LOL, you’re welcome! I got a big kick out of that myself. Reminds me a bit of Shusaku Endo’s attachment to cigarettes. When he had a lung removed because of tuberculosis, his doctor told him to stop smoking for fear of cancer. Endo kept it up, however. He told the doctor he understood the risks incorrectly—since he removed one of his lungs, he was only half as likely to get it!
After speaking at Wheaton College, I headed over to the Wade Center that houses many things from the private collections of Lewis, Tolkien, et al. I asked to see some of the books Lewis read. They brought up three including one of my favorites: Paradise Lost by Milton. Lewis took tons of notes. His marginalia flooded the pages. He used a pencil and wrote in very neat lines. If a man who gained a triple-first at Oxford thought it was important to engage books in this way, it greatly encouraged me to continue to do so myself.
Joel, thanks for your continual ode to Lewis' life and literary deluge. Like you, I return to him often, and your post today prodded me to search my shelves for his short collection, "The Reading Life"—a cobbling of Lewis' writings on reading. I read the book several years ago in one delightful afternoon, and I think the holidays will find me there again, thanks to you. I also read, "C. S. Lewis and the Art of Writing," but it lacked the same punch and inspiration as the Reading book. Reading about Lewis is not reading Lewis.
One of my favorite Lewis quotes from the Reading book: "In reading great literature, I become a thousand men, and yet remain myself. Like the night sky in the Greek poem, I see with a myriad eyes, but it is still I who see. Here, as in worship, in love, in moral action, and in knowing, I transcend myself; and am never more myself then when I do."
And that is the startlingly singular magic of literature. Reminds me of this line from philosopher Martha Nussbaum:
“We have never lived enough. Our experience is, without fiction, too confined and too parochial. Literature extends it, making us reflect and feel about what might otherwise be too distant for feeling.”
Enjoyed this quite a bit Joel. I grew up reading the Narnia books which were my introduction to Lewis. It wasn't until adulthood that I began to explore his other works. He had a real talent and his impact is enduring.
Yes, his output is so wildly varied. There’s something there for all sorts of readers—and they’ll all be rewarded for the effort. He was (and remains) a gift.
One of my favorite authors. So glad you featured him, Joe! I've been wanting to revisit Narnia for the last couple of years, just to re-experience its magic as an adult. I'm going to take this post as my sign that I should just do it.
Also, for anyone who's interested in learning about Lewis's early life from his own words, you should read "Surprised By Joy". In it, he explains how he became a Christian and what's the purpose of joy in our lives.
Crazy to admit, but I’ve somehow never read it. I’ve dipped into it for his memories on one thing or another, but I’ve never sat down and read it through.
My first visit to Oxford set me on a path to reading everything of Jack’s I could. His work and life just smell like something different. I felt that reading this piece as well. Thank you for it.
I maintain a high regard for Lewis. I've read far more of his nonfiction than his fiction. The Four Loves and A Grief Observed are probably my favorites. I found my way into Narnia much later, and at the time I wasn't impressed. I found the allegory and symbolism too heavy handed and never made it very far into the series. However, I did fall in love the Magician's Trilogy by Lev Grossman which owes a tremndous and unavoidable debt to Lewis. It's because of that, that I've recently decided to try the Narnia series again.
The Narnia stories were definitely written for kids but there are aspects that still work for adults. I particularly love The Horse and His Boy. I cannot recommend highly enough Till We Have Faces, his final novel. It’s a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche.
It's really good. It's CS Lewis the professor -- as opposed to the apologist or the children's writer or the fantasist -- writing and it's an introduction to medieval cosmology, asking questions like what would be the aesthetic impact of truly believing in a geocentric universe.
Thank you for your tribute to C.S. Lewis on his anniversary. I grew up with Narnia and find myself going back to his other works frequently too.
There are numerous artists who keep his memory alive, which we must do for our heroes. Max McLean's Fellowship of Performing Arts brings Lewis to life in productions of "The Most Reluctant Convert" and "The Screwtape Letters." The the latter is currently on tour. Imagine a two-demon show captivating your attention for an evening and leaving you something to chew on about life and the afterlife, a show that still leaves you hopeful. The theme of hope is one we so badly need in our cynical post-modern world.
Audiobooks also kindle renewed appreciation, hello Kenneth Branagh! My teen still loves the Narnia movies. On my TBR list is "Becoming Mrs. Lewis" by Patti Callahan. Yes, his legacy lives on as he boldly proclaimed Truth with his keen imagination and love of story. Saint Jack, pray for us!
Yes! There’s a wonderful audio edition of the books that features Kenneth Branagh, Lynn Redgrave, Jeremy Northam, and a few others. Patrick Stewart reads The Last Battle and is tremendous with Shift the Ape.
Thank you for this. I love his writing and this is a prompt to reread Screwtape. I also have a sweet little book of his on reading, which I reread often.
The anecdote that goes along with this is poignant. Thanks for sharing x I am a big Lewis fan - I didn’t know Jacobs had written a biography! Definitely one to look up!
Thank you so much for this Joel. I regret being late to reading C. S. Lewis, but I'm thankful to have read a handful of his books, and look forward to more. I appreciate this post!
Thanks for reading, John. Lewis has meant a lot to me over the years—in and out of so many seasons. It’s amazing how he remains relevant in one way or another to me.
“Better to die cheerfully with the aid of a little tobacco, than to live disagreeably and remorseful without it.”
That alone was worth the price of admission. Thanks.
LOL, you’re welcome! I got a big kick out of that myself. Reminds me a bit of Shusaku Endo’s attachment to cigarettes. When he had a lung removed because of tuberculosis, his doctor told him to stop smoking for fear of cancer. Endo kept it up, however. He told the doctor he understood the risks incorrectly—since he removed one of his lungs, he was only half as likely to get it!
After speaking at Wheaton College, I headed over to the Wade Center that houses many things from the private collections of Lewis, Tolkien, et al. I asked to see some of the books Lewis read. They brought up three including one of my favorites: Paradise Lost by Milton. Lewis took tons of notes. His marginalia flooded the pages. He used a pencil and wrote in very neat lines. If a man who gained a triple-first at Oxford thought it was important to engage books in this way, it greatly encouraged me to continue to do so myself.
What a treat to view that!
Joel, thanks for your continual ode to Lewis' life and literary deluge. Like you, I return to him often, and your post today prodded me to search my shelves for his short collection, "The Reading Life"—a cobbling of Lewis' writings on reading. I read the book several years ago in one delightful afternoon, and I think the holidays will find me there again, thanks to you. I also read, "C. S. Lewis and the Art of Writing," but it lacked the same punch and inspiration as the Reading book. Reading about Lewis is not reading Lewis.
One of my favorite Lewis quotes from the Reading book: "In reading great literature, I become a thousand men, and yet remain myself. Like the night sky in the Greek poem, I see with a myriad eyes, but it is still I who see. Here, as in worship, in love, in moral action, and in knowing, I transcend myself; and am never more myself then when I do."
And that is the startlingly singular magic of literature. Reminds me of this line from philosopher Martha Nussbaum:
“We have never lived enough. Our experience is, without fiction, too confined and too parochial. Literature extends it, making us reflect and feel about what might otherwise be too distant for feeling.”
Thanks for coming along on the adventure, Wayne!
Enjoyed this quite a bit Joel. I grew up reading the Narnia books which were my introduction to Lewis. It wasn't until adulthood that I began to explore his other works. He had a real talent and his impact is enduring.
Yes, his output is so wildly varied. There’s something there for all sorts of readers—and they’ll all be rewarded for the effort. He was (and remains) a gift.
He's a very compelling literary critic, if you haven't explored that facet of his writing. English literature was his day job, after all.
I am not at all familiar with that part of his writing. I will definitely check it out. Thanks!
No problem. Would recommend An Experiment in Criticism and the essay collections Selected Literary Essays and On Stories.
I really drew on his science fiction criticism in this appreciation of Ray Bradbury, if that intrigues you:
https://walrod.substack.com/p/on-ray-bradbury
My Substack in general is full of C.S. Lewis quotes. It almost seems like, whatever the topic is, he's written some beautiful little passage about it.
One of my favorite authors. So glad you featured him, Joe! I've been wanting to revisit Narnia for the last couple of years, just to re-experience its magic as an adult. I'm going to take this post as my sign that I should just do it.
Also, for anyone who's interested in learning about Lewis's early life from his own words, you should read "Surprised By Joy". In it, he explains how he became a Christian and what's the purpose of joy in our lives.
Surprised by Joy is one of my all-time favorite books.
Crazy to admit, but I’ve somehow never read it. I’ve dipped into it for his memories on one thing or another, but I’ve never sat down and read it through.
My first visit to Oxford set me on a path to reading everything of Jack’s I could. His work and life just smell like something different. I felt that reading this piece as well. Thank you for it.
Many thanks, Sam! Glad you enjoyed it.
I maintain a high regard for Lewis. I've read far more of his nonfiction than his fiction. The Four Loves and A Grief Observed are probably my favorites. I found my way into Narnia much later, and at the time I wasn't impressed. I found the allegory and symbolism too heavy handed and never made it very far into the series. However, I did fall in love the Magician's Trilogy by Lev Grossman which owes a tremndous and unavoidable debt to Lewis. It's because of that, that I've recently decided to try the Narnia series again.
The Narnia stories were definitely written for kids but there are aspects that still work for adults. I particularly love The Horse and His Boy. I cannot recommend highly enough Till We Have Faces, his final novel. It’s a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche.
Seconding this, Till We Have Faces is great.
Adding it to my list!
If you haven't read it, would highly recommend his very last book, The Discarded Image.
The Discarded Image is excellent!
I haven't read that one. It looks really interesting! Thanks so much!
... and if you ever tackle Dante's Divine Comedy, this would be a great companion book.
Even better!
It's really good. It's CS Lewis the professor -- as opposed to the apologist or the children's writer or the fantasist -- writing and it's an introduction to medieval cosmology, asking questions like what would be the aesthetic impact of truly believing in a geocentric universe.
Sold! I love connections like that!
Thank you for your tribute to C.S. Lewis on his anniversary. I grew up with Narnia and find myself going back to his other works frequently too.
There are numerous artists who keep his memory alive, which we must do for our heroes. Max McLean's Fellowship of Performing Arts brings Lewis to life in productions of "The Most Reluctant Convert" and "The Screwtape Letters." The the latter is currently on tour. Imagine a two-demon show captivating your attention for an evening and leaving you something to chew on about life and the afterlife, a show that still leaves you hopeful. The theme of hope is one we so badly need in our cynical post-modern world.
Audiobooks also kindle renewed appreciation, hello Kenneth Branagh! My teen still loves the Narnia movies. On my TBR list is "Becoming Mrs. Lewis" by Patti Callahan. Yes, his legacy lives on as he boldly proclaimed Truth with his keen imagination and love of story. Saint Jack, pray for us!
Yes! There’s a wonderful audio edition of the books that features Kenneth Branagh, Lynn Redgrave, Jeremy Northam, and a few others. Patrick Stewart reads The Last Battle and is tremendous with Shift the Ape.
Would also like to give a shoutout to the Pints with Jack podcast: https://www.pintswithjack.com/
What a beautiful homage to an amazing man. Thank you.
You mention a few different biographers of Lewis. If you had to pick one, which one would you recommend?
Tricky to answer. Sayer knew Lewis directly, but Jacobs is balanced and eloquent. I’d probably start with Jacobs’s The Narnian.
I took a class on Lewis in college that shaped my life more than any other. Love this man so much!
Thanks for reading, Sarah!
Thank you for this. I love his writing and this is a prompt to reread Screwtape. I also have a sweet little book of his on reading, which I reread often.
I love that book on Reading! And Screwtape is a gem of a book.
The anecdote that goes along with this is poignant. Thanks for sharing x I am a big Lewis fan - I didn’t know Jacobs had written a biography! Definitely one to look up!
Jacobs’s biography is one of the best. He’s such a talented writer.
McGrath’s is a bit more wooden, but his research was excellent.
Such a beautiful, thoughtful essay. Thank you for writing
Thank you so much for reading!
Thank you so much for this Joel. I regret being late to reading C. S. Lewis, but I'm thankful to have read a handful of his books, and look forward to more. I appreciate this post!
Thanks for reading, John. Lewis has meant a lot to me over the years—in and out of so many seasons. It’s amazing how he remains relevant in one way or another to me.
An author who has shaped not just my writing but my life.
He has that effect.