C S Lewis remembered

[Peter_J]

As with Chesterton, I started collecting Lewis in 1965. Amongst his fiction, I particularly like THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH, non-fiction, THE ABOLITION OF MAN.

Hard to pick a favorite, I guess.

GKC

I think I might say Till We Have Faces.

 

[GKC]

I think I might say Till We Have Faces.

Which was Lewis’ own favorite, amongst his fiction. Followed by PERELANDRA.

GKC

 

[Della]

I think I might say Till We Have Faces.

Me too. I make it a point to read that and the space trilogy at least once a year. As I recall, the critics panned TWHF, but I think it’s one of his best works.

 

[GKC]

Me too. I make it a point to read that and the space trilogy at least once a year. As I recall, the critics panned TWHF, but I think it’s one of his best works.

The critics and the readers, as Lewis lamented in several letters, were not as fond of it as he was. Hooper cites a number of positive reviews in C.S. LEWIS: A COMPANION & GUIDE, pp.262-263.

GKC

 

[Della]

The critics and the readers, as Lewis lamented in several letters, were not as fond of it as he was. Hooper cites a number of positive reviews in C.S. LEWIS: A COMPANION & GUIDE, pp.262-263.

GKC

Am I right in assuming that these reviews were peer reviews? It’s a beautiful adaptation of a pagan myth turned it into a masterpiece of Christian literature. I believe that Lewis saw Christian themes in all mythology after he understood that Christianity is the “true myth” that gives meaning to all the others, especially Roman-Greek and Norse mythologies. It’s a pity it isn’t known better and wider read.

 

[GKC]

Am I right in assuming that these reviews were peer reviews? It’s a beautiful adaptation of a pagan myth turned it into a masterpiece of Christian literature. I believe that Lewis saw Christian themes in all mythology after he understood that Christianity is the “true myth” that gives meaning to all the others, especially Roman-Greek and Norse mythologies. It’s a pity it isn’t known better and wider read.

Yes, if by peer review you mean reviews in serious literary venues. The positive reviews cited included one from Chad Walsh, in the New York Herald Tribune Book Review.

Lewis saw truth in much myth, but not necessarily Christianity in each. “…as myth transcends thought, Incarnation transcends myth. The heart of Christianity is a myth is a which is also a fact”.

“Myth Became Fact”, GOD IN THE DOCK.

GKC

 

[Della]

Yes, if by peer review you mean reviews in serious literary venues. The positive reviews cited included one from Chad Walsh, in the New York Herald Tribune Book Review.

Lewis saw truth in much myth, but not necessarily Christianity in each. “…as myth transcends thought, Incarnation transcends myth. The heart of Christianity is a myth is a which is also a fact”.

“Myth Became Fact”, GOD IN THE DOCK.

GKC

Perhaps I should have said that he saw God’s story, fractured and distorted–like a broken mirror’s image, in pagan myths.

 

[GKC]

Perhaps I should have said that he saw God’s story, fractured and distorted–like a broken mirror’s image, in pagan myths.

Yes. But he also saw truths in myths that were not necessarily directly related to Christianity, but still relating an abstraction in terms of the concrete. In the essay I mentioned he used the illustration of trying to grasp some aspect of experienced reality, which fades as we consider it, through discursive reason. He then uses the illustration of Orpheus and Eurydice as an example of a myth which helps grasp the abstraction.

GKC

 

[Athanasiy]

How J.R.R. Tolkien Helped to Lead C.S. Lewis to Faith
goo.gl/qmKc6s

 

[GKC]

How J.R.R. Tolkien Helped to Lead C.S. Lewis to Faith
goo.gl/qmKc6s

And not to neglect Hugo Dyson’s role in all that. See Lewis’ letters to Arthur Greeves, 22 Sep and 1 Oct, 1931. From the latter: "“I have just passed on from believing in God to definitely believing in Christ, in Christianity… My long night talk with Dyson and Tolkien had a great deal to do with it”

 

[Della]

And not to neglect Hugo Dyson’s role in all that. See Lewis’ letters to Arthur Greeves, 22 Sep and 1 Oct, 1931. From the latter: "“I have just passed on from believing in God to definitely believing in Christ, in Christianity… My long night talk with Dyson and Tolkien had a great deal to do with it”

Yes. All three had a classical education of which our modern students are sadly deprived.

In any case, if they hadn’t had a love and knowledge of mythology Tolkien and Dyson wouldn’t have had a reasonable way to get past the “watchful dragons” that were keeping Lewis from accepting the Christian faith. Thank God for that mythology, for a solid education, and the dedicated friendship of two young men not afraid to challenge assumptions and able to use their knowledge to such good effect. The Holy Spirit definitely led that discussion that night. :yup:

 

[GKC]

Yes. All three had a classical education of which our modern students are sadly deprived.

In any case, if they hadn’t had a love and knowledge of mythology Tolkien and Dyson wouldn’t have had a reasonable way to get past the “watchful dragons” that were keeping Lewis from accepting the Christian faith. Thank God for that mythology, for a solid education, and the dedicated friendship of two young men not afraid to challenge assumptions and able to use their knowledge to such good effect. The Holy Spirit definitely led that discussion that night. :yup:

Well said.