.S. Lewis went on to attend several other scholastic institutions, before finally taking charge of his own education. He attended the nearby Campbell College for a few months, until illness made it impossible for him to stay. The educators and doctors felt that Lewis would benefit from time spent in the health-resort town of Malvern, Worcestershire and he was enrolled in the prep-school Cherbourg House (which Lewis knew as "Chartres"). It was during this time that Lewis officially denounced his Christian faith, although the trial of his mother's death, along with his unanswered questions about the universe were the main contributing factors in his decision. Lewis went on to spend the 1913 school year at Malvern College, until eventually returning home to Belfast and remaining there until 1917. Along with being tutored by William T. Kirkpatrick, the former headmaster of Lurgan College, Lewis attributes his education to the family library. In ''Surprised by Joy'' Lewis says, "I am the product of long corridors, empty sunlit rooms, upstairs indoor silences, attics explored in solitude, distant noises of gurgling cisterns and pipes, and the noise of wind under the tiles. Also of endless books. There were books in the study, books in the drawing-room, books in the cloakroom, books in the great bookcase on the landing, books in a bedroom, books piled as high as my shoulder in the cistern attic, books of all kinds reflecting every transient stage of my parents' interests, books readable and unreadable, books suitable for a child and books most empathetically not. Nothing was forbidden me. In the seemingly endless rainy afternoons I took volume after volume from the shelves..."
  
  
During these teenage years, Lewis not only read, but became fascinated with the songs of [[Richard Wagner]] and the legends of the North Wagner described in his operas. The music of Wagner along with the beauties of nature around him gave him an intense longing, a deep desire he later called "joy", and this became a main focal point of study for him. This solitary time at home also took Lewis back to his writings, which had matured since his youthful days depicting various scenes and tales of Boxen. He began to explore with different mediums, and it was during this time that he wrote epic poetry and tried his hand at writing an opera. Both of these endeavors centered around his love of [[Norse mythology]]. He also developed a great love for the Greek literature and mythology he studied with Kirkpatrick (or as Lewis referred to him, "The Great Knock"). With Kirkpatricks sharp skills, Lewis became adept in debate and clear, focused reasoning. With all of these many facets of education under his belt, Lewis was the recipient of a scholarship from University College, Oxford in 1916, this coincided with the events of [[World War I]].  Lewis did not immediately begin college, but instead enlisted with the [[British Army]] in 1917, where he was commissioned as an officer in the third Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry.  
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During these teenage years, Lewis not only read, but became fascinated with the songs of [[Richard Wagner]] and the legends of the North that Wagner described in his operas. The music of Wagner along with the beauties of nature around him gave him an intense longing, a deep desire he later called "joy", and this became a main focal point of study for him. This solitary time at home also took Lewis back to his writings, which had matured since his youthful days depicting various scenes and tales of Boxen. He began to explore with different mediums, and he wrote epic poetry and tried his hand at writing an opera. Both of these endeavors centered around his love of [[Norse mythology]]. He also developed a great love for the Greek literature and mythology he studied with Kirkpatrick (or as Lewis referred to him, "The Great Knock"). With Kirkpatricks sharp skills, Lewis became adept in debate and clear, focused reasoning. With all of these many facets of education under his belt, Lewis was the recipient of a scholarship from University College, Oxford in 1916, this coincided with the events of [[World War I]].  Lewis did not immediately begin college, but instead enlisted with the [[British Army]] in 1917, where he was commissioned as an officer in the third Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry.  
  
  
During his training, Lewis made an acquaintance that would change his life. Edward Francis Courtenay "Paddy" Moore was Lewis's roommate during the training period and had become friends with Lewis, Paddy introduced Lewis to his mother, Jane King Moore, and she took him under her wing, giving him great love and kindness, treating him like a son. At the young age of nineteen, Lewis was sent to the front line of the Somme Valley in [[France]], and on April 15, 1917, he suffered an injury during the Battle of Arras. In addition to his physical injury, Lewis found himself battling depression and a severe case of homesickness. While in the hospital he found himself visited by Paddy Moore's mother, Jane. A lasting friendship formed and Lewis took to her kindness immediately, feeling acutely hurt by his father who refused to visit him in the hospital. Lewis made a promise to Paddy one day, that should Paddy die, then Lewis would care for Jane and see to her needs. By October of the same year, Lewis had made a full recovery from his wound, but his experiences of war and battle were never forgotten. Paddy Moore did die in battle and Lewis kept his promise, often referring to Jane as his mother. However, as Jane aged and grew senile, the relationship was difficult, but Lewis kept his promise, visiting her nearly everyday when she was put in a Nursing home.  
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During his training, Lewis made an acquaintance that would change his life. Edward Francis Courtenay "Paddy" Moore was Lewis's roommate during the training period and became friends with Lewis. Paddy introduced Lewis to his mother, Jane King Moore, and she took him under her wing, giving him great love and kindness, treating him like a son. At the young age of nineteen, Lewis was sent to the front line of the Somme Valley in [[France]], and on April 15, 1917, he suffered an injury during the Battle of Arras. In addition to his physical injury, Lewis found himself battling depression and a severe case of homesickness. While in the hospital he found himself visited by Paddy Moore's mother, Jane. A lasting friendship formed and Lewis took to her kindness immediately, feeling acutely hurt by his father, who refused to visit him in the hospital. Lewis made a promise to Paddy one day, that should Paddy die, then Lewis would care for Jane and see to her needs. By October of the same year, Lewis had made a full recovery from his wounds, but his experiences of war and battle were never forgotten. Paddy Moore did die in battle and Lewis kept his promise, often referring to Jane as his mother. However, as Jane aged and grew senile, the relationship was difficult, but Lewis kept his promise, visiting her nearly everyday when she was put in a Nursing home.
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In December of 1918, he returned home with an honorable discharge and returned to his studies. In the next few years C.S. Lewis distinguished himself by receiving several different awards including: a First in [[Honour Moderations]] (Greek and Latin Literature) in 1920, a First in [[Greats]] (Philosophy and Ancient History) in 1922, and a First in [[English studies|English]] in 1923. These years also marked the time when Lewis moved in with Jane Moore, even though he also kept rooms at his college. In December 1917 Lewis wrote, in a letter to his childhood friend, Arthur Greeves, that Jane and Greeves were "the two people who matter most to me in the world". Finally in 1930, Lewis and his brother Warnie moved into "The Kilns", a large house with a wardrobe that is depicted in the ''Chronicles of Narnia''. The house is located in Risinghurst, Headington (a suburb of Oxford). The gentlemen took an aged Jane to live with them, and all three contributed to the purchase of the house. Upon Warren's death in 1973, the house passed to Jane Moore's daughter, "Lady Dunbar of Hempriggs]].
  
  
In December of 1918, he returned home with an honorable discharge and returned to his studies. In the next few years C.S. Lewis distinguished himself be receiving several different awards including: a First in [[Honour Moderations]] (Greek and Latin Literature) in 1920, a First in [[Greats]] (Philosophy and Ancient History) in 1922, and a First in [[English studies|English]] in 1923. These years also marked the time when Lewis moved in with Jane Moore, even though he also kept rooms at his college. In December 1917 Lewis wrote, in a letter to his childhood friend, Arthur Greeves, that Jane and Greeves were "the two people who matter most to me in the world". Finally in 1930, Lewis and his brother Warnie moved into "The Kilns", a large house with a wardrobe that is depicted in the ''Chronicles of Narnia''. The house is located in Risinghurst, Headington (a suburb of Oxford). The gentlemen took an aged Jane to live with them, and all three contributed to the purchase of the house. Upon Warren's death in 1973, the house passed to Jane Moore's daughter, "Lady Dunbar of Hempriggs]].
 
  
 
== "My Irish life" ==
 
== "My Irish life" ==
  
 
[[Image:CSLewisPlaque.jpg|thumb|Plaque on a park-bench in [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]], [[County Down]] ]]
 
[[Image:CSLewisPlaque.jpg|thumb|Plaque on a park-bench in [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]], [[County Down]] ]]
C.S. Lewis had been born and bred in Ireland, and upon his permanent move to England for college, he expressed these sentiments of England. "No Englishman will be able to understand my first impressions of England," Lewis wrote in ''[[Surprised by Joy]]''. "The strange English accents with which I was surrounded seemed like the voices of demons. But what was worst was the English landscape... I have made up the quarrel since; but at that moment I conceived a hatred for England which took many years to heal."  
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C.S. Lewis had been born and bred in Ireland, and upon his permanent move to England for college, he expressed these sentiments of England. "No Englishman will be able to understand my first impressions of England," he wrote in ''[[Surprised by Joy]]''. "The strange English accents with which I was surrounded seemed like the voices of demons. But what was worst was the English landscape... I have made up the quarrel since; but at that moment I conceived a hatred for England which took many years to heal."  
  
  
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== Career as a scholar ==
 
== Career as a scholar ==
C.S. Lewis served as a teaching fellow from [[Magdalen College, Oxford]] from 1925-1954. His career as a professor and intellect would prove to be satisfying, prestigious, and prolific. After his tenure at Magdalen, he worked at the [[University of Cambridge]] and [[Magdalene College, Cambridge]]. He became the first [[Professor of Medieval and renaissance English, Cambridge University| Professor of Medieval and Renaissance Literature]]. These classes and his particular interest in the subject led to one of his first works, ''The Allegory of Love'' (1936), which concentrated on the later Middle Ages and the use of Allegory during that time period.  Lewis was then commissioned to write important prefaces to old works of literature and poetry, among them were ''Layamon's Brut'' and John Milton's ''[[Paradise Lost]]''. His last academic work was published in 1964, ''The Discarded Image, an Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature''.  
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C.S. Lewis served as a teaching fellow from [[Magdalen College, Oxford]] from 1925-1954. His career as a professor and intellect would prove to be satisfying, prestigious, and prolific. After his tenure at Magdalen, he worked at the [[University of Cambridge]] and [[Magdalene College, Cambridge]]. He became the first [[Professor of Medieval and Renaissance English, Cambridge University| Professor of Medieval and Renaissance Literature]]. These classes, and his particular interest in the subject, led to one of his first works, ''The Allegory of Love'' (1936), which concentrated on the later Middle Ages and the use of Allegory during that time period.  Lewis was then commissioned to write important prefaces to old works of literature and poetry, among them were ''Layamon's Brut'' and John Milton's ''[[Paradise Lost]]''. His last academic work was published in 1964, ''The Discarded Image, an Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature''.  
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His career as a scholar also brought him the distinguished association with men who became his life long friends. Among them were [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Charles Williams (UK writer)|Charles Williams]], and [[Owen Barfield]]. These men formed a literary discussion society, [[The Inklings|Inklings]] which met every Tuesday for lunch at the ''Bird and Baby'' pub from the 1930's to 1949. Of his friends, Lewis has said,
 
His career as a scholar also brought him the distinguished association with men who became his life long friends. Among them were [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Charles Williams (UK writer)|Charles Williams]], and [[Owen Barfield]]. These men formed a literary discussion society, [[The Inklings|Inklings]] which met every Tuesday for lunch at the ''Bird and Baby'' pub from the 1930's to 1949. Of his friends, Lewis has said,
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"When I began teaching for the English Faculty, I made two other friends, both Christians (these queer people seemed now to pop up on every side) who were later to give me much help in getting over the last stile.  They were H. V. V. Dyson ... and J. R. R. Tolkien.  Friendship with the latter marked the breakdown of two old prejudices.  At my first coming into the world I had been (implicitly) warned never to trust a Papist, and at my first coming into the English Faculty (explicitly) never to trust a philologist.  Tolkien was both."
 
"When I began teaching for the English Faculty, I made two other friends, both Christians (these queer people seemed now to pop up on every side) who were later to give me much help in getting over the last stile.  They were H. V. V. Dyson ... and J. R. R. Tolkien.  Friendship with the latter marked the breakdown of two old prejudices.  At my first coming into the world I had been (implicitly) warned never to trust a Papist, and at my first coming into the English Faculty (explicitly) never to trust a philologist.  Tolkien was both."
 
</blockquote>
 
</blockquote>
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== Career as a writer of fiction ==
 
== Career as a writer of fiction ==
C.S. Lewis is probably most well-known and well-loved for the work he did as a writer of fiction. Lewis wrote several popular novels for young adults and children, however, his two most popular series remain the [[science-fiction]] [[Space Trilogy]] and his [[fantasy fiction|fantasy]]series,  ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]''.
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C.S. Lewis is probably most well-known and well-loved for the work he did as a writer of fiction. Lewis wrote several popular novels for young adults and children. His two most popular series remain the [[science-fiction]] [[Space Trilogy]] and his [[fantasy fiction|fantasy]]series,  ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]''.
  
 
===[[Space Trilogy]]===  
 
===[[Space Trilogy]]===  
Lewis grew up with a pessimistic nature about the world conditions he witnessed. The Space Trilogy or "Ransom Trilogy" novels addresses the dehumanizing trends that Lewis and his fellow scholars witnessed in modern science fiction. Lewis wrote the first book, ''[[Out of the Silent Planet]]'', following an intense conversation with his friend [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] about these trends. The two agreed to a sort of pact, Lewis would write "space travel" story and Tolkien a "time travel" one. Tolkien’s story, "[[The Lost Road and Other Writings|The Lost Road]]", was a tale that dealt with material he was currently working on and dealt with his famous Middle-earth mythology and the modern world, though it was never completed. Lewis did finish his story and based the main character, Ransom, on Tolkien. Another character, Jules, from ''[[That Hideous Strength]]'', was inspired by the works and being of [[H. G. Wells]].  
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Lewis grew up with a pessimistic nature about the world conditions he witnessed. The Space Trilogy or "Ransom Trilogy" novels addresses the dehumanizing trends that Lewis and his fellow scholars witnessed in modern science fiction. Lewis wrote the first book, ''[[Out of the Silent Planet]]'', following an intense conversation with his friend [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] about these trends. The two agreed to a sort of pact, Lewis would write "space travel" story and Tolkien a "time travel" one. Tolkien’s story, "[[The Lost Road and Other Writings|The Lost Road]]", was a tale that dealt with his famous Middle-earth mythology and the modern world, though it was never completed. Lewis did finish his story and based the main character, Ransom, on Tolkien. Another character, Jules, from ''[[That Hideous Strength]]'', was inspired by the works and being of [[H. G. Wells]].  
  
 
===[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]===  
 
===[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]===  
There are seven individual novels that comprise ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'' These books remain the pinnacle of Lewis's career as a writer of fiction. The books reflect Lewis's Christian values and portray many Christian themes including The Fall, The Atonement, and The Resurrection. The novels depict the adventures of a group of children who find themselves in a magical and mystical land called [[Narnia]]. the books were published between 1950 and 1956, beginning with ''[[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]'', the most popular book of the series, which has been adapted for both stage and screen. The novels clearly reflect Lewis's love and knowledge of [[Greek mythology|Greek]], [[Roman Mythology|Roman]], [[Celtic mythology]] and traditional English and Irish [[fairy tale]]s.  
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There are seven individual novels that comprise ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'' These books remain the pinnacle of Lewis's career as a writer of fiction. The books reflect Lewis's Christian values and portray many Christian themes including The Fall, The Atonement, and The Resurrection. The novels depict the adventures of a group of children who find themselves in a magical and mystical land called [[Narnia]]. The books were published between 1950 and 1956, beginning with ''[[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]'', the most popular book of the series, which has been adapted for both stage and screen. The novels clearly reflect Lewis's love and knowledge of [[Greek mythology|Greek]], [[Roman Mythology|Roman]], [[Celtic mythology]] and traditional English and Irish [[fairy tale]]s.  
  
 
===Other works===  
 
===Other works===  
Lewis was author to several other stories, among which are ''[[The Screwtape Letters]]'', a story about the temptation of man by the devil. ''[[Till We Have Faces]]'' is a retelling of the [[Cupid and Psyche]] myth, Lewis believed that this was one of his most masterful works, but it never gained much recognition. (For a complete list, please see the Bibliography)
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Lewis was author to several other stories, among which are ''[[The Screwtape Letters]]'', a story about the temptation of man by the devil. And ''[[Till We Have Faces]]'' is a retelling of the [[Cupid and Psyche]] myth, Lewis believed that this was one of his most masterful works, but the novel never gained much recognition. (For a complete list, please see the Bibliography)
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== Career as a writer on Christianity ==
 
== Career as a writer on Christianity ==
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Not only was C.S. Lewis a scholar and a novelist, he also became widely known for his Christian apologetics. ''[[Mere Christianity]]'' remains his most popular book on the subject. Having struggled deeply with religion, Lewis became an atheist in his youth and remained so until his conversion to [[Christianity]] in 1931, although it was a slow process. Because of his struggles with religion, Lewis desired to present the concept of Christianity with as much reason and logic as possible.  His books ''[[Mere Christianity]]'', ''[[The Problem of Pain]]'', and ''[[Miracles (book)|Miracles]]'' all maintained the objective of answering and explaining the popular objections to Christianity. His career stemmed beyond the pen as he became a lecturer and broadcaster, reading many of his writings for a radio audience.   
 
Not only was C.S. Lewis a scholar and a novelist, he also became widely known for his Christian apologetics. ''[[Mere Christianity]]'' remains his most popular book on the subject. Having struggled deeply with religion, Lewis became an atheist in his youth and remained so until his conversion to [[Christianity]] in 1931, although it was a slow process. Because of his struggles with religion, Lewis desired to present the concept of Christianity with as much reason and logic as possible.  His books ''[[Mere Christianity]]'', ''[[The Problem of Pain]]'', and ''[[Miracles (book)|Miracles]]'' all maintained the objective of answering and explaining the popular objections to Christianity. His career stemmed beyond the pen as he became a lecturer and broadcaster, reading many of his writings for a radio audience.   
  
As a child, Lewis began to view religion as a chore and as a duty. He also began questioning and was unable to find answers to satisfy himself. Lewis quoted [[Lucretius]] as representing the strongest argument for atheism:
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As a child, Lewis began to view religion as a chore and a duty. He also began questioning and was unable to find answers to satisfy himself. Lewis quoted [[Lucretius]] as representing the strongest argument for atheism:
  
 
:''Had God designed the world, it would not be''
 
:''Had God designed the world, it would not be''
 
:''A world so frail and faulty as we see.''
 
:''A world so frail and faulty as we see.''
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In his autobiographical novel, ''[[Surprised by Joy]]'', Lewis said that  "very angry with God for not existing". But the influence of his friends, especially [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and his wife [[Joy Greshim]], Lewis slowly began to rediscovery Christianity in a new light.
 
In his autobiographical novel, ''[[Surprised by Joy]]'', Lewis said that  "very angry with God for not existing". But the influence of his friends, especially [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and his wife [[Joy Greshim]], Lewis slowly began to rediscovery Christianity in a new light.
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:"You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England."
 
:"You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England."
  
In 1931, after a lengthy discussion with Tolkien and another close friend, [[Hugo Dyson]], Lewis could not deny what he knew to be true and he reconverted to Christianity became a member of the [[Church of England]]. He noted, "I came into Christianity kicking and screaming."
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In 1931, after a lengthy discussion with Tolkien and another close friend, [[Hugo Dyson]], Lewis could not deny what he knew to be true and he reconverted to Christianity, becoming a member of the [[Church of England]]. He noted, "I came into Christianity kicking and screaming."
  
  
 
He is now popularly known as ''The Apostle to the Skeptics'' because he approached religion with a skeptics view, and still found conversion and conviction. He addresses many of the skeptical questions he faced, such as "How could a good God allow pain to exist in the world?", in ''The Problem of Pain''.
 
He is now popularly known as ''The Apostle to the Skeptics'' because he approached religion with a skeptics view, and still found conversion and conviction. He addresses many of the skeptical questions he faced, such as "How could a good God allow pain to exist in the world?", in ''The Problem of Pain''.
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== Lewis's death and legacy ==  
 
== Lewis's death and legacy ==  
 
[[Image:Statue_of_C.S._Lewis,_Belfast.jpg|right|thumb|220px|A statue of C.S. Lewis in [[Belfast]], [[United Kingdom]]]]
 
[[Image:Statue_of_C.S._Lewis,_Belfast.jpg|right|thumb|220px|A statue of C.S. Lewis in [[Belfast]], [[United Kingdom]]]]
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Lewis died on November 22 1963, exactly one week before his 65th birthday, at the Oxford home he shared with his brother, Warren. He was buried in the Headington Quarry Churchyard, Oxford. His death coincided with the[[assassination of President John F. Kennedy]], and  the author [[Aldous Huxley]], which all occurred on the same day. Thus, for much of the world, Lewis passed away quietly. Although, many remain dedicated to his works and a bronze statue of Lewis looking into a wardrobe was erected in Belfast's Hollywood Arches.
 
Lewis died on November 22 1963, exactly one week before his 65th birthday, at the Oxford home he shared with his brother, Warren. He was buried in the Headington Quarry Churchyard, Oxford. His death coincided with the[[assassination of President John F. Kennedy]], and  the author [[Aldous Huxley]], which all occurred on the same day. Thus, for much of the world, Lewis passed away quietly. Although, many remain dedicated to his works and a bronze statue of Lewis looking into a wardrobe was erected in Belfast's Hollywood Arches.
  
C.S. Lewis left behind a long legacy of influence He remains the inspiration of several books including, ''[[A Severe Mercy]]'' by [[Sheldon Vanauken]], along with works inspired in part by '' The Chronicles Of Narnia'', including ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' by [[Daniel Handler]], [[Eoin Colfer]]'s ''[[Artemis Fowl (series)|Artemis Fowl]]'', [[Philip Pullman]]'s ''[[His Dark Materials]]'' trilogy, and [[J. K. Rowling]]'s ''[[Harry Potter]]''. His later life was also made into a major motion picture, ''Shadowlands'', starring Sir Anthony Hopkins.
 
  
During his lifetime, Lewis was against his novels being turned into films because of the technology at the time. He was worried that all of his creations, especially the animal characters, could only come off looking like "buffoonery or nightmare". Thus no films were attempted during his career.  
+
C.S. Lewis left behind a long legacy of influence. He remains the inspiration of several books including, ''[[A Severe Mercy]]'' by [[Sheldon Vanauken]], along with works inspired in part by '' The Chronicles Of Narnia'', including ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' by [[Daniel Handler]], [[Eoin Colfer]]'s ''[[Artemis Fowl (series)|Artemis Fowl]]'', [[Philip Pullman]]'s ''[[His Dark Materials]]'' trilogy, and [[J. K. Rowling]]'s ''[[Harry Potter]]''. His later life was also made into a major motion picture, ''Shadowlands'', starring Sir Anthony Hopkins. During his lifetime, Lewis was against his novels being turned into films because of the technology at the time. He was worried that all of his creations, especially the animal characters, could only come off looking like "buffoonery or nightmare". Thus no films were attempted during his career.  
 +
 
  
 
Lewis continues to be an inspiration in pop-culture as the song "The Earth Will Shake" performed by [[Thrice]] is based on one of his poems, and the band [[Sixpence None the Richer]] are named after a quote they took from ''Mere Christianity''.
 
Lewis continues to be an inspiration in pop-culture as the song "The Earth Will Shake" performed by [[Thrice]] is based on one of his poems, and the band [[Sixpence None the Richer]] are named after a quote they took from ''Mere Christianity''.
 +
  
 
== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==

Revision as of 18:26, 26 August 2006

Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November1963), known for his writings as C. S. Lewis and by his friends and associates as Jack, was a famous Irish author and novelist. His friend Owen Barfield said that C.S. Lewis could be broken down into three very different and distinct C.S. Lewises—the first was the role he played as a distinguished Oxford scholar and teacher, the second as a popular author of science fiction and children's novels, and the third as a highly religious spokesman and writer of Christian apologetics. Lewis is most famous for his children's series entitled The Chronicles of Narnia. The writings of C.S. Lewis have impacted not only the country of England, but have spread across the globe, bringing values, ideas and comfort to people from many nations. His books and writings continue to be translated into many languages and are finding a greater audience than ever. His writings not only inspire a number of children who continue to discover his imaginative stories, but also a growing number of adults find themselves immersed in his commentaries on human nature and the need for Christianity in the world.


Early Life

Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast, Ireland on November 29, 1898 to Albert James Lewis and Flora Augusta Hamilton Lewis. His parents were dedicated members of the Church of Ireland and raised Lewis and his elder brother, Warren Hamilton Lewis (Warnie) in that faith. His father worked as a solicitor and his mother was a very promising mathematician. Both parents, but especially Flora, had a great love of books. She taught both of her children to love books and learning, encouraging them to learn Latin and French. The Lewis's extensive library gave Jack the luxury of reading book after book, allowing his imagination to come alive, he often noted that he felt much more comfortable in the various lands of the past described in novels, then he did in the technological world of the 20th century.


At a young age Lewis fell in love with the world created by Beatrix Potter and her stories about animals talking and acting as humans. He and his brother, Warnie, would spend hours together creating their own world inhabited and run by animals, they called this the world of Boxen. Lewis loved to dress up the family pet, Jacksie, from whom he took his nickname. When Lewis was four, his dog was hit by a car and died. After this, Lewis declared to all that his name was now Jacksie and he kept firm to this resolution, not answering to anything else. This name eventually became Jacks, and then finally, Jack. When he was six and Warnie was nine, the little family moved to Leeborough or Little Lea, a new house located in Strandtown.


C.S. Lewis was blessed with a very happy childhood, until tragedy struck unexpectedly. When little Jack was just nine years old his mother passed away from cancer. It was the aftermath of his mother's death that eventually led Lewis to ask questions about the meaning and purpose of life, and led to his rejection of religion. The beauty and tranquility of the Lewis house was shattered and the three men left were unsure of how to continue without Flora. Albert dealt with his loss by sending Lewis and Warnie to boarding school. With both boys away, he was able to wallow in his grief. Lewis, who before this time had been educated by his mother and various tutors, left home in 1908 and went to the Wynyard School in Watford, Hertfordshire. This hard time in the boys life was accentuated by the cruelty of the school. The headmaster was a man named Robert "Oldie" Capron, a man so cruel, so abusive, and so unpredictable that many who knew him believed him to be insane. The school soon closed, Capron claimed it was lack of pupils, but this lack was certainly due to the harsh methods he implemented. It was while Lewis was being treated so harshly that he found solace and comfort in writing. He wrote about fantasy lands and kind characters, thus escaping from the school through his imagination. Lewis would refer to his time at this school in his autobiographical novel, Surprised By Joy, in which he renamed the school "Belsen" after the World War II concentration camp.


C.S. Lewis went on to attend several other scholastic institutions, before finally taking charge of his own education. He attended the nearby Campbell College for a few months, until illness made it impossible for him to stay. The educators and doctors felt that Lewis would benefit from time spent in the health-resort town of Malvern, Worcestershire and he was enrolled in the prep-school Cherbourg House (which Lewis knew as "Chartres"). It was during this time that Lewis officially denounced his Christian faith, although the trial of his mother's death, along with his unanswered questions about the universe were the main contributing factors in his decision. Lewis went on to spend the 1913 school year at Malvern College, until eventually returning home to Belfast and remaining there until 1917. Along with being tutored by William T. Kirkpatrick, the former headmaster of Lurgan College, Lewis attributes his education to the family library. In Surprised by Joy Lewis says, "I am the product of long corridors, empty sunlit rooms, upstairs indoor silences, attics explored in solitude, distant noises of gurgling cisterns and pipes, and the noise of wind under the tiles. Also of endless books. There were books in the study, books in the drawing-room, books in the cloakroom, books in the great bookcase on the landing, books in a bedroom, books piled as high as my shoulder in the cistern attic, books of all kinds reflecting every transient stage of my parents' interests, books readable and unreadable, books suitable for a child and books most empathetically not. Nothing was forbidden me. In the seemingly endless rainy afternoons I took volume after volume from the shelves..."


During these teenage years, Lewis not only read, but became fascinated with the songs of Richard Wagner and the legends of the North that Wagner described in his operas. The music of Wagner along with the beauties of nature around him gave him an intense longing, a deep desire he later called "joy", and this became a main focal point of study for him. This solitary time at home also took Lewis back to his writings, which had matured since his youthful days depicting various scenes and tales of Boxen. He began to explore with different mediums, and he wrote epic poetry and tried his hand at writing an opera. Both of these endeavors centered around his love of Norse mythology. He also developed a great love for the Greek literature and mythology he studied with Kirkpatrick (or as Lewis referred to him, "The Great Knock"). With Kirkpatricks sharp skills, Lewis became adept in debate and clear, focused reasoning. With all of these many facets of education under his belt, Lewis was the recipient of a scholarship from University College, Oxford in 1916, this coincided with the events of World War I. Lewis did not immediately begin college, but instead enlisted with the British Army in 1917, where he was commissioned as an officer in the third Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry.


During his training, Lewis made an acquaintance that would change his life. Edward Francis Courtenay "Paddy" Moore was Lewis's roommate during the training period and became friends with Lewis. Paddy introduced Lewis to his mother, Jane King Moore, and she took him under her wing, giving him great love and kindness, treating him like a son. At the young age of nineteen, Lewis was sent to the front line of the Somme Valley in France, and on April 15, 1917, he suffered an injury during the Battle of Arras. In addition to his physical injury, Lewis found himself battling depression and a severe case of homesickness. While in the hospital he found himself visited by Paddy Moore's mother, Jane. A lasting friendship formed and Lewis took to her kindness immediately, feeling acutely hurt by his father, who refused to visit him in the hospital. Lewis made a promise to Paddy one day, that should Paddy die, then Lewis would care for Jane and see to her needs. By October of the same year, Lewis had made a full recovery from his wounds, but his experiences of war and battle were never forgotten. Paddy Moore did die in battle and Lewis kept his promise, often referring to Jane as his mother. However, as Jane aged and grew senile, the relationship was difficult, but Lewis kept his promise, visiting her nearly everyday when she was put in a Nursing home.


In December of 1918, he returned home with an honorable discharge and returned to his studies. In the next few years C.S. Lewis distinguished himself by receiving several different awards including: a First in Honour Moderations (Greek and Latin Literature) in 1920, a First in Greats (Philosophy and Ancient History) in 1922, and a First in English in 1923. These years also marked the time when Lewis moved in with Jane Moore, even though he also kept rooms at his college. In December 1917 Lewis wrote, in a letter to his childhood friend, Arthur Greeves, that Jane and Greeves were "the two people who matter most to me in the world". Finally in 1930, Lewis and his brother Warnie moved into "The Kilns", a large house with a wardrobe that is depicted in the Chronicles of Narnia. The house is located in Risinghurst, Headington (a suburb of Oxford). The gentlemen took an aged Jane to live with them, and all three contributed to the purchase of the house. Upon Warren's death in 1973, the house passed to Jane Moore's daughter, "Lady Dunbar of Hempriggs]].


"My Irish life"

Plaque on a park-bench in Bangor, County Down

C.S. Lewis had been born and bred in Ireland, and upon his permanent move to England for college, he expressed these sentiments of England. "No Englishman will be able to understand my first impressions of England," he wrote in Surprised by Joy. "The strange English accents with which I was surrounded seemed like the voices of demons. But what was worst was the English landscape... I have made up the quarrel since; but at that moment I conceived a hatred for England which took many years to heal."


Lewis's patriotism for Ireland was strong and heartfelt. He associated himself with the land, the people, and the history of his country. From a young age Lewis had studied Irish mythology in depth, along with the great Irish authors and he was intrigued with learning the unique Irish language. During his studies, Lewis came to admire deeply the writings of fellow Irishman, W.B. Yeats, he loved Yeats's details and vivid use of Ireland's Celtic heritage in his poems. In a letter to a friend Lewis wrote, "I have here discovered an author exactly after my own heart, whom I am sure you would delight in, W. B. Yeats. He writes plays and poems of rare spirit and beauty about our old Irish mythology." When he found his English associates indifferent to Yeats, he was shocked, and unable to account for it. In describing his time at Oxford he wrote: "I am often surprised to find how utterly ignored Yeats is among the men I have met: perhaps his appeal is purely Irish — if so, then thank the gods that I am Irish."


Lewis was unable to return to Ireland because of his work at Oxford, and he regretted this circumstance, but he paid regular visits to the country of his birth. In fact, at the beginnings of his writing career, Lewis had first intended on sending his works to a major Dublin publisher. In a letter to a friend he wrote: "If I do ever send my stuff to a publisher, I think I shall try Maunsel, those Dublin people, and so tack myself definitely onto the Irish school." Lewis was often known for his tongue-in-cheek chauvinism toward the English. Describing an encounter with a fellow Irishman he wrote: "Like all Irish people who meet in England we ended by criticisms of the inevitable flippancy and dullness of the Anglo-Saxon race. After all, ami, there is no doubt that the Irish are the only people... I would not gladly live or die among another folk."


Throughout his life, C.S. Lewis often sought out other Irish living in England and kept close friendships with many of them. He referred to this as "my Irish life".


Career as a scholar

C.S. Lewis served as a teaching fellow from Magdalen College, Oxford from 1925-1954. His career as a professor and intellect would prove to be satisfying, prestigious, and prolific. After his tenure at Magdalen, he worked at the University of Cambridge and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He became the first Professor of Medieval and Renaissance Literature. These classes, and his particular interest in the subject, led to one of his first works, The Allegory of Love (1936), which concentrated on the later Middle Ages and the use of Allegory during that time period. Lewis was then commissioned to write important prefaces to old works of literature and poetry, among them were Layamon's Brut and John Milton's Paradise Lost. His last academic work was published in 1964, The Discarded Image, an Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature.


His career as a scholar also brought him the distinguished association with men who became his life long friends. Among them were J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and Owen Barfield. These men formed a literary discussion society, Inklings which met every Tuesday for lunch at the Bird and Baby pub from the 1930's to 1949. Of his friends, Lewis has said, Of J. R. R. Tolkien, Lewis writes in Surprised by Joy (chapter X1V, p173):

"When I began teaching for the English Faculty, I made two other friends, both Christians (these queer people seemed now to pop up on every side) who were later to give me much help in getting over the last stile. They were H. V. V. Dyson ... and J. R. R. Tolkien. Friendship with the latter marked the breakdown of two old prejudices. At my first coming into the world I had been (implicitly) warned never to trust a Papist, and at my first coming into the English Faculty (explicitly) never to trust a philologist. Tolkien was both."


Career as a writer of fiction

C.S. Lewis is probably most well-known and well-loved for the work he did as a writer of fiction. Lewis wrote several popular novels for young adults and children. His two most popular series remain the science-fiction Space Trilogy and his fantasyseries, The Chronicles of Narnia.

Space Trilogy

Lewis grew up with a pessimistic nature about the world conditions he witnessed. The Space Trilogy or "Ransom Trilogy" novels addresses the dehumanizing trends that Lewis and his fellow scholars witnessed in modern science fiction. Lewis wrote the first book, Out of the Silent Planet, following an intense conversation with his friend J. R. R. Tolkien about these trends. The two agreed to a sort of pact, Lewis would write "space travel" story and Tolkien a "time travel" one. Tolkien’s story, "The Lost Road", was a tale that dealt with his famous Middle-earth mythology and the modern world, though it was never completed. Lewis did finish his story and based the main character, Ransom, on Tolkien. Another character, Jules, from That Hideous Strength, was inspired by the works and being of H. G. Wells.

The Chronicles of Narnia

There are seven individual novels that comprise The Chronicles of Narnia These books remain the pinnacle of Lewis's career as a writer of fiction. The books reflect Lewis's Christian values and portray many Christian themes including The Fall, The Atonement, and The Resurrection. The novels depict the adventures of a group of children who find themselves in a magical and mystical land called Narnia. The books were published between 1950 and 1956, beginning with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the most popular book of the series, which has been adapted for both stage and screen. The novels clearly reflect Lewis's love and knowledge of Greek, Roman, Celtic mythology and traditional English and Irish fairy tales.

Other works

Lewis was author to several other stories, among which are The Screwtape Letters, a story about the temptation of man by the devil. And Till We Have Faces is a retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth, Lewis believed that this was one of his most masterful works, but the novel never gained much recognition. (For a complete list, please see the Bibliography)


Career as a writer on Christianity

Not only was C.S. Lewis a scholar and a novelist, he also became widely known for his Christian apologetics. Mere Christianity remains his most popular book on the subject. Having struggled deeply with religion, Lewis became an atheist in his youth and remained so until his conversion to Christianity in 1931, although it was a slow process. Because of his struggles with religion, Lewis desired to present the concept of Christianity with as much reason and logic as possible. His books Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, and Miracles all maintained the objective of answering and explaining the popular objections to Christianity. His career stemmed beyond the pen as he became a lecturer and broadcaster, reading many of his writings for a radio audience.

As a child, Lewis began to view religion as a chore and a duty. He also began questioning and was unable to find answers to satisfy himself. Lewis quoted Lucretius as representing the strongest argument for atheism:

Had God designed the world, it would not be
A world so frail and faulty as we see.


In his autobiographical novel, Surprised by Joy, Lewis said that "very angry with God for not existing". But the influence of his friends, especially J.R.R. Tolkien and his wife Joy Greshim, Lewis slowly began to rediscovery Christianity in a new light.


"You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England."

In 1931, after a lengthy discussion with Tolkien and another close friend, Hugo Dyson, Lewis could not deny what he knew to be true and he reconverted to Christianity, becoming a member of the Church of England. He noted, "I came into Christianity kicking and screaming."


He is now popularly known as The Apostle to the Skeptics because he approached religion with a skeptics view, and still found conversion and conviction. He addresses many of the skeptical questions he faced, such as "How could a good God allow pain to exist in the world?", in The Problem of Pain.


Lewis's death and legacy

A statue of C.S. Lewis in Belfast, United Kingdom

Lewis died on November 22 1963, exactly one week before his 65th birthday, at the Oxford home he shared with his brother, Warren. He was buried in the Headington Quarry Churchyard, Oxford. His death coincided with theassassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the author Aldous Huxley, which all occurred on the same day. Thus, for much of the world, Lewis passed away quietly. Although, many remain dedicated to his works and a bronze statue of Lewis looking into a wardrobe was erected in Belfast's Hollywood Arches.


C.S. Lewis left behind a long legacy of influence. He remains the inspiration of several books including, A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken, along with works inspired in part by The Chronicles Of Narnia, including A Series of Unfortunate Events by Daniel Handler, Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, and J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter. His later life was also made into a major motion picture, Shadowlands, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins. During his lifetime, Lewis was against his novels being turned into films because of the technology at the time. He was worried that all of his creations, especially the animal characters, could only come off looking like "buffoonery or nightmare". Thus no films were attempted during his career.


Lewis continues to be an inspiration in pop-culture as the song "The Earth Will Shake" performed by Thrice is based on one of his poems, and the band Sixpence None the Richer are named after a quote they took from Mere Christianity.


Bibliography

Nonfiction

  • The Allegory of Love: A Study in Medieval Tradition (1936)
  • Rehabilitations and other essays (1939) — with two essays not included in Essay Collection (2000)
  • The Personal Heresy: A Controversy (with E. M. W. Tillyard, 1939)
  • The Problem of Pain (1940)
  • A Preface to Paradise Lost (1942)
  • The Abolition of Man (1943)
  • Beyond Personality (1944)
  • Miracles: A Preliminary Study (1947, revised 1960)
  • Arthurian Torso (1948; on Charles Williams's poetry)
  • Mere Christianity (1952; based on radio talks of 1941-1944)
  • English Literature in the Sixteenth Century Excluding Drama (1954)
  • Major British Writers, Vol I (1954), Contribution on Edmund Spenser
  • Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life (1955; autobiography)
  • Reflections on the Psalms (1958)
  • The Four Loves (1960)
  • Studies in Words (1960)
  • An Experiment in Criticism (1961)
  • A Grief Observed (1961; first published under the pseudonym «N. W. Clerk»)
  • Selections from Layamon's Brut (ed. G L Brook, 1963 Oxford University Press) introduction
  • Prayer: Letters to Malcolm (1964)
  • The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature (1964)
  • Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Literature (1966) — not included in Essay Collection (2000)
  • Spenser's Images of Life (ed. Alastair Fowler, 1967)
  • Letters to an American Lady (1967)
  • Selected Literary Essays (1969) — not included in Essay Collection (2000)
  • God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics (1970), = Undeceptions (1971) — all included in Essay Collection (2000)
  • Of Other Worlds (1982; essays) — with one essay not included in Essay Collection
  • All My Road Before Me: The Diary of C. S. Lewis 1922-27 (1993)
  • Essay Collection: Literature, Philosophy and Short Stories (2000)
  • Essay Collection: Faith, Christianity and the Church (2000)
  • Collected Letters, Vol. I: Family Letters 1905-1931 (2000)
  • Collected Letters, Vol. II: Books, Broadcasts and War 1931-1949 (2004)

Fiction

  • The Pilgrim's Regress (1933)
  • Space Trilogy
    • Out of the Silent Planet (1938)
    • Perelandra (1943)
    • That Hideous Strength (1946)
  • The Screwtape Letters (1942)
  • The Great Divorce (1945)
  • The Chronicles of Narnia
    • The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
    • Prince Caspian (1951)
    • The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
    • The Silver Chair (1953)
    • The Horse and His Boy (1954)
    • The Magician's Nephew (1955)
    • The Last Battle (1956)
  • Till We Have Faces (1956)
  • Screwtape Proposes a Toast (1961) (an addition to The Screwtape Letters)
  • Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer (1964)
  • The Dark Tower and other stories (1977)
  • Boxen: The Imaginary World of the Young C. S. Lewis (ed. Walter Hooper, 1985)

Poetry

  • Spirits in Bondage (1919; published under pseudonym Clive Hamilton)
  • Dymer (1926; published under pseudonym Clive Hamilton)
  • Narrative Poems (ed. Walter Hooper, 1969; includes Dymer)
  • The Collected Poems of C. S. Lewis (ed. Walter Hooper, 1994; includes Spirits in Bondage)


External links

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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
  • Works by C. S. Lewis. Project Gutenberg
  • C.S. Lewis Foundation
  • Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College — has the world’s largest collection of Lewis's works and works about him
  • [1] Taylor University, Upland, Indiana, has the world's largest private collection of C. S. Lewis first editions, letters, manuscripts, and ephemera—the Edwin W. Brown Collection

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