Multitudes of readers and movie-goers are familiar with the names and writings of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Many are also aware that the two liteMultitudes of readers and movie-goers are familiar with the names and writings of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Many are also aware that the two literary giants were part of a ‘club’ called The Inklings, though they may not know anything about the group. Fewer realize that there were well over a dozen more Inklings, although some have heard of Christopher Tolkien, Charles Williams, and Owen Barfield. Hardly anyone can name all nineteen, and perhaps nobody has read every single thing ever published by every single one of them – except Dr. Diana Glyer.
From the treasure houses of knowledge accumulated over twenty-plus years of meticulous research, Dr. Glyer presents in Bandersnatch a well-balanced blend of trustworthy factual information and thoughtful insight regarding the individuals who were the Inklings, their personal interactions with one another, and both the public and private workings of the group as a corporate body.
The dual nature of this book makes it particularly helpful: it is not only a genuinely good, accessible biography of the Inklings; it is also an excellent, encouraging guidebook for those who wish to follow their example. Each chapter concludes with a succinct “Doing What They Did” summary, and the final section of the book is an epilogue outlining specific steps for starting a writing group.
Bandersnatch is both a significant contribution to Inklings scholarship and a valuable resource on collaborative creativity. I highly recommend it to Inklings lovers as well as writers and other artists seeking to live and create in community.
More than fifty years after his death, the writings of C.S. Lewis continue to instruct and inspire readers ranging from children to accomplished scholMore than fifty years after his death, the writings of C.S. Lewis continue to instruct and inspire readers ranging from children to accomplished scholars. The accusation that Lewis was sexist, or even misogynistic, also remains in circulation after all this time. The issue has been addressed before, but primarily by academics in books for academics, which tend to be somewhat abstruse and cost-prohibitive for the average reader.
Editors Carolyn Curtis and Mary Pomroy Key seek to present a more accessible evaluation of Lewis’s attitude toward women in both his personal life and his literary works, and to examine his continuing relevance in light of current “women’s issues.” To that end, they have collected essays from educators, poets, authors of fiction, popular speakers, a journalist, and a childhood correspondent of C.S. Lewis, as well as some of the most highly respected living Lewis scholars.
The book is divided into five sections, in which contributors offer insight into the women in Lewis’s life, the portrayal of girls and women in his novels, the treatment of the feminine in his poetry, the effect of Lewis’s life and literature on twenty-first century understanding of women’s roles and rights, and the impact his views of women have had on current-generation thinkers.
On the whole, Women and C.S. Lewis offers something of value in each of these areas of interest. In some particulars, however, I believe that the book could have been a good deal better. The sections seem to begin and end abruptly rather than transitioning smoothly, and I see some disparity in the quality of the essays and especially in their relevance to the topic at hand. While all the pieces are informative and reasonably well-written, some decisively outshine others. A few are truly engaging and winsomely persuasive; another few feel rather detached; most fall comfortably in the middle of the spectrum. Most problematic in my opinion are two articles which, while not bad essays, have only the most tenuous connection to women and Lewis.
All in all, however, I believe that Curtis and Key have met their objective in Women and C.S. Lewis, bringing together the perceptions of a wide range of contributors in a volume profitable to both the casual reader and the serious devotee. The strengths of the book outweigh its weaknesses sufficiently for me to recommend it as a worthwhile addition to a well-rounded C.S. Lewis collection. ...more
C.S. Lewis Goes to Heaven is a study guide to be used with The Great Divorce. It is broken down into three main sections, looking at the characters, tC.S. Lewis Goes to Heaven is a study guide to be used with The Great Divorce. It is broken down into three main sections, looking at the characters, the geography, and the theology of Lewis’s story, followed by several appendices.
The strength of this guide lies in the background information it provides on historical figures and literary allusions with which the modern reader may not be familiar. Virtually every such reference in the original text is noted and given at least a thumbnail sketch in the appendices to assist the reader in understanding its significance. Unfortunately, there are a few items for which the entries seem to have been inadvertently omitted. There are also some inconsistencies in the amount of information given for various items, and I don’t quite understand why most of the references were explained in the appendices but a couple were examined at comparatively great length within the main body of the text.
Clark makes some rather confident statements regarding the historical figures he believes Lewis was referring to in The Great Divorce in two instances: he puts forward the theory that Sir Archibald was Arthur Conan Doyle, and the unnamed Artist John Singer Sargent. While he does offer some grounds for his speculation, I feel it is stated somewhat over-strongly given the absence of any actual documentation of Lewis’s thinking and intent. Similarly, I was not completely satisfied with the justification of some of the theological interpretations Clark applied to certain passages; for instance, his reading of Thomas’s comment “Let us also go, that we may die with him” in the story of Lazarus.
All in all, I believe C.S. Lewis Goes to Heaven provides a practical framework for teachers and/or discussion groups to follow, and could be a quite helpful reference for readers of The Great Divorce, especially those who do not have a strong background in classical literature and history, although I have reservations about some of Clark’s assertions. ...more
C.S. Lewis, in addition to being a prolific writer of scholarly works, poems, Christian apologetics, and fiction, carried on extensive correspondence.C.S. Lewis, in addition to being a prolific writer of scholarly works, poems, Christian apologetics, and fiction, carried on extensive correspondence. He considered it a solemn duty to personally answer each of the thousands of letters he received – and not perfunctory, generic, “Thank you for writing; I wish you well.” The responses he penned are truly personal and specific, giving detailed thanks for small gifts, carefully answering questions asked, and thoughtfully addressing whatever issues the writer had mentioned. Although the letters in this volume are directed to children of varying ages, they are not condescending or dismissive; rather, they demonstrate Lewis’ aptitude for maintaining a sincere, child-like outlook and empathy for the concerns of the young.
Quite a few of the missives collected here contain praise and/or constructive criticism for the samples of their own artwork and writing which correspondents had sent Lewis, either as gifts or seeking advice. Another frequent topic is, of course, books: questions and comments about the Chronicles of Narnia and the Space Trilogy, as well as discussion of stories both parties had read and recommendations for further reading.
The fact that these letters were originally written to children by no means indicates that only children will find them interesting. They offer glimpses of the author’s personality, gems of insight, and even practical writing tips that adult readers will appreciate as well.
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