Yes, indeed. What struck me was Lewis’s initial dehumanizing of Eliot. He stood for something that Lewis opposed so he was nothing more than something to oppose. I think that same dynamic drives about 90 of American politics these days.
Exactly ! And social media has only amplified this. Because now I can do it to whole groups and do it publicly so the culture feeds off of it. It’s a terrible phenomenon.
Eliot, a devout Anglo-Catholic, and having later written such an intense religious poem like Four Quartets it’s not surprising Lewis might become more tolerant of his early literary nuances. They shared a deep Faith. My understanding is that Eliot was transformed by his second marriage, becoming genuinely happy according to some. A more likable trait I'd say. I also think the two wives made a difference. Thanks again for another thoughtful post.
Loved the wonderful details on their connection. I remember Eliot's poem because of the line "I have measured out my life in coffee spoons", and it was such a surprise to read Lewis' response to the "etherised" line with his own poem. Thanks for your continued, insightful expositions!
Read this at 4:30 am and it perked me up almost like my first cup of coffee. Didn’t know a post about rivalry and grief could do this. And also a welcome reminder of how writing often paves the way to shared mourning and healing. Thank you.
What an insightful and inspiring article! It’s a reminder and rebuke everyone of us needs. I often think about how we love those we set our affection on who have ideas we abhor, but because we love them they’re valuable and garner our devotion. We have our personal examples of how to “love the unlovable” along with our Elder Brother, Christ Jesus, as the best exemplar—let’s keep striving to be like Him!
I never thought of those two as overlapping in terms of their connections. But they were contemporaries and it makes sense that they would have met. It’s good that they ultimately got along with each other. They were both talented men who made significant contributions in their own ways.
Lewis and George Orwell were also contemporaries with perhaps negative opinions of each other. Orwell thought Lewis was too conservative, too old guard. Lewis read and enjoyed Animal Farm but thought that 1984 was a poor book.
I'm not sure I would like Dante so much if all he had written was inferno.
Also, Eliot first wife Vivienne the Bloomsbury antagonist mentally ill two timer with Bertrand Russell... Arguably inspired wasteland. Eliot nevertheless lived out his vows even while his wife was institutionalized till dying in 1947. Eliot married second wife Valerie in 1957.
In a type of chiasmus, Lewis married a joy davidman, who was currently (unhappily) married, in 1956. He met her in 1952.
So Eliot would up on the conservative side of Lewis. Arguably his writing four quartets from 1936 to 1942 helped him achieve this transformation.
Do you know if Lewis comments on Eliot's more "Christian" poetry anywhere? Seems he would likely still detest the style of the Four Quartets -- but they seem much closer to Lewis in telos/messaging than Prufrock or The Wasteland.
Back in my A-level days, The Waste Land was one of the required texts. The modern despair of The Waste Land is such a contrast to Lewis' work. Nihilism vs. Anglo-Catholicism.
And so interesting that they could carry on such a spirited dialogue without social media as a facilitator. That took real effort!
A fun and interesting bit - thanks and keep up the good work. A great example of that ongoing forgiveness and reconciliation project the J Man left us to pursue. But also an interesting example of the confrontation between modernism and the old way, a conflict quickened and deepened by our own collective tragic shortcomings that needn’t inevitably result in endless, unresolved conflict. That they could come to see the light in each other’s eyes was a mutual blessing and a ray of hope for the rest of us.
“As a result of their work on the Psalms,” said Musacchio, “the two men gained respect for each other.” Indeed, Lewis said he found it easy to “love” Eliot after getting to know him. Working together on the Word of God brought out brotherly love in these writing rivals.
So much our culture can learn from!!
Yes, indeed. What struck me was Lewis’s initial dehumanizing of Eliot. He stood for something that Lewis opposed so he was nothing more than something to oppose. I think that same dynamic drives about 90 of American politics these days.
Exactly ! And social media has only amplified this. Because now I can do it to whole groups and do it publicly so the culture feeds off of it. It’s a terrible phenomenon.
Eliot, a devout Anglo-Catholic, and having later written such an intense religious poem like Four Quartets it’s not surprising Lewis might become more tolerant of his early literary nuances. They shared a deep Faith. My understanding is that Eliot was transformed by his second marriage, becoming genuinely happy according to some. A more likable trait I'd say. I also think the two wives made a difference. Thanks again for another thoughtful post.
I’m not surprised to hear that but about his marriage. It’s transformative.
Loved the wonderful details on their connection. I remember Eliot's poem because of the line "I have measured out my life in coffee spoons", and it was such a surprise to read Lewis' response to the "etherised" line with his own poem. Thanks for your continued, insightful expositions!
That “coffee spoons” line is exquisite. And you’re welcome! It’s nothing but fun to do.
Fascinating!
Yes, I read past parts of this story for years. Leslie Baynes pointed me to the George Musacchio article. That opened it all up.
Brilliant!
Thanks, George!
Read this at 4:30 am and it perked me up almost like my first cup of coffee. Didn’t know a post about rivalry and grief could do this. And also a welcome reminder of how writing often paves the way to shared mourning and healing. Thank you.
That makes me happy to hear! Thanks for reading.
Loved this
Thanks, Jessica!
What an insightful and inspiring article! It’s a reminder and rebuke everyone of us needs. I often think about how we love those we set our affection on who have ideas we abhor, but because we love them they’re valuable and garner our devotion. We have our personal examples of how to “love the unlovable” along with our Elder Brother, Christ Jesus, as the best exemplar—let’s keep striving to be like Him!
Thanks, Kim. And I’ll take that exhortation!
I never thought of those two as overlapping in terms of their connections. But they were contemporaries and it makes sense that they would have met. It’s good that they ultimately got along with each other. They were both talented men who made significant contributions in their own ways.
Lewis and George Orwell were also contemporaries with perhaps negative opinions of each other. Orwell thought Lewis was too conservative, too old guard. Lewis read and enjoyed Animal Farm but thought that 1984 was a poor book.
Lovely! Thank you for this.
My pleasure! Thanks for reading!
Fascinating!
I'm not sure I would like Dante so much if all he had written was inferno.
Also, Eliot first wife Vivienne the Bloomsbury antagonist mentally ill two timer with Bertrand Russell... Arguably inspired wasteland. Eliot nevertheless lived out his vows even while his wife was institutionalized till dying in 1947. Eliot married second wife Valerie in 1957.
In a type of chiasmus, Lewis married a joy davidman, who was currently (unhappily) married, in 1956. He met her in 1952.
So Eliot would up on the conservative side of Lewis. Arguably his writing four quartets from 1936 to 1942 helped him achieve this transformation.
Do you know if Lewis comments on Eliot's more "Christian" poetry anywhere? Seems he would likely still detest the style of the Four Quartets -- but they seem much closer to Lewis in telos/messaging than Prufrock or The Wasteland.
Back in my A-level days, The Waste Land was one of the required texts. The modern despair of The Waste Land is such a contrast to Lewis' work. Nihilism vs. Anglo-Catholicism.
And so interesting that they could carry on such a spirited dialogue without social media as a facilitator. That took real effort!
A fun and interesting bit - thanks and keep up the good work. A great example of that ongoing forgiveness and reconciliation project the J Man left us to pursue. But also an interesting example of the confrontation between modernism and the old way, a conflict quickened and deepened by our own collective tragic shortcomings that needn’t inevitably result in endless, unresolved conflict. That they could come to see the light in each other’s eyes was a mutual blessing and a ray of hope for the rest of us.
“As a result of their work on the Psalms,” said Musacchio, “the two men gained respect for each other.” Indeed, Lewis said he found it easy to “love” Eliot after getting to know him. Working together on the Word of God brought out brotherly love in these writing rivals.