The Shadow-Lands of C.S. Lewis: The Man Behind the Movie

by C.S. Lewis, Peter Kreeft (Editor)

Following up the success of the acclaimed movie on C. S. Lewis Shadowlands, this book is the ideal volume for those who want to know more about Lewis and the writings of this great Christian author. Peter Kreeft, a best-selling author in his own right--and one who acknowledges a great personal debt to Lewis--selects and introduces some of Lewis' best-loved works.

Having studied, written about and taught Lewis' writings for years, Kreeft has been able to select and introduce the best of Lewis' vast and varied writings for the benefit of the reader. Kreeft has edited and organized Lewis' writings around the central themes of the movie: Earth (the shadow-lands), Joy (the mysterious longing), Heaven (the land from whih the shadows fall), the Golden Key (how to reach the land of light), and the Problem of Pain. Kreeft also includes the fantasy of George MacDonald (Lewis' acknowledged master) from which the idea of Shadow-lands was derived. For Lewis-lovers, and those who are curious about the man behind the movie, this book will be illuminating and inspiring.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

221 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1994

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.

Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]

Reviews

[Jonathan Duffie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read much of Lewis before, but reading selections of his writing in the manner laid out by Kreeft, reminded me of Lewis’ significance in my life, even from childhood. It reminded me, with each punch of insight and wisdom, how I owe much of my Christian faith and its endurance over the years to the longing I “caught” from hearing my mom read us kids The Chronicles of Narnia. It sent me out into the world with a gut-level hunch of the truth of magic, heaven, and eternity, in the face of which materialism sounds tinny, hollow, and lackluster.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

made me think about the place of desire, and what it points to. I'm still chewing on those ideas.

[Scott Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's really real? Who knows better?

A great collection of short readings from Lewis arranged by 5 themes.

Shadow-lands
Joy
Heaven
The Golden Key
The Problem of Pain

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is out of print it seems but gosh it was incredible and I highly highly highly recommend it!! It’s especially great for someone in the beginner to intermediate range of Lewis knowledge/exposure. And it will fill you with a longing for heaven that is so full of joy and wonder :)

PS: I haven’t seen the movie that sparked this book and you don’t need to in order to read and enjoy it! It’s more about the themes that thread through Lewis’s writings than the movie.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection of Lewis excerpts for Lewis lovers.