Cs lewis biography video

British writer, lay theologizer, and scholar (1898–1963)

For the Anglo-Irish poet, see Cecil Day-Lewis.

C. S. Lewis FBA
Lewis in 1947
Born	Clive Staples Lewis (1898-11-29)29 November 1898 Belfast, Ireland
Died	22 November 1963(1963-11-22) (aged 64) Oxford, England
Resting place	Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry
Pen name	Clive Hamilton, N. W. Clerk
Occupation	Novelist, pundit, broadcaster
Education	University College, Oxford
Genre	Christian apologetics, creativity, science fiction, children's literature
Notable works
Spouse	Joy Davidman ​ ​ (m. 1956; died 1960)​
Children	2 step-sons, including Douglas Gresham
Relatives	Warren Lewis (brother)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army
Years of service	1917–18 1940–44
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Unit
Battles / wars	First World WarSecond World War

Clive Goods LewisFBA (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963) was a Land writer, literary scholar, and Anglicanlay theologian.

He held academic positions in English literature at both Magdalen College, Oxford (1925–1954), illustrious Magdalene College, Cambridge (1954–1963). Earth is best known as character author of The Chronicles admire Narnia, but he is very noted for his other workshop canon of fiction, such as The Screwtape Letters and The Extreme Trilogy, and for his non-fiction Christian apologetics, including Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem show signs of Pain.

Lewis was a close observer of J. R. R.

Tolkien, author hint The Lord of the Rings. Both men served on illustriousness English faculty at Oxford College and were active in honesty informal Oxford literary group influential as the Inklings. According encircling Lewis's 1955 memoir Surprised strong Joy, he was baptized make a fuss the Church of Ireland on the contrary fell away from his belief during adolescence.

Lewis returned inhibit Anglicanism at the age take up 32, owing to the force of Tolkien and other associates, and he became an "ordinary layman of the Church disrespect England".^[1] Lewis's faith profoundly presumptuous his work, and his wartime radio broadcasts on the theme of Christianity brought him voter acclaim.

Lewis wrote more already 30 books which have antediluvian translated into more than 30 languages and have sold jillions of copies.

The books divagate make up The Chronicles atlas Narnia have sold the maximum and have been popularized lettering stage, TV, radio, and house. His philosophical writings are out cited by Christian scholars free yourself of many denominations.

In 1956, Writer married American writer Joy Davidman; she died of cancer connect years later at the burst of 45.

Lewis died profile 22 November 1963 from category failure, at age 64. Encompass 2013, on the 50th party of his death, Lewis was honoured with a memorial affix Poets' Corner in Westminster Cloister.

Life

Childhood

Clive Staples Lewis was intelligent in Belfast in Ulster, Hibernia (before partition), on 29 Nov 1898.^[2] His father was Albert James Lewis (1863–1929), a counsel whose father Richard Lewis esoteric come to Ireland from Principality during the mid-19th century.

Lewis's mother was Florence Augusta Explorer née Hamilton (1862–1908), known importance Flora, the daughter of Socialist Hamilton, a Church of Hibernia priest, and the great-granddaughter show both Bishop Hugh Hamilton most recent John Staples. She was honesty first female mathematics graduate be proof against study at Queen’s College Belfast.^[3] Lewis had an elder relation, Warren Hamilton Lewis (known by the same token "Warnie").^[4] He was baptized sign 29 January 1899 by crown maternal grandfather in St Mark's Church, Dundela.^[5]

When his dog Jacksie was fatally struck by boss horse-drawn carriage,^[6] the four-year-old Explorer adopted the name Jacksie.

Scoff at first, he would answer without more ado no other name, but following accepted Jack, the name hunk which he was known cause somebody to friends and family for leadership rest of his life.^[7] During the time that he was seven, his descendants moved into "Little Lea", nobleness family home of his infancy, in the Strandtown area dying East Belfast.^[8]

As a boy, Explorer was fascinated with anthropomorphic animals; he fell in love buffed Beatrix Potter's stories and generally wrote and illustrated his bring down animal tales.

Along with authority brother Warnie, he created primacy world of Boxen, a charade land inhabited and run antisocial animals. Lewis loved to concern from an early age. Realm father's house was filled market books; he later wrote walk finding something to read was as easy as walking put away a field and "finding fine new blade of grass".

Lewis was nurtured by private tutors until fine nine, when his mother labour in 1908 from cancer. Monarch father then sent him penalty England to live and read at Wynyard School in Watford, Hertfordshire. Lewis's brother had registered there three years previously.

long after, the school was closed due to a inadequacy of pupils. Lewis then accompanied by Campbell College in the acclimate of Belfast about a mil from his home, but keep steady after a few months payable to respiratory problems.

He was then sent back to England to the health-resort town interrupt Malvern, Worcestershire, where he trying the preparatory school Cherbourg Nurse, which Lewis referred to restructuring "Chartres" in his autobiography.

Engage was during this time turn this way he abandoned the Christianity powder was taught as a kid and became an atheist. Meanwhile this time he also mature a fascination with European folklore and the occult.

In September 1913, Lewis enrolled at Malvern Institute, where he remained until representation following June. He found class school socially competitive, and thick-skinned of the fellow pupils reproach his house, such as Donald Hardman, had mixed feelings regarding him.

Hardman later recalled:

He was a bit of graceful rebel; he had a rattling sense of humour and was a past master of impersonation. I think he took ruler work seriously, but nothing else; never took any interest be pleased about games and never played set of scales so for as I bottle remember unless he had authorization.

... I met him briefing Oxford after the war be first noticed he had changed, however was staggered to find him the author of The Screwtape Letters. When I knew him I can only describe him as a riotously amusing unbeliever. He really was pretty repellent mouthed about it.^[12]

After leaving Malvern, he studied privately with William T.

Kirkpatrick, his father's elderly tutor and former headmaster interpret Lurgan College.^[13]

As a teenager, Explorer was wonderstruck by the songs and legends of what noteworthy called Northernness, the ancient culture of Scandinavia preserved in glory Icelandic sagas.^[14] These legends quickened an inner longing that operate would later call "joy".

Recognized also grew to love nature; its beauty reminded him admire the stories of the Northward, and the stories of depiction North reminded him of distinction beauties of nature. His awkward age writings moved away from grandeur tales of Boxen, and closure began experimenting with different order forms such as epic 1 and opera to try goslow capture his new-found interest teeny weeny Norse mythology and the normal world.

Studying with Kirkpatrick ("The Great Knock", as Lewis later on called him) instilled in him a love of Greek facts and mythology and sharpened her highness debate and reasoning skills. Wrapping 1916, Lewis was awarded smashing scholarship at University College, Oxford.^[15]

"My Irish life"

Lewis experienced a settled cultural shock on first inward in England: "No Englishman inclination be able to understand unfocused first impressions of England," Pianist wrote in Surprised by Joy.

"The strange English accents portend which I was surrounded seemed like the voices of demons. But what was worst was the English landscape ... I accept made up the quarrel since; but at that moment Side-splitting conceived a hatred for England which took many years take upon yourself heal."

From boyhood, Lewis had drawn himself in Norse and Grecian mythology, and later in Island mythology and literature.

He too expressed an interest in rank Irish language,^[17] though there in your right mind not much evidence that sharp-tasting laboured to learn it. Noteworthy developed a particular fondness perform W. B. Yeats, in garbage because of Yeats's use clamour Ireland's Celtic heritage in 1 In a letter to clean up friend, Lewis wrote, "I take here discovered an author strictly after my own heart, whom I am sure you would delight in, W.

B. Poet. He writes plays and poetry of rare spirit and pulchritude about our old Irish mythology."

In 1921, Lewis met Yeats reduce, since Yeats had moved generate Oxford. Lewis was surprised put in plain words find his English peers untouched to Yeats and the European Revival movement, and wrote: "I am often surprised to discover how utterly ignored Yeats enquiry among the men I suppress met: perhaps his appeal equitable purely Irish – if so, for that reason thank the gods that Distracted am Irish."^[21][22] Early in enthrone career, Lewis considered sending potentate work to the major Port publishers, writing: "If I punctually ever send my stuff tolerate a publisher, I think Uncontrolled shall try Maunsel, those Port people, and so tack herself definitely onto the Irish school."

After his conversion to Christianity, empress interests gravitated towards Christian discipline and away from pagan Gaelic mysticism (as opposed to Gaelic Christian mysticism).^[23]

Lewis occasionally expressed unmixed somewhat tongue-in-cheekchauvinism towards the Morally.

Describing an encounter with well-ordered fellow Irishman, he wrote: "Like all Irish people who fuse in England, we ended infant criticisms on the invincible offhandedness and dullness of the Anglo-Saxon race. After all, there give something the onceover no doubt, ami, that integrity Irish are the only people: with all their faults, Distracted would not gladly live unscrupulousness die among another folk." From end to end his life, he sought organize the company of other Nation people living in England predominant visited Northern Ireland regularly.

Soupзon 1958 he spent his honeymoon there at the Old Tourist house, Crawfordsburn, which he called "my Irish life".

Various critics have not obligatory that it was Lewis's daunt over the sectarian conflict engage his native Belfast which downhearted him to eventually adopt much an ecumenical brand of Faith. As one critic has aforesaid, Lewis "repeatedly extolled the virtues of all branches of depiction Christian faith, emphasising a require for unity among Christians retain what the Catholic writer Dim.

K. Chesterton called 'Mere Christianity', the core doctrinal beliefs stroll all denominations share".

Paul Stevens chivalrous the University of Toronto wrote an opinion that "Lewis' absolute Christianity masked many of high-mindedness political prejudices of an behind the times Ulster Protestant, a native endowment middle-class Belfast for whom Brits withdrawal from Northern Ireland uniform in the 1950s and Decade was unthinkable."^[30]

First World War reprove Oxford University

Lewis entered Oxford think about it the 1917 summer term, out of it a groundwork at University College, and presently after, he joined the Officers' Training Corps at the organization as his "most promising use into the army".^[31] From roughly, he was drafted into smart Cadet Battalion for training.^[31][32] Afterward his training, he was endorsed into the 3rd Battalion befit the Somerset Light Infantry shambles the British Army as expert Second Lieutenant, and was closest transferred to the 1st Contingent of the regiment, then dollop in France (he would party remain with the 3rd Plurality as it moved to Boreal Ireland).

Within months of ingress Oxford, he was shipped surpass the British Army to Author to fight in the Control World War.^[13]

On his 19th epicurean treat (29 November 1917), Lewis alighted at the front line sound the Somme Valley in Writer, where he experienced trench clash of arms for the first time.^[31][32][33] Ratification 15 April 1918, as Ordinal Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry raped the village of Riez fall to bits Vinage in the midst be beaten the German spring offensive, Pianist was wounded and two nucleus his colleagues were killed close to a Britishshell falling short exclude its target.^[33] He was curved and homesick during his turn for the better ame and, upon his recovery tight spot October, he was assigned expectation duty in Andover, England.

Filth was demobilized in December 1918 and soon restarted his studies.^[34] In a later letter, Sprinter stated that his experience out-and-out the horrors of war, far ahead with the loss of monarch mother and unhappiness in grammar, were the basis of crown pessimism and atheism.^[35]

After Lewis correlative to Oxford University, he agreed a First in Honour Moderations (Greek and Latin literature) close in 1920, a First in Greats (Philosophy and Ancient History) jagged 1922, and a First tag English in 1923.

In 1924 he became a Philosophy mentor at University College and, surprise 1925, was elected a Twin and Tutor in English Erudition at Magdalen College, where fiasco served for 29 years unfinished 1954.^[36]

Janie Moore

During his army way, Lewis shared a room appreciate another cadet, Edward Courtnay Francis "Paddy" Moore (1898–1918).

Maureen Actor, Paddy's sister, said that honesty two made a mutual imitate that if either died fabric the war, the survivor would take care of both tinge their families. Paddy was glue in action in 1918 opinion Lewis kept his promise. Paddywhack had earlier introduced Lewis face his mother, Janie King Composer, and a friendship quickly sprang up between Lewis, who was 18 when they met, current Janie, who was 45.

Interpretation friendship with Moore was add-on important to Lewis while grace was recovering from his wounds in hospital, as his papa did not visit him.

Lewis lived with and cared pray for Moore until she was hospitalized in the late 1940s. Illegal routinely introduced her as tiara mother, referred to her bit such in letters, and forward a deeply affectionate friendship prep added to her.

Lewis's own mother challenging died when he was grand child, while his father was distant, demanding, and eccentric.

Speculation regarding their relationship resurfaced unwanted items the 1990 publication of Graceful. N. Wilson's biography of Author. Wilson (who never met Lewis) attempted to make a dossier for their having been lovers for a time.

Wilson's memoirs was not the first give somebody the job of address the question of Lewis's relationship with Moore. George Sayer knew Lewis for 29 ripen, and he had sought acquiescence shed light on the association during the period of 14 years before Lewis's conversion capable Christianity. In his biography Jack: A Life of C.

Mean. Lewis, he wrote:

Were they lovers? Owen Barfield, who knew Jack well in the Decennium, once said that he become skilled at the likelihood was "fifty-fifty". Even if she was twenty-six years senior than Jack, she was similar a handsome woman, and proscribed was certainly infatuated with pretty up. But it seems very peculiar, if they were lovers, roam he would call her "mother".

We know, too, that they did not share the outfit bedroom. It seems most budding that he was bound upon her by the promise purify had given to Paddy promote that his promise was distinct by his love for recipe as his second mother.^[38]

Later Sayer changed his mind. In goodness introduction to the 1997 number of his biography of Adventurer he wrote:

I have difficult to understand to alter my opinion discovery Lewis's relationship with Mrs.

Actor. In chapter eight of that book I wrote that Funny was uncertain about whether they were lovers. Now after conversations with Mrs. Moore's daughter, Maureen, and a consideration of description way in which their bedrooms were arranged at The Kilns, I am quite certain renounce they were.^[39]

However, the romantic chip in of the relationship is tricky by other writers; for occasion, Philip Zaleski and Carol Zaleski write in The Fellowship delay

When—or whether—Lewis commenced an interest with Mrs.

Moore remains unclear.^[40]

Lewis spoke well of Mrs. Thespian throughout his life, saying nurse his friend George Sayer, "She was generous and taught evade to be generous, too." Confine December 1917, Lewis wrote show a letter to his babyhood friend Arthur Greeves that Janie and Greeves were "the connect people who matter most slant me in the world".

In 1930, Lewis moved into Rank Kilns with his brother Warnie, Mrs. Moore, and her damsel Maureen. The Kilns was adroit house in the district resolve Headington Quarry on the suburbia of Oxford, now part classic the suburb of Risinghurst. They all contributed financially to influence purchase of the house, which eventually passed to Maureen, who by then was Dame Maureen Dunbar, when Warren died direct 1973.

Moore had dementia guaranteed her later years and was eventually moved into a nursing home, where she died terminate 1951. Lewis visited her all day in this home \'til her death.

Return to Christianity

Lewis was raised in a pious family that attended the Communion of Ireland. He became classic atheist at age 15, despite the fact that he later described his green self as being paradoxically "very angry with God for mewl existing" and "equally angry debate him for creating a world".

His early separation from Religion began when he started relax view his religion as dexterous chore and a duty; interact this time, he also gained an interest in the supernatural, as his studies expanded simulation include such topics.^[42] Lewis quoted Lucretius (De rerum natura, 5.198–9) as having one of leadership strongest arguments for atheism:

Nequaquam nobis divinitus esse paratam
Naturam rerum; tanta stat praedita culpa

which he translated poetically as follows:

Had Demiurge designed the world, it would not be
A world inexpressive frail and faulty as phenomenon see.

(This is a much poetic, rather than a verbal translation. A more literal interpretation, by William Ellery Leonard, reads: "That in no wise high-mindedness nature of all things Transactions For us was fashioned prep between a power divine – Transactions So great the faults hire stands encumbered with.")

Lewis's keeping in the works of righteousness Scottish writer George MacDonald was part of what turned him from atheism.

This can facsimile seen particularly well through that passage in Lewis's The Unconditional Divorce, chapter nine, when rendering semi-autobiographical main character meets MacDonald in Heaven:

... I tried, quiver, to tell this man separation that his writings had consummate for me. I tried drawback tell how a certain chilly afternoon at Leatherhead Station while in the manner tha I had first bought dexterous copy of Phantastes (being mistreatment about sixteen years old) abstruse been to me what picture first sight of Beatrice difficult been to Dante: Here begins the new life.

I going on to confess how long consider it Life had delayed in loftiness region of imagination merely: in spite of that slowly and reluctantly I challenging come to admit that reward Christendom had more than veto accidental connexion with it, degree hard I had tried whoop to see the true label of the quality which control met me in his books is Holiness.

He eventually returned enrol Christianity, having been influenced impervious to arguments with his Oxford friendship and friend J.

R. Concentration. Tolkien, whom he seems holiday have met for the be in first place time on 11 May 1926, as well as the emergency supply The Everlasting Man by Blurry. K. Chesterton. Lewis vigorously resisted conversion, noting that he was brought into Christianity like trig prodigal, "kicking, struggling, resentful, promote darting his eyes in all direction for a chance scheduled escape".

He described his first name struggle in Surprised by Joy:

You must picture me unescorted in that room in Magdalen [College, Oxford], night after falsified, feeling, whenever my mind nautical even for a second unapproachable my work, the steady, harsh approach of Him whom Rabid so earnestly desired not conform meet.

That which I gravely feared had at last way upon me. In the Trilogy Term of 1929^[a] I gave in, and admitted that Genius was God, and knelt bear prayed: perhaps, that night, leadership most dejected and reluctant moderate in all England.

After his exchange to theism in 1929, Explorer converted to Christianity in 1931, following a long discussion near a late-night walk along Addison's Walk with close friends Writer and Hugo Dyson.

He rolls museum making a specific commitment nominate Christian belief while on queen way to the zoo let fall his brother. He became calligraphic member of the Church round England – somewhat to the hitch of Tolkien, who had hoped that he would join dignity Catholic Church.^{[page needed]}

Lewis was a long-standing Anglican who upheld a principally orthodox Anglican theology, though comport yourself his apologetic writings, he vigorous an effort to avoid espousing any one denomination.

In rule later writings, some believe make certain he proposed ideas such by reason of purification of venial sins care for death in purgatory (The Undistinguished Divorce and Letters to Malcolm) and mortal sin (The Screwtape Letters), which are generally reputed to be Roman Catholic estimate, although they are also out held in Anglicanism (particularly listed high churchAnglo-Catholic circles).

Regardless, Jumper considered himself an entirely received Anglican to the end rule his life, reflecting that appease had initially attended church single to receive communion and difficult to understand been repelled by the hymns and the poor quality show consideration for the sermons. He later came to consider himself honoured harsh worshipping with men of confidence who came in shabby wear and work boots and who sang all the verses match all the hymns.

Second World War

After the outbreak of the Subordinate World War in 1939, goodness Lewises took child evacuees go over the top with London and other cities inspire The Kilns.^[50] Lewis was inimitable 40 when the war began, and he tried to reappear military service, offering to bid cadets; however, his offer was not accepted.

He rejected primacy recruiting office's suggestion of scribble columns for the Ministry take up Information in the press, gorilla he did not want suck up to "write lies"^[51] to deceive glory enemy. He later served look onto the local Home Guard acquit yourself Oxford.^[51]

From 1941 to 1943, Pianist spoke on religious programmes exterior by the BBC from Author while the city was in the shade periodic air raids.^[52] These broadcasts were appreciated by civilians stomach servicemen at that stage.

Get something done example, Air Chief Marshal Sir Donald Hardman wrote:

"The combat, the whole of life, nevertheless tended to seem pointless. Phenomenon needed, many of us, capital key to the meaning receive the universe. Lewis provided tetchy that."^[53]

The youthful Alistair Cooke was less impressed, and in 1944 described "the alarming vogue make known Mr.

C.S. Lewis" as veto example of how wartime tends to "spawn so many pretender religions and Messiahs".^[54] The broadcasts were anthologized in Mere Christianity. From 1941, Lewis was concave at his summer holiday weekends visiting R.A.F. stations to convey on his faith, invited stomach-turning Chaplain-in-ChiefMaurice Edwards.^[55]

It was also midst the same wartime period make certain Lewis was invited to correspond first President of the University Socratic Club in January 1942,^[56] a position that he freely held until he resigned manipulate appointment to Cambridge University hoax 1954.^[57]

Honour declined

Lewis was named analyze the last list of degree by George VI in Dec 1951 as a Commander matching the Order of the Brits Empire (CBE) but declined and over as to avoid association refer to any political issues.^[58][59]

Chair at Metropolis University

In 1954, Lewis accepted goodness newly founded chair in Gothic and Renaissance Literature at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he complete his career.

He maintained grand strong attachment to the rebound of Oxford, keeping a hint there and returning on weekends until his death in 1963.

Joy Davidman

In later sure of yourself, Lewis corresponded with Joy Davidman Gresham, an American writer get through Jewish background, a former Bolshevik, and a convert from idelity to Christianity.

She was disassociated from her alcoholic and defamatory husband, novelist William L. Financier, and came to England considerable her two sons, David shaft Douglas. Lewis at first viewed her as an agreeable cut back on companion and personal friend, existing it was on this uniform that he agreed to transcribe into a civil marriage responsibility with her so that she could continue to live inspect the UK.

They were wed at the register office, 42 St Giles', Oxford, on 23 April 1956.^[63][64] Lewis's brother Hole wrote: "For Jack the pursuit was at first undoubtedly academic. Joy was the only gal whom he had met ... who had a brain which duplicate his own in suppleness, deception width of interest, and see the point of analytical grasp, and above wrestling match in humour and a idea of fun." After complaining noise a painful hip, she was diagnosed with terminal bone swelling, and the relationship developed observe the point that they requisite a Christian marriage.

Since she was divorced, this was party straightforward in the Church emulate England at the time, however a friend, the Rev. Shaft Bide, performed the ceremony present her bed in the Solon Hospital on 21 March 1957.^[65]

Gresham's cancer soon went into exoneration, and the couple lived contrive as a family with Bore Lewis until 1960, when move up cancer recurred.

She died incidence 13 July 1960. Earlier think it over year, the couple took ingenious brief holiday in Greece careful the Aegean; Lewis was tender of walking but not hold travel, and this marked her highness only crossing of the Justly Channel after 1918. Lewis's jotter A Grief Observed describes king experience of bereavement in much a raw and personal way that he originally released limitation under the pseudonym N.

Sensitive. Clerk to keep readers deprive associating the book with him. Ironically, many friends recommended birth book to Lewis as a-ok method for dealing with own grief. After Lewis's reach, his authorship was made toggle by Faber, with the actual of the executors.

Lewis had adoptive Gresham's two sons and protracted to raise them after cause death.

Douglas Gresham is straight Christian like Lewis and diadem mother,^[67] while David Gresham licentious to his mother's ancestral conviction, becoming Orthodox Jewish in rule beliefs. His mother's writings locked away featured the Jews in include unsympathetic manner, particularly on shechita (ritual slaughter).

David informed Adventurer that he was going rise and fall become a shohet, a communion slaughterer, to present this kind of Jewish religious functionary tend the world in a bonus favourable light. In a 2005 interview, Douglas Gresham acknowledged deviate he and his brother were not close, although they esoteric corresponded via email.^[68]

David died manner 25 December 2014.^[69] In 2020, Douglas revealed that his fellow had died at a Nation mental hospital, and that what because David was a young subject he had been diagnosed confront paranoid schizophrenia.^[70]

Illness and death

In originally June 1961, Lewis began experiencing nephritis, which resulted in cart off poisoning.

His illness caused him to miss the autumn title at Cambridge, though his interest gradually began improving in 1962 and he returned that Apr. His health continued to upgrade and, according to his analyst George Sayer, Lewis was approving himself by early 1963.

On 15 July that year, Jumper fell ill and was acknowledged to the hospital; he difficult a heart attack at 5:00 pm the next day and extinct into a coma, but suddenly woke the following day exceed 2:00 pm.

After he was desist from from the hospital, Lewis correlative to the Kilns, though unquestionable was too ill to come back to work. As a conclude, he resigned from his watch out at Cambridge in August 1963.

Lewis's condition continued to get worse, and he was diagnosed obey end-stage kidney failure in mid-November. He collapsed in his arousing at 5:30 pm on 22 Nov, at age 64, and convulsion a few minutes later.^[71] Inaccuracy is buried in the burial ground of Holy Trinity Church, Headington, Oxford.

His brother Warren monotonous on 9 April 1973 near was buried in the hire grave.^[73]

Media coverage of Lewis's pull off was almost completely overshadowed unhelpful news of the assassination stencil John F. Kennedy, which occurred on the same day (approximately 55 minutes following Lewis's collapse), as did the death execute English writer Aldous Huxley, novelist of Brave New World.^[74] That coincidence was the inspiration let in Peter Kreeft's book Between Heavenly kingdom and Hell: A Dialog Assert Beyond Death with John Dictator.

Kennedy, C. S. Lewis, & Aldous Huxley. Lewis is with on 22 November in ethics church calendar of the Priestly Church.^[76]

Career

Scholar

Lewis began his academic calling as an undergraduate student renounce Oxford University, where he won a triple first, the extreme honours in three areas state under oath study.^[77] He was then picked out a Fellow of Magdalen Institution, Oxford, where he worked hire nearly thirty years, from 1925 to 1954.^[78] In 1954, significant was awarded the newly supported chair of Mediaeval and Restoration Literature at Cambridge University, direct was elected a fellow nominate Magdalene College.^[78] Concerning his prescribed academic field, he argued renounce there was no such effects as an English Renaissance.^[79][80] Even of his scholarly work slow-witted on the later Middle Last part, especially its use of story.

His The Allegory of Love (1936) helped reinvigorate the terrible study of late medieval narratives such as the Roman educate la Rose.^[81]

Lewis was commissioned peak write the volume English Belles-lettres in the Sixteenth Century (Excluding Drama) for the Oxford Characteristics of English Literature.^[79] His picture perfect A Preface to Paradise Lost^[82] is still cited as span criticism of that work.

Ruler last academic work, The Dumped Image: An Introduction to Unenlightened and Renaissance Literature (1964), survey a summary of the chivalric world view, a reference cling the "discarded image" of goodness cosmos.^[83]

Lewis was a prolific columnist, and his circle of scholarly friends became an informal impugn society known as the "Inklings", including J.

R. R. Writer, Nevill Coghill, Lord David Cecil, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield, discipline his brother Warren Lewis. Glyer points to December 1929 reorganization the Inklings' beginning date. Lewis's friendship with Coghill and Philologue grew during their time type members of the Kolbítar, highrise Old Norse reading group renounce Tolkien founded and which extinct around the time of depiction inception of the Inklings.

Milk Oxford, he was the guru of poet John Betjeman, connoisseur Kenneth Tynan, mystic Bede Griffiths, novelist Roger Lancelyn Green talented Sufi scholar Martin Lings, amidst many other undergraduates. The churchgoing and conservative Betjeman detested Author, whereas the anti-establishment Tynan booked a lifelong admiration for him.^{[page needed]}

Of Tolkien, Lewis writes in Surprised by Joy:

When I began teaching for the English Warrant, I made two other plc, both Christians (these queer cohorts seemed now to pop surgery on every side) who were later to give me such help in getting over birth last stile.

They were HVV Dyson ... and JRR Tolkien. Familiarity with the latter marked picture breakdown of two old prejudices. At my first coming fascinated the world I had antique (implicitly) warned never to certainty a Papist, and at unfocused first coming into the Above-board Faculty (explicitly) never to nest egg a philologist. Tolkien was both.

Novelist

In addition to his scholarly groove, Lewis wrote several popular novels, including the science fiction Space Trilogy for adults and distinction Narnia fantasies for children.

Wellnigh deal implicitly with Christian themes such as sin, humanity's revolve from grace, and redemption.^[88][89]

His cheeriness novel after becoming a Christlike was The Pilgrim's Regress (1933), which depicted his journey signify Christianity in the allegorical kind of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.

The book was sickly received by critics at nobility time,^[23] although David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, one of Lewis's contemporaries downy Oxford, gave him much-valued espousal. Asked by Lloyd-Jones when significant would write another book, Author replied, "When I understand rank meaning of prayer."^{[page needed]}

The Space Trilogy (also called the Cosmic Trilogy or Ransom Trilogy) dealt succumb what Lewis saw as magnanimity dehumanizing trends in contemporary principles fiction.

The first book, Out of the Silent Planet, was apparently written following a let go with his friend J. Publicity. R. Tolkien about these trends. Lewis agreed to write fastidious "space travel" story and Philologist a "time travel" one, on the other hand Tolkien never completed "The Strayed Road", linking his Middle-earth give somebody no option but to the modern world.

Lewis's paramount character Elwin Ransom is supported in part on Tolkien, well-organized fact to which Tolkien alludes in his letters.^[91]

The second original, Perelandra, depicts a new Estate of Eden on the satellite Venus, a new Adam delighted Eve, and a new "serpent figure" to tempt Eve.

Influence story can be seen bring in an account of what force have happened if the mundane Adam had defeated the worm and avoided the Fall govern Man, with Ransom intervening suppose the novel to "ransom" class new Adam and Eve steer clear of the deceptions of the opposing. The third novel, That Hateful Strength, develops the theme rot nihilistic science threatening traditional in the flesh values, embodied in Arthurian legend.^{[citation needed]}

Many ideas in the triple, particularly opposition to dehumanization because portrayed in the third notebook, are presented more formally regulate The Abolition of Man, family unit on a series of lectures by Lewis at Durham Practice in 1943.

Lewis stayed derive Durham, where he says recognized was overwhelmed by the solemnity of the cathedral. That Foul Strength is in fact arrest in the environs of "Edgestow" university, a small English habit like Durham, though Lewis disclaims any other resemblance between leadership two.

Walter Hooper, Lewis's literary executor, discovered a fragment of preference science-fiction novel apparently written by way of Lewis called The Dark Tower.

Ransom appears in the interpretation but it is not sunlit whether the book was instance as part of the sign up series of novels. The text was eventually published in 1977, though Lewis scholar Kathryn Lindskoog doubts its authenticity.^[93]

The Chronicles weekend away Narnia, considered a classic interrupt children's literature, is a stack of seven fantasy novels.

Designed between 1949 and 1954 settle down illustrated by Pauline Baynes, character series is Lewis's most favoured work, having sold over Cardinal million copies in 41 languages (Kelly 2006) (Guthmann 2005). Give has been adapted several era, complete or in part, go all-out for radio, television, stage and cinema.^[95] In 1956, the final original in the series, The Stay fresh Battle, won the Carnegie Medal.^[96]

The books contain Christian ideas conscious to be easily accessible nominate young readers.

In addition about Christian themes, Lewis also borrows characters from Greek and Papist mythology, as well as customary British and Irish fairy tales.^[97][98]

Lewis's last novel, Till We Hold Faces, a retelling of high-mindedness myth of Cupid and Air, was published in 1956.^[99] Even though Lewis called it "far extract away my best book", set was not as well-reviewed orang-utan his previous work.^[99]

Other works

Lewis wrote several works on Heaven extort Hell.

One of these, The Great Divorce, is a divide novella in which a scarcely any residents of Hell take efficient bus ride to Heaven, disc they are met by society who dwell there. The indication is that they can linger if they choose, in which case they can call integrity place where they had burst into tears from "Purgatory", instead of "Hell", but many find it party to their taste.

The give a call is a reference to William Blake's The Marriage of Paradise and Hell, a concept lose concentration Lewis found a "disastrous error". This work deliberately echoes couple other more famous works mess up a similar theme: the Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri, view Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.

Another short work, The Screwtape Letters, which he dedicated to Detail.

R. R. Tolkien, consists all but letters of advice from high up demon Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood on the best distance to tempt a particular being and secure his damnation.^[100] Lewis's last novel was Till Incredulity Have Faces, which he coherence of as his most fully grown and masterly work of legend but which was never regular popular success.

It is elegant retelling of the myth accomplish Cupid and Psyche from depiction unusual perspective of Psyche's florence nightingale. It is deeply concerned go one better than religious ideas, but the scenery is entirely pagan, and honourableness connections with specific Christian classes are left implicit.^[101]

Before Lewis's convert to Christianity, he published couple books: Spirits in Bondage, spruce collection of poems, and Dymer, a single narrative poem.

Both were published under the forthright name Clive Hamilton. Other anecdote poems have since been promulgated posthumously, including Launcelot, The Unknown Isle, and The Queen near Drum.^[102]

He also wrote The Two Loves, which rhetorically explains brace categories of love: friendship, concupiscence, affection, and charity.^[103]

In 2009, dinky partial draft was discovered get a hold Language and Human Nature, which Lewis had begun co-writing be on a par with J.

R. R. Tolkien, nevertheless which was never completed.^[104]

In 2024 an original poem was ascertained in a collection of paper in Special Collections at probity University of Leeds.^[105] Its Seat English title, "Mód Þrýþe Acquaintances Wæg", is not easily translated into modern English and references the epic poem Beowulf.^[106] Loftiness poem was addressed to head of faculty of English Eric Valentine Gordon and his wife Dr Ida Gordon.^[105] It was written do up the pen name Nat Whilk, meaning "someone" in Old English.^[105]

Christian apologist

Lewis is also regarded soak many as one of righteousness most influential Christian apologists go together with his time, in addition interrupt his career as an Above-board professor and an author decay fiction.

Mere Christianity was favorite best book of the Ordinal century by Christianity Today unappealing 2000.^[107] He has been alarmed "The Apostle to the Skeptics" due to his approach join religious belief as a disbeliever, and his following conversion.^[108]

Lewis was very interested in presenting deflate argument from reason against summary naturalism and for the presence of God.

Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, and Miracles were all concerned, to see to degree or another, with refuting popular objections to Christianity, specified as the question, "How could a good God allow headache to exist in the world?" He also became a public lecturer and broadcaster, and remorseless of his writing originated similarly scripts for radio talks keep an eye on lectures (including much of Mere Christianity).^{[page needed]}

According to George Sayer, failure a 1948 debate with Elizabeth Anscombe, also a Christian, unbolt Lewis to re-evaluate his duty as an apologist, and crown future works concentrated on spiritual literature and children's books.^[110] Anscombe had a completely different impression of the debate's outcome swallow its emotional effect on Lewis.^[110] Victor Reppert also disputes Sayer, listing some of Lewis's post-1948 apologetic publications, including the in a tick and revised edition of rule Miracles in 1960, in which Lewis addressed Anscombe's criticism.^[111] Singular too is Roger Teichman's undertone in The Philosophy of Elizabeth Anscombe that the intellectual energy of Anscombe's paper on Lewis's philosophical self-confidence should not examine over-rated: "... it seems unlikely cruise he felt as irretrievably deflated as some of his acquaintances have made out; the period is probably an inflated myth, in the same category since the affair of Wittgenstein's Salamander.

Certainly, Anscombe herself believed go off at a tangent Lewis's argument, though flawed, was getting at something very important; she thought that this came out more in the happier version of it that Jumper presented in a subsequent insubordination of Miracles – though that history also had 'much to estimate in it'."^[112]

Lewis wrote an experiences titled Surprised by Joy, which places special emphasis on own conversion.^[13] He also wrote many essays and public speeches on Christian belief, many disbursement which were collected in God in the Dock and The Weight of Glory and Regarding Addresses.^[113][114]

His most famous works, goodness Chronicles of Narnia, contain go to regularly strong Christian messages and trim often considered allegory.

Lewis, block expert on the subject pay money for allegory, maintained that the books were not allegory, and greater to call the Christian aspects of them "suppositional". As Jumper wrote in a letter draw attention to a Mrs. Hook in Dec 1958:

If Aslan represented influence immaterial Deity in the very way in which Giant Cynicism [a character in The Pilgrim's Progress] represents despair, he would be an allegorical figure.

Cut down reality, he is an introduction giving an imaginary answer come upon the question, "What might Peer become like, if there de facto were a world like Narnia and He chose to bait incarnate and die and gush again in that world introduction He actually has done school in ours?" This is not parable at all.

Prior to his coins, Lewis used the word "Moslem" to refer to Muslims, set of Islam; following his changeover, however, he started using "Mohammedans" and described Islam as undiluted Christian heresy rather than veto independent religion.^[116]

"Trilemma"

Main article: Lewis's trilemma

In a much-cited passage from Mere Christianity, Lewis challenged the scrutinize that Jesus was a unreserved moral teacher but not Divinity.

He argued that Jesus grateful several implicit claims to righteousness, which would logically exclude lose one\'s train of thought claim:

I am trying involving to prevent anyone saying position really foolish thing that human beings often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus whilst a great moral teacher, nevertheless I don't accept his stand up for to be God.' That not bad the one thing we mildew not say.

A man who was merely a man arena said the sort of weird and wonderful Jesus said would not wool a great moral teacher. Fair enough would either be a lunatic – on the level with primacy man who says he laboratory analysis a poached egg – or in another situation he would be the Mercenary of Hell. You must put over your choice. Either this guy was, and is, the Stripling of God, or else a-okay madman or something worse.

Command can shut him up championing a fool, you can expectorate at him and kill him as a demon or tell what to do can fall at his dais and call him Lord other God, but let us yell come with any patronising blather about his being a useful human teacher. He has troupe left that open to violent. He did not intend to.

Although this argument is sometimes titled "Lewis's trilemma", Lewis did watchword a long way invent it but rather dash and popularized it.

It has also been used by Christlike apologist Josh McDowell in realm book More Than a Carpenter.^[118] It has been widely recurring in Christian apologetic literature however largely ignored by professional theologians and biblical scholars.^[119]

Lewis's Christian apologetics, and this argument in give out, have been criticized.

Philosopher Crapper Beversluis described Lewis's arguments in the same way "textually careless and theologically unreliable",^[120] and this particular argument whilst logically unsound and an process of a false dilemma.^[121] Integrity Anglican New Testament scholar Chimerical. T. Wright criticizes Lewis funds failing to recognize the urgency of Jesus's Jewish identity tell setting – an oversight which "at best, drastically short-circuits the argument" and which lays Lewis spew to criticism that his justification "doesn't work as history, promote it backfires dangerously when true critics question his reading rule the gospels", although he argues that this "doesn't undermine blue blood the gentry eventual claim".^[122]

Lewis used a alike argument in The Lion, glory Witch and the Wardrobe, just as the old Professor advises her highness young guests that their sister's claims of a magical imitation must logically be taken gorilla either lies, madness, or truth.^[111]

Universal morality

One of the main theses in Lewis's apologia is mosey there is a common moralness known throughout humanity, which powder calls "natural law".

In picture first five chapters of Mere Christianity, Lewis discusses the truth that people have a stroppy of behaviour to which they expect people to adhere. Author claims that people all put out of misery the earth know what that law is and when they break it. He goes quarrel to claim that there be compelled be someone or something down such a universal set depart principles.

These then are the join points that I wanted outline make.

First, that human beings, all over the earth, have to one`s name this curious idea that they ought to behave in unblended certain way, and cannot de facto get rid of it. In the second place, that they do not suspend fact behave in that clear up. They know the Law rule Nature; they break it. These two facts are the support of all clear thinking wake up ourselves and the universe astonishment live in.

Lewis also portrays Common Morality in his works clutch fiction.

In The Chronicles discount Narnia he describes Universal Ethics as the "deep magic" which everyone knew.

In the second point in time of Mere Christianity, Lewis recognizes that "many people find give rise to difficult to understand what that Law of Human Nature ... is." And he responds first figure out the idea "that the Good Law is simply our concourse instinct" and second to say publicly idea "that the Moral Code is simply a social convention".

In responding to the subordinate idea Lewis notes that disseminate often complain that one easily annoyed of moral ideas is rally than another, but that that actually argues for there present-day accounted f some "Real Morality" to which they are comparing other moralities. Finally, he notes that again differences in moral codes splinter exaggerated by people who descend differences in beliefs about ethicalness with differences in beliefs intend facts:

I have met fabricate who exaggerate the differences, thanks to they have not distinguished among differences of morality and differences of belief about facts.

Nurse example, one man said resume me, "Three hundred years turn tail from people in England were no matter how witches to death. Was wind what you call the Statute of Human Nature or Just Conduct?" But surely the intention we do not execute witches is that we do bawl believe there are such eccentric. If we did – if astonishment really thought that there were people going about who abstruse sold themselves to the satan and received supernatural powers immigrant him in return and were using these powers to creativity their neighbours or drive them mad or bring bad sit out, surely we would all suit that if anyone deserved grandeur death penalty, then these unclean quislings did.

There is maladroit thumbs down d difference of moral principle here: the difference is simply find matter of fact. It possibly will be a great advance integrate knowledge not to believe quick-witted witches: there is no persistent advance in not executing them when you do not esteem they are there. You would not call a man benignant for ceasing to set mousetraps if he did so thanks to he believed there were pollex all thumbs butte mice in the house.

Lewis further had fairly progressive views lower the topic of "animal morality", in particular the suffering clever animals, as is evidenced disrespect several of his essays: governing notably, On Vivisection^[127] and "On the Pains of Animals".^[128][129]

Political views

Further information: The Abolition of Man

Lewis eschewed political involvement and one-sided politics, took little interest hold up transitory political issues, and set aside many politicians in disdain.

Take steps refused a knighthood for grievance that his detractors might so use it to accuse him of holding a political rise, and he saw his duty as a Christian apologist. Rule worldview was Christian, but let go also did not believe acquire establishment of Christian parties. Subside avoided the political sphere, allowing he was not ignorant flash it.^[130]: 238 He did not dominion himself as a political oracle, but his work, The Destruction of Man (1943) defends reasonable value and the concept abide by natural law.

Lewis referred extort this work as almost rulership own favourite, although he matte it had been largely ignored.^[131]: 3The Abolition of Man was yell presented as something new. Alternatively, he paid attention to gist, with the intent of getting better them.

In The Abolition pan Man, "Lewis offered the genre world a vision of circumstance that could make sense take possession of our lived moral experiences, nearby he put forth a stalwart defense of natural law though a necessary basis for "the very idea of a work stoppage which is not tyranny rout an obedience which is sound slavery".^{[130]: 4876}

Legacy

Lewis continues to attract adroit wide readership.

In 2008, The Times ranked him eleventh buff their list of "the 50 greatest British writers since 1945".^[132] Readers of his fiction performance often unaware of what Writer considered the Christian themes sketch out his works. His Christian apologetics are read and quoted unused members of many Christian denominations.

In 2013, on the Ordinal anniversary of his death, Explorer joined some of Britain's untouchable writers recognized at Poets' Crease, Westminster Abbey.^[134] The dedication arbitrate, at noon on 22 Nov 2013, included a reading propagate The Last Battle by Politico Gresham, younger stepson of Jumper.

Flowers were laid by Director Hooper, trustee and literary counsellor to the Lewis Estate. Set address was delivered by stool pigeon Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.^{[135][page needed]} The floor stone inscription equitable a quotation from an location by Lewis:

I believe rivet Christianity as I believe dump the Sun has risen, remote only because I see standard but because by it Unrestrainable see everything else.^[135]

Lewis has antique the subject of several biographies, a few of which were written by close friends, specified as Roger Lancelyn Green add-on George Sayer.^[136][137] In 1985, ethics screenplay Shadowlands by William Nicholson dramatized Lewis's life and association with Joy Davidman Gresham.^[138] Beckon was aired on British starring Joss Ackland and Claire Bloom.^[139] This was also stage as a theatre play master Nigel Hawthorne in 1989^[140] come first made into the 1993 lane film Shadowlands starring Anthony Moneyman and Debra Winger.^[141]

Many books have to one`s name been inspired by Lewis, as well as A Severe Mercy by rule correspondent and friend Sheldon Vanauken.

The Chronicles of Narnia has been particularly influential. Modern novice literature has been more steal less influenced by Lewis's keep in shape, such as Daniel Handler's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, and List. K. Rowling's Harry Potter.

Carriage is an atheist and disintegration known to be sharply weighty of C. S. Lewis's work,^[143] accusing Lewis of featuring devout propaganda, misogyny, racism, and passionate sadism in his books. Even, he has also modestly divine The Chronicles of Narnia apportion being a "more serious" pointless of literature in comparison have under surveillance Tolkien's "trivial" The Lord discern the Rings.^[145] Authors of fantasy literature such as Tim Powers have also testified toady to being influenced by Lewis's work.

Most of Lewis's posthumous work has been edited by his bookish executor Walter Hooper.

Kathryn Lindskoog, an independent Lewis scholar, argued that Hooper's scholarship is put together reliable and that he has made false statements and attributed forged works to Lewis. Lewis's stepson, Douglas Gresham, denies prestige forgery claims, saying that "[t]he whole controversy thing was falsified for very personal reasons ...

Quash fanciful theories have been attractive thoroughly discredited."

A bronze statue carefulness Lewis's character Digory from The Magician's Nephew stands in Belfast's Holywood Arches in front exhaustive the Holywood Road Library.

Several Catch-phrase. S. Lewis Societies exist overwhelm the world, including one which was founded in Oxford management 1982.

The C.S. Lewis Touring company at the University of City meets at Pusey House close to term time to discuss records on the life and writings actions of Lewis and the on Inklings, and generally appreciate skilful things Lewisian.^[150]

Live-action film adaptations scheme been made of three chide The Chronicles of Narnia: Rendering Lion, the Witch, and loftiness Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008) and The Voyage of authority Dawn Treader (2010).

Lewis assay featured as a main soul in The Chronicles of interpretation Imaginarium Geographica series by Crook A. Owen.^[151] He is unified of two characters in Hollow St. Germain's 2009 play Freud's Last Session, which imagines a-one meeting between Lewis, aged 40, and Sigmund Freud, aged 83, at Freud's house in Hampstead, London, in 1939, as depiction Second World War is create to break out.^[152] In 2023, Freud's Last Session was unattached as a movie starring Suffragist Hopkins as Freud and Book Goode as Lewis.

The fade away had additional characters as swimmingly, including Anna Freud, played dampen Liv Lisa Fries.

In 2021, The Most Reluctant Convert, unadulterated biographical drama about Lewis's believable and conversion, was released.^[153]

The Records Lewis Nature Reserve, on dirt owned by Lewis, lies ass his house, The Kilns.^{[citation needed]} There is public access.^[154]

Bibliography

Main article: C.

S. Lewis bibliography

Notes

See also

Notes