Product Description
Language - in its communicative and playful functions, its literary formations and its shifting meanings - is a perennially fascinating topic. C. S. Lewis's Studies in Words explores this fascination by taking a series of words and teasing out their connotations using examples from a vast range of English literature, recovering lost meanings and analysing their functions. It doubles as an absorbing and entertaining study of verbal communication, its pleasures and problems. The issues revealed are essential to all who read and communicate thoughtfully, and are handled here by a masterful exponent and analyst of the English language. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Definitely for Scholars
I bought this book not only because I love C.S. Lewis's apologetic works, but because I am a student of linguistics and classics myself. This book was definitely above my head. It would have helped to be familiar with the authors Lewis so easily references. However, once I had wikipedia-ed the allusions, I discovered the extent of Lewis' genius. This work was not just the histories of the words themselves, but a history of what they meant to people throughout time. I never realized how much a word's meaning was connected to its different connotations. I read this book over a semester, and in that time I became more aware of the words themselves in my other reading. If you are undaunted by how easy Lewis references works you've never heard of, read this book; you will begin to read even modern works in a whole new light.

Rambles of a word lover
Lewis has a curiosity about words and language that I find engaging. Maybe I like this book because I've often found myself focusing on the etymology of words in the dictionary and then doing the same for synonyms of those words. I've done the same with Spanish and Greek words. I like to look for new applications and meanings of familiar words. I like writers who use familiar words in unfamiliar ways to evoke fresh metaphors and connotations. Lewis has a similar fascination with the ways words can be used. It's enchanting to follow his thinking in this book. I can almost imagine sitting in a pub with him and listening to him talk.

A Love for Words
Someone once said that good teachers do not only teach a subject but also impart a LOVE for the subject. This C.S. Lewis certainly did to me through his "Studies in Words." I read the book a while ago, and though I do not remember every detail, a deep love for words and language has been with me ever since.

Naturally the book offers more than mere love for linguistics: it is also a tool for truly appreciating and understanding older literature. By tracing a number of key words through the centuries, C.S. Lewis helps the reader to understand how concepts change and what effect that has on one's understanding of literature.

Lastly, for those who relish C.S. Lewis's other works, "Studies in Words" might prove a fascinating view of yet another facet of Lewis's wide-ranging writings. Full points!

- Jacob Schriftman, Author of The C. S. Lewis Book on the Bible: What the Greatest Christian Writer Thought About the Greatest Book

Tools of Thought
This represents yet aother of Lewises attempts at "grammar" in the medival sense - what words and stories actually mean. As his chapter on "life" shows, we despertly need it.

Interesting
This is a very interesting book, though it is not easy to read.Don't approach it thinking it is a book to be read quickly. . . I feel as though I were sitting in lectures, and I have to read it slowly, to be sure I'm getting all that Lewis is trying to say.If you have an interest in etemology, you'll enjoy this book.Read it in small bits, digest them over a day or two and then read some more! ... Read more

Product Description
There are many Protestants and Catholics who have been deeply affected and spirituality changed by the writings of C.S. Lewis, including many converts to Catholicism who credit C.S. Lewis for playing a significant role in their conversion. But the ironic and perplexing fact is that Lewis himself, while "Catholic" in many aspects of his faith and devotion, never became a Roman Catholic. Many have wondered why.

Joseph Pearce, highly regarded literary biographer and great admirer of Lewis, is the ideal writer to try to answer that question. The relationship of Lewis to the Roman Catholic Church is an important and intriguing topic of interest to both Catholics and Protestants. Pearce delves into all the issues, questions, and factors regarding this puzzling question. He gives a broad and detailed analysis of the historical, biographical, theological, and literary pieces of this puzzle.

His findings set forth the objective shape of Lewis's theological and spiritual works in their relation to the Catholic Church. This well-written book brings new insights into a great Christian writer, and it should spark lively discussion among Lewis readers and bring about a better understanding of the spiritual beliefs of C.S. Lewis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Lewis and Rome
Though well-written and well-researched, the bias of this book put me off.Mr. Pearce chronicles Lewis's friendships with Catholics and his affinities with Catholic theologians and writers, and this is good.My primary objection is his analysis of why Lewis did not convert to the Roman Catholic faith.

Pearce speculates that Lewis did not convert to Catholicism because of his background as a Northern Irish Protestant.This is not a new theory but it is one that Lewis himself denied in Surprised by Joy and most people no longer regard seriously.Pearce also goes on to say that Lewis "kowtowed" to his ancestors and their anti-catholic prejudices.All in all, he draws a portrait of Lewis, in this particular regard, that borders on insult.

He also takes some cheap shots at Protestant notables.He draws a very uncomplimentary portrait, for example, of Richard Baxter, from whom Lewis borrowed the phrase "mere Christianity."And he says odd things such as how it is remarkable that Lewis liked Coleridge's poetry since the Gothicism of it sent so many "down the road to Rome."Of course Coleridge, like Lewis, was a firm Anglican all his life and wrote quite a bit of theology that is still highly regarded by the Anglican church.It often seems Pearce is trolling for anything he can find that will suggest that Lewis was a conflicted, not a committed, Anglican--a thing that is certainly not true.

So the book has a lot of merit in many ways, but it is partisan and theologically slanted.And in this it is often unfair to the memory of C. S. Lewis.

C.S. Lewis bound for Purgatory
CSL most likely is in purgatory:

I bought this book because I am a fan of C.S. Lewis, and still continue to read his writings.He is an interesting character, admired today by Roman Catholic's and Protestants alike.Pearce shows Lewis' humanity in his book.James Dobson called Lewis the "most significant person born in the 20th century" (or something similar to that) at the end of the century.Lewis is seen as the most influential Christian protagonist of the period by many intellectuals, and is quoted weekly in pulpits in America and around the world by evangelicals and Catholics alike.Dr. Francis Collins, head of the human genome project which unraveled DNA in human beings and the author of The Language of God credits his conversion to Christianity to Lewis, as well as a long list of other credentialed intellectuals.

The roman catholic author sets out to show what he feels is the near conversion in Lewis life to Catholicism and why so many Catholics read Lewis's works.However, Lewis, according to the author, could not overcome his "bigotry" and upbringing in childhood, and could "never trust a papist."Lewis even allegedly sought the prayers of others "that the prejudices instilled in me by an Ulster nurse might be overcome", according to an attribution of a Jesuit priest who knew Lewis.The author goes on to quote various Lewis statements and show how close he came to being a catholic, with Lewis's belief in Purgatory, Mass,Confession, and his antipathy to women being ordained as priests, being a few of the more significant beliefs that made Lewis's beliefs kindred with Roman Catholicism.There are speculations by individuals who knew him well in life that if alive today, Lewis would be a catholic.The source quoted by the author is Walter Hooper, a converted (post-Lewis) Roman Catholic , considered to be the most knowledgeable historian of Lewis's life, thoughts, and works.

The author definitely has Roman Catholic bias.He theorizes that a visit to Lewis near the end of his life by J. W. Tolkien, a personal friend and member of the Inklings with Lewis, was made in order to facilitate Lewis conversion to Catholicism, should Lewis have chosen.Tolkien brought his son a Roman Catholic priest:"Considering Tolkien's oft-expressed disappointment that Lewis had never converted to Catholicism, and his belief that Lewis's soul could be endangered should he fail to do so before his death, it is difficult to see his being accompanied by his son as anything other than an illustration of his hope that Lewis, at the last, would finally ask to be received into the Catholic Church."

Resulting from Lewis lifetime reluctance to accept Roman Catholicism, the author concludes that "it is not too fanciful to suggest that he (Lewis) will have to find his way to paradise via Purgatory."Pearce bases his opinion upon correspondence of Lewis to friends before his death:"Lewis was clearly expecting to go there."

I am an American born and raised Christian.I pick up a book like this to search out paths of other souls in the same journey.I attend no church, and find it difficult for all the reasons the author lays out that I really should, for I can't join his. This opened my eyes again to the vast differences between Protestants and Catholics and the feelings on both sides.If the Christian iconoclast Lewis is placed in purgatory by the author, where will the rest of us be?

Excellent
I must first begin by stating that I am reviewing from a Catholic viewpoint.I think this book should be read, however, by Protestants and Catholics alike, just as I have read Protestant material on similar subjects.
C.S. Lewis is admired by many Christians including myself, but it is interesting to see, as a high-church Anglican, why and where he drew the line between his religon and that of Roman Catholics.Looking at his literary work and that of his close friends (including J.R.R. Tolkien, the staunch Catholic), Pearce carefully and honestly examines Lewis' beleifs and clarifies his positions.
It is interesting to see how Lewis really was just a breath away from Catholic beleif, but how very important that breath is.
This book is well-researched and quite enlightening.I enjoyed it and will ceratinly be reading more of Mr. Pearce's work in the future.

Understanding Lewis
It is important to note that Lewis' conversion to Christianity in September of 1931 might not have even come about at all without the presence of an orthodox Catholic by the name of J.R.R. Tolkien.It was Tolkien and Hugo Dyson who were instrumental in persuading Lewis to see Christianity as the "True Myth".One criticism of Pearce's work by a Mr. Hutchins (in Books & Culture) erroneously asserts that Lewis recognized the supposed impossibility of creating the perfect church here on earth, and that it can only be a weak reflection of what is to come.He claims that it is foolish for any church to claim the title of the one true church.The Catholic Church, then, is condemned by Mr. Hutchins as a fraud.It is interesting to note that this view was not shared by C.S. Lewis himself.In fact, Lewis believed in Purgatory, the sacrament of confession, had concerns regarding the morality of birth control (as inferred in a letter to Mrs. Ashton on March 13, 1956), acknowledged the validity of honoring the saints (as discussed in a letter to Mrs. Arnold on June 20, 1952), and placed great significance on the sacrament of communion--referred to by Lewis himself as the "Mass" in a letter--and opposed the ordination of women as priests within the Anglican Church.

What gave Lewis trepidation concerning a move closer to the Catholic Church?While he does mention concern with certain Marian doctrines and elements of church authority,I think Joseph Pearce's insights into the man give us a distinct possibility for his inability to ford the Tiber.Based on the letters of C.S. Lewis and other writings of his, I also would suggest that verses such as Romans 14:21 played an important role.He understood that he was an important religious figure to all Christians, and he did not want to do anything to make his brother stumble, or to jeopardize the wide acceptance of his works.Our motivations for any serious undertaking are seldom black and white, but frequently of a more interwoven nature.While we can't know with any certainty what was within Lewis' heart, it is clear that his concept of faith and the church mirrored most significant aspect of the Catholic Church.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to have a fuller understanding of Lewis' spirtual life.He takes a long look at who Lewis was and what he held true.

Different from Other Books on C. S. Lewis
Many people have had an experience of C. S. Lewis similar to mine.I have read all of his popular works - the space trilogy, Narnia, theological works, essays and letters - several times.However, I have found practically no value in books that attempt to explain Lewis.No one could make him any clearer than he already is.

Joseph Pearce's book is the first exception I have encountered. Pearce focuses on an aspect of Lewis' writing which is genuinely ambiguous - his relationship to the Catholic Church.Reared in the Ulster Protestant milieu, he had a revulsion to Roman Catholicism, which never completely left him.Yet, "papists" (e.g., Chesterton and Tolkien) played a major role in his conversion.And he embraced distinctively Catholic doctrines such as purgatory, the Blessed Sacrament and the impossibility of female priests.

Pearce asks why Lewis never became a Catholic - and whether, like many of his disciples, he would have, if he had lived longer.Although the questions cannot finally be answered, Pearce's lively attempt sheds light on a major aspect of Lewis' thought. ... Read more

Product Description
C. S. Lewis’s classic and bestselling tale, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, is here retold for the youngest fan, with brand new, full-color illustrations that will take you right into the enchanted land of Narnia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Middle School Teacher Librarian
This book was purchased for my ELD 1-2.It has not been on the shelves.

Beautiful Illustrations
This beautifully illustrated book was one of the offerings at the gift shop connected with the Children's Theater in Minneapolis.My granddaughter wanted this book, but when the performance was over, the gift shop had closed (strange marketing decision), so I was happy to find it on Amazon.com. This is not the original text, but a retelling suitable for younger children.

Wonderful retelling of the story for younger kids
My almost 6 year old really wanted to watch the movie but is prone to night mares so we said no. She was very interested in the story that she heard from friends and wanted to say she knew it too. We found this book and are both thrilled. It's a wonderful retelling of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It takes less than 10 minutes to read out loud and the illustrations are fantastic, very beautiful. It's very true to the actual story, just shorter and ideal for younger kids. I'd say 4-7 old range. We highly recommend this book for the younger kids interested in Narnia but not yet ready for the longer chapter book or movie.

milestone in a life
Everyone needs to buy the book Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe the first in C.S. Lewis' series The Chronicles of Narnia. The story begins with the introduction of four children named Edmund, Lucy, Susan, and Peter. They have to move to a new house because of the air-raids in London during World War II. While playing hide and seek, Lucy, the youngest of the four, finds a wardrobe that leads her into another world. When she returns no one believes her tale. Then, one day all the children go into the wardrobe and end up on a wonderful adventure. In the journey the children try to save Narnia from the White Witch. Can they do it?Read this book to find out. People who like to read tales of magic and adventure will love this book.

Captivating
My three year old daughter is captivated by this intriguing and beautifully illustrated rendition of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This book has sparked her imagination beyond words! She talks about the "white witch" during the day, and the poor Mr. Tumnus turned to stone, and is enchanted by every page of this book. We read it every night, every single word. I do not find the text broken up and difficult to follow. The pauses that occur from one page to another allow discussion of the book and create eager anticipation! It has also sparked conversation about God. I really can't say enough good things and encourage all readers to delight in this fantastic fantasy. ... Read more

Product Description
What did C. S. Lewis think about truth, goodness and beauty?

Fifteen essays explore three major philosophical themes from the writings of Lewis--Truth, Goodness and Beauty. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of Lewis's philosophical thinking on arguments for Christianity, the character of God, theodicy, moral goodness, heaven and hell, a theory of literature and the place of the imagination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Truth, Goodness, and Beauty: Truth in Advertising
'C. S. Lewis as Philosopher: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty' is a valuable contribution to the critical literature of a neglected aspect of Lewis' work. Owen Barfield once said that everything Lewis thought was evident in anything he wrote; to get at the heart of his popular fiction, juvenile and adult, and his Christian apologetics, the Lewis reader needs to understand at least in part Lewis' philosophic positions because he was, by training and at least partially by disposition, a philosopher.

This collection of essays delivers on its promised explorations of Lewis' ideas about 'Truth, Goodness, and Beauty' in the breadth of its explorations, the depth and cogency of its arguments, the beauty of the book inside and out, and the clarity and crispness of the prose, which, though written predominantly by professional philosophers, is mercifully free of academic jargon.

Three essays I enjoyed very much and which stretched my thinking as well as my understanding and appreciation of Lewis were Victor Reppert's 'Update on Lewis' Argument from Reason,' Gregory Bassham's 'On the Power of the Imagination,' and Peter Kreeft's opening work on 'Truth, Goodness, and Beauty' that sets the engaging, challenging tone of the collection. What I learned from this fraction of the whole (a fifth!) justified many times the cost of the book.

Again, Lewis as Philosopher and Lewis as Social Critic are the neglected aspects of this brilliant Renaissance Man (as much as the Medievalist might have disliked that term). 'C. S. Lewis as Philosopher' is a valuable addition to the growing awareness of this don and his relevance in understanding virtue, art, and reality. I recommend it with enthusiasm to individuals who are serious readers of CSL and to libraries and schools with collections of Lewis' books, critical and fictional. This is a text to help the neophyte and scholar to a greater appreciation of those books.

C.S. Lewis: Views From Wake Forest

C.S. Lewis & Philosophy As a Way of Life ... Read more

Product Description

Clear and Compelling Reasoning From the Master Apologist

First delivered as an informal radio address during World War II to bring hope to an embattled public, The Case for Christianity is C.S. Lewis's artful and compelling argument for the reasonableness of Christian faith. Dividing his case into two parts, "Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe" and "What Christians Believe," Lewis uses all the powers of his formidable wit and logic and the strength of his convictions to shed light on this most important subject. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Brilliant and Insightful
I started reading this book out loud to my children to help strengthen their understanding of Christianity.Little did I know when I began how much it would strengthen my own faith and understanding as well!I love his clear and common sense approach to explaining things.I especially liked his analogy of training a puppy to be a beloved member of the family in his comparison of the natural state and the transformed state. I disagreed with only one small section of the book, that being his reasoning that beasts do not go to heaven because they don't have emotions.Having owned many pets over they years I know they absolutely do express emotion.And there are also verses (particularly in the old testament) that suggest animals do go to heaven. But this discrepancy is not sufficient to drop the rating, in my opinion. Some people have said to me that they heard C.S. Lewis was too "cerebral" but I found it to be refreshing and insightful. I highly recommend it to anyone who has struggled with "How do you know for sure that Christianity is the right answer?" or anyone who just wants to dig deeper into the Christian faith.

The jury is in, Christ is the center of the universe
C. S. Lewis gives us food for thought in this book written in 1951.

Lewis is asking us to look beyond the mind and open ourselves to the dwelling of Christ's spirit living within each one of us.We have to take off our blinders, let go of our masks and our ego centered self.

Many authors have explained this phenomenon of looking within and letting go of our own egos.John Sanford in his book The Kingdom Within: The Inner Meaning of Jesus' Sayings.Leo Tolstoy The Kingdom of God is Within You.Eckhart Tolle Stillness Speaks.

Our journey continues, let us become one with Christ and share in His vision of a new earth.Christ is counting on us.

Interesting
This little book is a quick, fun read but by no means (as another reviewer rendered it) a complete refutation of atheism. Theology is a deep and wide chasm draped in intricate propositions ad infinitum; and Lewis' book is definitely too miniscule to bridge the gap unless a real appreciation for the complexity of the situation is completely abscent in the seeker. Essentially, this text serves readers well in that it surreptitiously conducts the reader to an intellectual destination that seems simple enough, only to find out upon further investigation that Lewis' arguments are perhaps too simplistic after all.

For example, Lewis asserts the unimaginable claim that one of the reasons he believes in the Christian revelation is because the biblical claims and story retain such uniqueness as to be impossible to have been just made up. Christianity to Lewis isn't a fairytale but seems more like a real 'boy's religion"--that is, he makes an argument from its supposed realism. However, many religions are unique (there is no valid argument here) but to his credit, he is correct in identifying Christianity as an historical religion. But any student of the New Testament knows that the historicity found there is really a misinterpretation of the Judaic tradition and whatever new that appears in the NT is dug out of the Hebrew Bible out of context and character. To make things a bit more complicated, none of the NT writers (Apostles) qoute the Hebrew Bible correctly. In sum, even the supposed unique quality of Christianity rests on a myriad of propositions that are irreconcilable with the facts of the history they claim as their basis.

Another disappointment of Lewis' tract is its invalid reasoning. His main argument is that when two men argue, they both appeal to some moral law beyond themselves--a Third Man--so to speak to which both plaintiff and defendant acquiesce. There is a Standard, a Bench before which and to which all moral arguments concerning fairness is brought. "Such and such is unfair because we all know what fairness is." And since the material world, being simply a mindless, deterministic machine, cannot believe in a right or wrong. Therefore, there is a something outside the physical world that is getting in. This something he says is the Triune God of Christian brand of theism. The invalidity of this process of reasoning is obvious to the trained eye. It fails at the most important juncture: even if we were to agree that something "from without the physical universe" was getting in, no necessary connection exists between this Something and the Trinity. Lewis is attempting to prove too much or infer too much from the observed facts. It is true that human beings argue about right and wrong. But it is also true that human beings will appeal to anything to gain an advantage in any situation. Some appeal to the Qu'ran, others to the Bible and yet others to papal pronouncements and so on as a final standard. And, if two people do not agree to the authority of some final standard, then there is no reconciliation. The bottom line is that every attempt to ground Christianity upon cosmological arguments always fails because we cannot infer anything beyond what is given in the observed facts themselves.

An Excellent Apologetic for Christianity
The Case for Christianity functions much as a microcosm of the theology of C.S. Lewis.This small book is an excellent introduction to the thought of C.S. Lewis which is heavily centered on the claims of morality in the face of materialistic philosophy.Primarily, the first half is a defense against this type of thought, ending on an invocation to understand that Christianity fills the void primarily because of its answer to the problem of the Fall.

The second half of the text is a very brief outline of Christian dogma.While it does not hit many points (and does not promise to do such), it does hit the major points of Christianity.His contrast Christianity to Dualism and refutation of Dualism are succinct and very good.Additionally, he stresses the all-important fact that Christianity is about Christ's person (and work -- i.e. life/death/resurrection) as well as his teaching, and that it is precisely in His person/work that Christianity is differed from other religions/philosophies.My only qualm is with his view of the importance of various understandings of the Cross.He purports that is only faith in the fact that the Cross was effective that is important and that it is not important to be concerned with the images/understandings thereof.As a Catholic, I truly think that one can (to a degree) understand the soteriological aspects of the Crucifixion and that they do express truths.However, Lewis foresees this Catholic view and even explains how the Catholic view is not different from his by great degrees, for we still acknowledge that the Crucifixion itself is still greater than all explanations thereof.

This is an excellent apology for Christianity that I suggest to all who wish to see a brief glimpse of the mind of C.S. Lewis.

This book is a jewel
This 56 page book by C. S. Lewis is a jewel. C. S. Lewis says that God gave us conscience -- a sense of right and wrong. As a car is made to run on petrol, God designed the human machine to run on Himself. Lewis says that when you argue for or against God, you are arguing with the very power that allows you to have any reasoning at all. Then Lewis tells how God chose a particular people(Jews) and showed them who He was and hammered into them right conduct. Then among those Jews, Jesus lands on an enemy-occupied world in human form. His death puts us right with God and gives us a fresh new start if we repent. Lewis tells us very succinctly how the death of Christ is just that point in history at which something absolutely unimaginable from outside shows through into our own world.
... Read more

Product Description
In seven witty, lucid, tough-minded essays, Lewis considers questions that challenge the faith of modern Christians. He discusses such topics as the efficacy of prayer, the various uses of the phrase “I believe,” the religious implications of life on other planets, the meaning of words like “culture” and “religion,” and the idea of the Second Coming.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Worlds Last Night Review
Excellent series of articles by CS Lewis with his usual incisive views of Christianity. Highly recommend.

Great Book
I picked this book up a few years ago before I knew much about God and belief. This was a few years before I got into apologetics, theology, and philosophy. However, I 'rediscovered' it in a box of books out in my garage last week and started flipping through it. To be quite honest, I don't remember a single thing I'd read in this book a few years back but I did see my underlinings, notes, and water wear to show that I indeed had gone through it.

I started with the essay 'The Efficacy of Prayer' and I can only say, "Wow!" It really helps put some things in perspective that I have a hard time explaining to people. Indeed prayer is not a 'magic' but a 'request'.

If you can handle Lewis' prose and style of writing - which isn't hard to do for most - you will love this book. He comes at the topics in honesty and examines them quite well. To some extent I believe the essay 'The Obstinacy of Belief' is a little dated, but only for people who understand the overwhelming evidence for Christianity.

Highly recommend. You will not be let down.

The World's Last Night: And Other Essays
If you want a brief introduction to Clive Staples Lewis's thoughts on several different subjects before you attempt his array of books, then this is a good book to start.In seven essays he covers a gamut of topics-prayer, belief, culture, evil, evolution, works, life on other planets, and the Second Coming of Christ.

Being a devout Anglican, after being a devout atheist, Professor Lewis combines his teaching skills, medieval literary background and writing skills to convey a lot of theology about the nature of things in these essays.Of course, you will not agree with everything this gentleman wrote, but it should cause you to reflect upon what you believe.

Professor Lewis wrote and spoke on a number of subjects.It is very true that he was a Christian Apologist, but he was a professor of English holding the prestigious Professor of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge.

He was best friends with J. R. R. Tolkien of the Lord of the Rings fame.It is a certainty that these two literary masters would sit around tossing out ideas and stories which became the foundation of their lasting popularity, even though, Tolkien did not care for the Chronicles of Narnia.

Here are three quotations from these essays:

"I have wondered before now whether the vast astronomical distances may not be God's quarantine precautions.They prevent the spiritual infection of a fallen species from spreading."

"The doctrine of the Second Coming teaches us that we do not and cannot know when the world drama will end."

"What modern Christianity find it harder to remember is that the whole of humanity in this world is also precarious, temporary, provisional."

A Perfect Sampler
The World's Last Night is by no means the most comprehensive collection of Lewis' essays available and each has been published elsewhere. Nonetheless, this collection might best be described as a wonderful sampler. That is, within this compilation Lewis touches on a variety of subjects ranging from the, perhaps, more commonly contemplated questions with regard to The Efficacy of Prayer to those questions which arise due to the possibility of life on other planets as they perceivably pertain to Christianity. This collection also includes Lewis' effort to portray the battle between good and evil from the perspective of his famous character Screwtape in Screwtape Proposes a Toast. It is rounded out by essays that challenge the reader to consider the affect of government and society on Christian life at any given time. So while The World's Last Night might not be the best or most comprehensive collection of Lewis' work, it can be viewed as a comparatively cheap alternative to receive just enough variety to really whet one's appetite for a full portion of C.S. Lewis.

I Really Liked the Book
"The World's Last Night: And Other Essays contains a number of C.S. Lewis's short essays and a Screwtape addition (I could be mistaken but I believe his wife did that one).The essay "Lillies that Fester" was interesting as it mocked the ideal of looking cultured and the Screwtape addition was pretty good (I considerably enjoyed and recommend the original book "The Screwtape Letters" as well).The most interesting essay was probably "Religion and Rocketry dealing with what might happen if life was discovered in the cosmos.The essay "The World's Last Night" deals with the Second Coming and was a good read itself.Overall an interesting collection that I recommend. ... Read more

Product Description
The first book written by C.S. Lewis after his conversion, The Pilgrim's Regress is the record of Lewis's own search for meaning and spiritual satisfaction, a search that eventually led him to Christianity. This brilliant, Bunyanesque allegory tells a fascinating story and constitutes an effective Christian apologia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Amazing book I had no idea about
I've always enjoyed the works by C.S. Lewis. I had never heard of this book and stumbled upon it when my brother had it setting out. So by chance I began reading it and really enjoyed it. This is one of my favorite books now. It is an extended allegory of C.S. Lewis' conversion. A young reader might find some of the metaphors slightly perplexing. Love this book though!

The book is a great Sequel to Pilgrim's Progress
From start to finish the characters explore the depth of himanity, in a sureal way. Displaying reality in a case of fiction. It is a great read, take it slow.

Pilgrim Regress
I highly recommend this book but it was very different from anything that I have previously read. The best thing about this book is that it reads a little like a mystery and at the same time has parallels and analogies for life.

Not Lewis' best work, but well worth reading for Lewis fans
This is an interesting allegory along the lines of Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" which seems to depict Lewis' own spiritual and philosophical journey. Average readers (like me) may not pick up on some of the symbolism here, but there is enough of interest for Lewis fans (like me) to make it well worth reading (in spite of the bad poetry). Don't skip the preface (to the 3rd edition) as it provides some good insight to the story and an important explanation of Lewis' concept of "romanticism" and what he means by "joy" in the sense of "longing" or "desire" which cannot be entirely satisfied in this life. I think my favorite part was John's conversation with Reason in the chapter "Esse is Percipi" where we are reminded that the real world of our being hasn't all that much to do with our material existence the physical makeup of our bodies.

Pilgrim's Regress
It's everything I expected. I read it originally about 50 years ago, and had forgotten much of it. But the central message was still loud and clear. ... Read more

Product Description

As I walked away from New Buildings, I found the man that Lewishad called "Tollers" sitting on one of the stone steps in front ofthe arcade.

"How did you get on?" he asked.

"I think rather well. I think he will be a most interestingtutor to have."

"Interesting? Yes, he's certainly that," said the man, who Ilater learned was J. R. R. Tolkien. "You'll never get to the bottomof him."

Over the next twenty-nine years, author George Sayer's firstimpression about C. S. Lewis proved true. He was interesting; buthe was more than just that. He was a devout Christian, giftedliterary scholar, best-selling author, and brilliant apologist.Sayer draws from a variety of sources, including his closefriendship with Lewis and the million-word diary of Lewis'sbrother, to paint a portrait of the man whose friends knew asJack.

Offering glimpses into Lewis's extraordinary relationships andexperiences, Jack details the great scholar's life at the Kilns;days at Magdalen College; meetings with the Inklings; marriage toJoy Davidman Gresham; and the creative process that produced suchworld-famous works as the classic Chronicles of Narnia, MereChristianity, and The Screwtape Letters.

This book is an intimate account of the man who helped-andthrough his works, continues to help-generations hear andunderstand the heart of Christianity.

Customer Reviews (18)

A must read for Lewis fans...
I have been a C.S. Lewis fan for many years, but always wanted to know more about the man and his personal history beyond what I could decipher from 'Surprised by Joy' and some of his other books. Sayer's book was excellent - well written, thoroughly researched and documented (the bibliography is a library in itself) and seemed to include the very details that I wanted to know. It was written with the warmth of a friend who knew Lewis but at the same was committed to an honest evaluation and assessment of some of the darker sides of 'Jack', Jack's father, and his brother Warren. For me as an American reader it also included enough explanation of certain things (like the school situation at the time of Lewis's youth, the college arrangements when he became a fellow, etc.) that I was able to better understand how some of the pieces of the history fit together. I enjoyed every single chapter - Sayer is a truly capable writer in his own right and I would consider this book a must-read for any Lewis fan.

One off the best biographies of C S Lewis
Of all the biographies, I have found this one, to be the best. I had read Douglas Gresham's book- and found it too simplistic.Not to mention, the copy editing was bad- there were several spelling errors in the book.
This book, looks at Lewis from the standpoint of a friend, yet, also someone who sought to show the true "Jack" Lewis.

Pretty Good
Insightful. Not as flattering and complimentary as it could have been considering the relationship of the writer to the subject, which is good. Well written, a good read. well worth the money.

Excellent Biography
It has been said that a great biography requires that the biographer respect and love his subject.Sayer certainly meets that requirement.As a friend and former student of Lewis', he is able to offer unique anecdotes and a personal perspective to illuminate his subject.He is also a student of literature, so that he is able to comment on Lewis' work in a professional and sometimes incisive manner.I particularly enjoyed the fact that he includes an Afterword in which he answers the most common questions he has received as one of Lewis' principal biographers.He also includes information which does not always reflect favorably on Lewis.While he loves Lewis the book is not idolatrous.He sees him as a living, breathing, flawed, but wonderful human being.My only problem with the book lies in the fact that Sayer does not linger over dates.From time to time the reader has to reconstruct the narrative by repositioning the book's events within specific years and decades.This is not a major problem, but it is a problem.All in all, this is an engaging study of an engaging subject.Highly recommended.

The Tao of Lewis.
C. S. Lewis is one of the most well known Christians in modern history.I've read a couple of books about his relationship with Joy Davidman, so I figured it was time to check out a biography that spotlighted Mr. Lewis' entire life."Jack" (Lewis' nickname) had the most accolades, so after warming up with the lighter fare of "Jack's Life" by his stepson, I dove into this book.

George Sayer is a former student of Mr. Lewis', and he delivers a fascinating portrait of his mentor from birth to death.He also provides context by detailing the national background, family life, and period of history that shaped Jack.In addition, Mr. Sayer discusses a number of Jack's books, the creative process he used, and how the public initially received them (including book reviewers).Despite his distinguished academic credentials, the author writes in a manner accessible to the layman reader.I never felt bogged down, or condescended to, by his writing style.

Some have accused the author of sugarcoating C. S. Lewis' life.Yes, Mr. Sayer wrote as a friend, and therefore wasn't out to write a sordid expose.But neither does he claim that Jack peed rosewater.For example, I had no idea that Mr. Lewis struggled with sadomasochistic fantasies and masturbation as a young man.He also smoked and drank quite heavily, habits that many churches don't hold in high esteem.In addition, the author doesn't shy away from discussing some of the charges against Mr. Lewis' character, such as the possibility of a homosexual relationship with his lifelong friend Arthur, and whether or not he and Mrs. Moore were lovers.I'm not sure what kind of dirt would erase the charge of whitewashing, but I felt that Mr. Sayer made Jack appear pretty down-to-earth.That is, except for Jack's statement that sexual fantasy can be "fairly easily overcome with prayer and fasting (p. 415)."The "fairly easily" part is a bit much for me to swallow (or perhaps a bit too convicting for comfort).

Along those lines, I was intrigued, and a bit confused, by one aspect of Mr. Lewis' character: his distain for introspection and fantasizing.Jack considered heroic and romantic fantasy to be counterproductive, because in his eyes their self-centered focus prevented one from obtaining renown and love in real life.He even wrote a poem, "Dymer," that illustrated the dangers of forsaking reality for a dream world.As for introspection, he felt it was a danger to one's mental health.However, many of his works prompt readers toward both pitfalls.I couldn't help being somewhat introspective after reading "The Great Divorce" and "The Screwtape Letters."And who hasn't fantasized about charging into battle at Aslan's side while immersed in the Chronicles of Narnia?Of all Lewis' views, this is the one I'd like to investigate further because of my own disposition towards navel-gazing and daydreaming.Jack's views on the consequences of these actions are especially relevant in an age where pornography is a mouse click away, and one can live life vicariously through reality shows and online computer games.

An unexpected result of reading this book was that I gained a greater interest in the life of Jack's older brother Warren.Both "Jack's Life" and "Jack" paint Warren as a tragic figure who did not live up to his potential.Yes, he was a raging alcoholic whose ambition did not equal Jack's.But considering that Warren served as an army officer in both World Wars, had a number of books published, and helped organize his brother's chaotic schedule, I can't help feeling that both authors were a bit hard on him.Perhaps he could've done better, but he also might've turned out a lot worse.I've always had a soft spot for the underdog.

At any rate, I came away from "Jack" with more respect for C. S. Lewis as a person and a Christian.He's more accessible to me now, and I have a better appreciation for his ideas.And the insights into his character have challenged me to examine and evaluate my own shortcomings.I recommend that you read this book in conjunction with "C.S. Lewis & Francis Schaeffer: Lessons for a New Century from the Most Influential Apologists of Our Time," by Scott R. Burson and Jerry L. Walls.It provides a portrait of Lewis' doctrinal positions that might surprise you (as it did me). ... Read more

Product Description

The life and mind of C. S. Lewis have fascinated those who have read his works. This collection of his personal letters reveals a unique intellectual journey. The first of a three-volume collection, this volume contains letters from Lewis's boyhood, his army days in World War I, and his early academic life at Oxford. Here we encounter the creative, imaginative seeds that gave birth to some of his most famous works.

Customer Reviews (6)

Boxed set, yet incomplete!
Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis - Box Set

Just a warning for future customers: I ordered and received a boxed set of two volumes of C.S. Lewis's letters in paperback format in the reasonable assumption that it was complete, but it was not. The work was published in three volumes (I family letters, II books, broadcasts and the war, and III Narnia, Cambridge and Joy), but someone along the way (certainly NOT the bookseller I bought it from) found it necessary to join the two first volumes in a boxed set, with the misleading suggestion that some abbridged version in two volumes was offered. I bought it for what I thought was a good price, to find out that I had to order the remaining third volume separately. It still baffles me how anyone can publish two of any three volume set in one box, but here it is. There was simply not enough information in the Amazon Basin to warn me of this inconsistency.
I do not know if there are boxed sets containing all three volumes. In any case, BEWARE OF THIS INCOMPLETE CAT IN THE BAG.
Duchiffre

Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis - Box Set
The books arrived in perfect shape and quickly. Anyone who loves C.S. Lewis will love these books. They are very long and I have to admit that I don't read every word but there are some real gems hidden among the letters he wrote to his brother and colleagues.

C.S. Lewis Collection
Great service.Books in perfect condition.Extremely pleased with these items. But you are making this review much too complicated.All I want to say is I am pleased with my purchase and do not care to go through a dozen screens to do this nor do I want other names attached to my review.
Why are you attaching karl hatten sr to MY review?

What a life, what a mind, what a faith
CS Lewis and his work come alive in a new and very personal way, thanks to Walter Hooper's impressive efforts in compiling CSL's extant correspondence.For the Christian, Lewis's letters become more interesting and relevant after his conversion (i.e. when volume 2 begins), but even in volume 1 there are hints of what is to come, and also the reassurances that Lewis is a fallible, sinful man who has, like all of us, much to overcome.

Two of the greatest impressions on me:first, his generosity of spirit, giving advice and expressing humility while doing it, to almost anyone who would write him asking for help.Second, the superiority of learning from such a man and such a system as existed in Oxford and the other great universities, where personal contact and learning from personalities was the norm, rather than the poor substitutes we have today with so-called "social networking" and "online learning."

This collection has much to offer to anyone interested in Lewis as an educator, as a literary critic, as a novelist, as a poet, as a Christian apologist, or simply as a Christian.Most highly recommended.In fact, I will be giving this as a gift to people I cherish.

Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis-Boxed set
The letters are wonderful in gaining insights into the person of C.S. Lewis.They are letters to friends and family with more humor than I expected.If you're looked for something in the way of short "bed-time" stories, this is it.Hours and hours of relaxing, yet, informative reading.I recommend it to any and all C.S. Lewis fans. ... Read more

Product Description
In this engaging book David Clark guides the reader through the theology of CS Lewis and illuminates the use and understanding of scripture in the works of this popular author.

• Examines his life, work, world view, and the implications of his theology in relation to his other writings
  
• Looks at Lewis’ beliefs on the topics of redemption, humanity, spiritual growth, purgatory, and resurrection
  
• Examines the different perspectives on Lewis and his work: as prophet, evangelist, and as a spiritual mentor
  
• Explores the range and influence of Lewis’ work, from the bestselling apologetic, Mere Christianity, to the world-famous Chronicles of Narnia
  
• Features specially-commissioned artwork throughout
  
• Written in an accessible style for general readers, students, and scholars, and will introduce Lewis’ theology to a wider audience.

Customer Reviews (2)

Great reference and overview of Lewis' works
As a C.S. Lewis fan and Evangelical Christian I found Clark's book a great overview and summary for the works I have enjoyed as well as works I have not yet read, such as Lewis' Sci-Fi trilogy. I appreciated the list of references in the front of the book and still have it marked for reference. It is an extremely easy read and flows well.

Clark's organization of the book worked for me. The layout helped me prioritize which Lewis works I will read next and what I will pay attention to. This book has helped me obtain a great overview of how all these works tie together, some links between the various works themselves, some how they link to events in Lewis' life, and most importantly how they link to how God "may" work.

"Lewis and Clark" have been used to really solidify my beliefs as a Christian; Provided logical, viable "answers" (that suit me) to many of the very difficult life questions we all must answer in some way. Ironically, just as the historical explorers Lewis and Clark opened up new frontiers for exploration and documented the "unknown" so have C.S. Lewis and David G. Clark.

A New Guiding Star in the Lewisian Sky!
WOW! A new star has risen in the Lewisian sky! This little book is packed full of good stuff, and will save the reader many years of study. Sure, there are many good Lewis books already in print; Hooper has done a great job of collecting the correspondence of Lewis, and making available many other works. The biographers have had their say. So what does Dr. Clark offer?

Well, it's widely known that Lewis was a scholar of English literature and has become a mentor to many readers through his insights into practical Christian living. But he has much more to offer. Lewis was an astute reader of Scripture and he pieced together many Biblical texts to form a coherent theology. Why? Because the Bible was the authoritative source for him, and Christ was mankind's hope of salvation.

This brings us to Dr. Clark, a professor under whom I have had the privilege to study for several years. He has studied the works of Lewis for nearly forty years, and has taught courses on Lewis on the college, seminary and graduate levels for more than thirty years.

That's only half the picture; his field is Biblical Studies, particularly New Testament and Greek. Armed with a PhD in Biblical Studies from the University of Notre Dame, and ordained by the Assemblies of God, he is able (as few are) to explain Lewis, locate the Biblical texts he uses, correct him when necessary (rarely), and draw out the amazing implications of his theology in a way that everyone can understand. Take Chapter 6, for example.

Here Dr. Clark explains how Lewis came up with a convincing solution to what may be the greatest stumbling block of Christianity. If Christ is the only way of salvation, is it just of God to reject untold millions who never heard the good news of the gospel simply because they happened to live in pre-Christian cultures? Lewis has the answer, and Dr. Clark is the first, as far as I know, to reveal it and explain it so well.

This is powerful stuff; millions today struggle with this theological problem and would welcome what Lewis believed if only they knew him beyond The Chronicles and Screwtape. Finally they can; "Lewis and Clark" should be on Oprah, and discussed by Dennis Praeger! And that's just one chapter! Buy this book! You'll be glad you did! As you read through this enlightening work, you will agree with me: your money and time have been invested--not spent!


... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Contents
The Foreword for this book was written by Thomas Howard.Clyde Kilby wrote chapter one, "The Creative Logician Speaking" (which includes his personal memories of Lewis), Walter Hooper wrote "To the Martlets" (including some of his memories of Lewis and discussing a literary society to which Lewis belonged during his early years at Oxford), Stuart Barton Babbage writes of Lewis's wartime speeches in "To the Royal Air Force", George Bailey shares many Lewis recollections with his "In the University", long time friend Owen Barfield tells what Lewis was like "In Conversation", and Carolyn Keefe writes two chapters about Lewis's broadcasts, "On the Air" and "Notes on Lewis's Voice".This collection is enjoyable reading for Lewis enthusiasts.

Good reading for Lewis fans
The contributors to this book of essays - most of whom knew Lewis - have put together a nice volume of thoughtful comments about the man and his work.Good reading for Lewis fans. ... Read more

Product Description
A distinguished academic, influential Christian apologist, and best-selling author of children's literature, C. S. Lewis is a controversial and enigmatic figure who continues to fascinate, fifty years after his death. This Companion is the first comprehensive single-volume study written by an international team of scholars to survey Lewis's career as a literary historian, popular theologian, and creative writer. Twenty-one expert voices from Oxford, Cambridge, Princeton, and Wheaton, among many other places of learning, analyze Lewis's work from theological, philosophical, and literary perspectives. Some chapters consider his professional contribution to fields such as critical theory and intellectual history, while others assess his views on issues including moral knowledge, gender, prayer, war, love, suffering, and Scripture. The final chapters investigate his work as a writer of fiction and poetry. Original in its approach and unique in its scope, this Companion shows that C. S. Lewis was much more than merely the man behind Narnia. ... Read more

Product Description

The four Pevensies help Caspian battle Miraz and ascend his rightful throne.

Customer Reviews (6)

Another Great Read
In this fourth book of The Chronicles of Narnia, things are not going well.The King and his wife have both died, and their heir, Prince Caspian, is being raised by his uncle, Miraz.Miraz takes the throne and declares himself King.Caspian escapes and finds his way to Narnia.

Miraz never believed in any of the old tales about Narnia, talking animals, dwarves or even Aslan.Caspian does, and is delighted to encounter all of these characters when he arrives in Narnia.The dwarves and animals all pledge their loyalty to Caspian, but Miraz is determined to put an end to him once and for all.He brings an army and the battle for control of the kingdom begins.

Outnumbered, things are not going well for Caspian and his forces.Fearing defeat, he blows the magic horn left behind by Susan when she, Peter, Edmund and Lucy reigned the land.Although it was a thousand years ago, the tales of their heroics and kind governance remain part of the fabric of Narnia.The horn is supposed to bring the four to the aid of whomever blows it.Desparate, Caspian does just that.

Back in England, the four children are in a train station, ready to journey back to their respective schools after holiday.To them, only a year has passed since their time in Narnia.But when the horn sounds, they are transported back, only to find that little remained that they recognized.They met up with a dwarf from the Caspian army, and he took them to meet Caspian.There, they fight at his side with the help of Aslan who awakens the old magic of the land and Mariz and his army are defeated.Caspian will be King Caspian and rule Narnia as it's rightful ruler.

This was another enjoyable journey back to the land of Narnia.This book is recommended for young readers, and for parents who wish to share the adventure with their children, and for lovers of fantasy series.

The Second Adventure in Narnia
My journey through Narnia continued with this second novel in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed Prince Caspian and found it to be an even better book than The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Part of that may stem from the fact that this story had less to do with discovering Narnia and more about the magic and events taking place there. Another wonderful book and I look forward to reading the next when I come to it.

Return to Narnia...and not a moment too soon
PRINCE CASPIAN sees the four Pevensie children whisked away to the magical realm of Narnia where the four of them reigned as kings and queens for many years.Though only a year later for them, many eons have passed since the hunting of the White Stag at the end of the previous book.

Cair Paravel is now in ruins and disrepair.The entire island in which it sits is deserted and thought by the inhabitants of Narnia to be haunted.Therefore none of the now-ruling class of Narnians -- Telmarines, humans originally from our world -- venture there unless to execute some criminal, rebel, or perpetuator of the old myths of four human children enthroned at Cair Paravel and a magical, mystical Lion named Aslan.

And such was the case when our four heroes rescued a dwarf named Trumpkin from the hands of his Telmarine captors.Trumpkin then relates the exciting tale of Prince Caspian the rightful heir to the throne of Narnia and a classic tale of a jealous uncle, usurped authority, impending doom, and the possible return of the golden age of Narnia.

PRINCE CASPIAN is every bit as enjoyable and addictive as THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE.Each page is as entertaining and captivating as the one before.And what so many people miss when reading these books is C.S. Lewis not only weaved some wonderful children's yarns but also threw in some hard-core theology and did so in such a way that even a child could understand.

Prince Caspian
"Prince Caspian" is very good and very exciting.You find yourself wishing you could travel to Narnia!Near the end there is so much strange magic happening it's kind of ridiculous, but it's okay, because all of it is for good.It's wonderful when Caspian's childhood nurse is reunited with him.There are so many different moods in this small book: happiness, anger, sadness, fright, and bravery.You see different beliefs in this book: belief and disbelief in the days of Old Narnia.Then there are the Telmarines, who seem to believe in the days of Old Narnia, but they don't want to.As Prince Caspian is delivered the shocking news that King Miraz will probably kill him so that he is no longer heir to the throne,Cornelius already has a plan in his mind to keep the prince from danger.You soon find out what has happened to Queen Susan's horn; Doctor Cornelius had found it after years of magic spells and terrors.He hands it to Caspian.
"That," said Doctor Cornelius, "is the greatest and most sacred treasure of Narnia.Many terrors I endured, many spells did I utter, to find it, when I was still young.It is the magic horn of Queen Susan herself which she left behind her when she vanished from Narnia at the end of the Golden Age.It is said that whoever blows it shall have strange help--no one can say how strange.It may have power to call Queen Lucy and King Edmund, and Queen Susan and the High King Peter back from the past and they will set all to rights.It may be that it will call up Aslan himself.Take it, King Caspian: but do not use it except at your greatest need."
It turned out the horn had the power to call back both the Kings and Queens of Old and Aslan.I very much recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Narnia.If you are a fan of "Lord of the Rings", you will like the Narnia books.

Awesome!
My daughter needed an updated version as her original one was falling apart.Great pictures ... Read more

Product Description
C.S. Lewis' The Discarded Image paints a lucid picture of the medieval world view, as historical and cultural background to the literature of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. It describes the "image" discarded by later ages as "the medieval synthesis itself, the whole organization of their theology, science and history into a single, complex, harmonious mental model of the universe." This, Lewis' last book, was hailed as "the final memorial to the work of a great scholar and teacher and a wise and noble mind." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

A glimpse into the Middle Ages
C.S. Lewis provides a fantastic and insightful look into the Middle Ages with "The Discarded Image." This book was a required reading for a Middle English Literature class I took; when read concurrently with the actual Middle English texts, it was both illuminating and entertaining. It paints an amazing portrait of how the medieval English man would have viewed the world. If this perspective is applied when reading Middle English poetry (and prose), many of the "Huh?" moments we have when puzzling out what a Middle English poet or playwright might have meant suddenly begin to make sense. Lewis provides an accurate context for the literature, allowing us to leave the 21st century mindset many of us have when reading "antiquated" literature.

That said, I would say the book's true merits don't necessarily rely in its specific explanations and references - indeed, while Lewis openly claims that the book serves as a layman's guide to Middle English literature, his writing seems to presuppose extensive exposure to many Middle English texts. Rather, Lewis' brilliance comes through in the insights he provides into humanity: his thoughts on the acquisition of ideas, the inheritance of literature and culture, and his hypothesis of the "model" are applicable to far more than just the Middle Ages. In reality, the book illustrates that connections that exist between ALL literature, not just that of ages past.

All in all, the book provides a nice duality of information: it is specific enough for those looking to delve into Middle English literature while retaining the ability to be universally applied to other areas as well.

Long term staying power
I was given this book as a graduation present by a high school English teacher because I was, she said, "the only student who has ever remarked on how well C. S. Lewis writes when he is writing criticism."(I had done a project for class on one of Lewis' earlier works of literary criticism, written in his 20's, called The Allegory of Love, and had noticed in that book the same extroardinarily clear style and sentence structure which a non-Christian writer relative of mine had pointed out to me when I was a child and had helped me to analyze in the opening pages of The Horse and His Boy.)

Based on a collection of lectures which Lewis gave to undergraduates at Oxford, (a literary equivalent to that other college freshman favorite, The Feynman Lectures on Physics), this book does refer to many medieval authors whom I hadn't yet read at 17 and may never read, and yet I did find it extremely useful, both to understand more about the philosophical underpinnings of Lewis' fiction, and to use as supplemental reading for a college freshman English course in medieval literature (the Song of Roland, Dante, Petrarch, Tasso, Boccacio, Chaucer, etc., all in translation).As other reviewers have remarked, this book and Lewis' The Abolition of Man are especially helpful as background reading for understanding Lewis' Space Trilogy.

An especially enjoyable aspect of The Discarded Image, and a general characteristic of many of Lewis' books both fiction and nonfiction, is that one can read it again thirty years after one has first read it, and still find it useful and enjoyable in new ways.One cannot say this about many of the current, flash-in-the-pan best-sellers on history, liteature, or various aspects of modern culture, which barely stand up to a single reading, or should I say, a single "Glimpse!". (Certain tittillating pseudohistorical thriller novels and their movie versions also come to mind here).

In other words, this book competes well with both the current crop of leisure-non-fiction best-sellers, and also with the tried-and-true college freshman classics.Much as I admire Mr. Feynman, I don't recall having had occasion to dip into his Lectures on Physics after the course ended, but I have and still do re-read portions of Mr. Lewis' The Discarded Image from time to time for mere enjoyment.

In short, this book is an excellent investment--you won't want to sell it to the used book shop for pennies in a year or two, nor leave it in the metro station paperback-swap-rack for some other commuter, nor yet abandon it in the airport baggage claim area having skimmed it on the plane, but will want to keep it for yourself and treasure it to read and reread for years to come.

If this book were a person, one could almost imagine singing to it, "Believe me, if all those endearing young charms which I gaze on so fondly today...."!

Not for the faint of heart
I picked up this book after I had read all of Lewis's fiction and many of his apologetic works. I saw that The Discarded Image had all five-star reviews and thought that it must be amazing. I must admit, I was disappointed at first. Lewis's writing style is just as clear as his other works, but the subject matter is so much more obscure than anything I had read before that I was intimidated.

However, the more I read the more I was pulled in to the world Lewis created. I had known that Lewis was an amazing apologist, but here I discovered his genius scholarship as well. He quoted authors I had never heard of but by the time I figured out who they were (thank you google) I was caught like a gnat in the wonderful web of the Medieval world. I felt like I once did as a child, that the world was grand and complex and beautiful.

I confess I do not know hardly anything about Medieval or Renaissance literature, but the world that Lewis creates is wonderful to experience. These people did not think like we do, they did not have all the benefits of modern science that we enjoy. It is so difficult for us to imagine the universe as we did, but through Lewis's clear and guiding prose, we can imagine what is must have been like to see the world as a perfect product of a Divine plan.

This book is not for those who want an easy read, it is not like Lewis's other works that can just be picked up and read. It is not a book for those who are comfortable in their own era and have no desire to see the world through the eyes of a man in another world. It is, however a book for those who wish to leave behind the trappings of the modern mindset for a while and enter a world where everything has a purpose and place created by and omniscient, omnipotent God. (Just be sure to have google ready to look up obscure authors!)

The Space Trilogy decoded
It is difficult to praise "The Discarded Image" too highly.It can be read with profit many times.Other reviewers have told you why.

That said, I would like to say something to those who have read and enjoyed the Space Trilogy, especially "Out of the Silent Planet" and "Perelandra."In writing those excellent stories, Lewis decided that the medieval outlook on cosmology, however incorrect from the scientific standpoint, would provide a marvelous-and to most of us-unfamiliar backdrop for tales of imaginative fiction.I promise you that once you have finished "The Discarded Image," you will reread the fictional works pleasantly fascinated by how the medieval image informs the novels.

Not So Dark an Age
To begin with, it must be acknowledged that the subtitle of this work is apt to be misinterpreted.Lewis's last book of his own initiative, which but for some late corrections would have been published in the final months of his life, might be better understood as a 'preface' to mediaeval and Renaissance literature than as what is now most often meant by an 'introduction'.For his stated purpose is not one of identifying, summarizing, and expounding major works, but of explaining the world-view or Model of the universe which informed any educated writer or reader of the time.

Lewis is concerned that a student may succeed in achieving a semblance of comprehension yet be wholly mistaken in his or her grasp of mediaeval literature through projecting onto it either very modern ideas or, perhaps worse, modern misconceptions of what our ancestors believed.While he does touch on authors and writings familiar from the average undergraduate survey course, he dwells far more on, and digs more deeply into, somewhat obscure examples which he feels better represent the mindset of the era.Boethius and his THE CONSOLATION OF PHILOSOPHY get particular attention and are alluded to repeatedly throughout.Lewis then proceeds to outline the mediaeval picture of the universe's structure; of the inhabitants it held; and of the psychological, philosophical, and metaphysical aspects which integrated the whole system.

All of this gradually reveals a cosmology far more sophisticated and a civilisation rather better informed than they are often credited with being.Understanding of the nature of the universe was not so erroneous as is now generally supposed; and where it was indeed wrong, it was nonetheless remarkably insightful as well as internally consistent.The mediaeval era emerges as the vital and extraordinary world it was, and as a fertile ground in which the so-called 'Renaissance' took root and flourished.

Lewis concludes with a cautionary reminder that our own notions of the universe and of 'Reality' itself remain comparatively incomplete and are certain to be superseded one day, not merely by new discoveries but by the ever-shifting philosophies and tastes which determine what questions are asked and thus what answers are found.

This is a book I genuinely hope to read again.Parts of it, I confess, were a bit beyond me, if chiefly because I had too little acquaintance with what was under discussion.Even so, Lewis's characteristic wit, conversational style, and contagious enthusiasm succeeded in making me wish to improve my familiarity with his subject.And to inspire such interest is surely a teacher's purpose even more than the mere passing on of information. ... Read more

Product Description
"Every year you grow, you will find me bigger." --Aslan to Lucy in Prince Caspian

C. S. Lewis was, of course, a brilliant apologist, and his books contain much to feed your intellect. But Lewis was also very concerned about Christian formation and strongly desired to help believers deepen their faith and broaden their vision of God.

In this book Peter Schakel opens to you the more practical parts of Lewis's wonderful writings. Covering areas of potential struggle such as prayer, suffering, doubt and love, Schakel draws principles from Lewis's nonfiction as well as illustrations from the Chronicles of Narnia to stir your imagination and soul so that you might see God in new ways. In addition, the author quotes from contemporaries of Lewis, showing how their thinking fit with Lewis's.

With reflection questions included, this deeper look at Lewis's formational writings is valuable for your personal devotions or for group discussions. Either way, as you read you will find God bigger and bigger. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This Book Is Not Large Enough!
This work is a fine summary of the thought and theology of Lewis. The author has done a good job of encapsulating the depth and scope of the world of C. S. Lewis. Anyone who is interested in learning about Jack, or in revisiting his points of mere christianity, should read this book. It is a good reference and a good read. The author writes well and performs a first rate job of summary without losing any of the nuances of Lewis theological system.
This is a must for any Lewis collection.
Enjoy!

Relevant, revealing book enlarges view of God for all
Sometimes C.S. Lewis is over my head and trying to connect all he said about subjects like grace, the church, love, prayer, suffering, doubt, and heaven requires searching through numerous works. Now Dr. Peter J. Schakel of Hope University, one of the most pre-eminent Lewis scholars, has compiled such pertinent information and explanation in Is Your Lord Large Enough? Dr. Schakel's clear and concise writing makes these subjects easy for the layman and serves as a nucleus for personal devotions and group discussions. Thought-provoking questions are at the end of chapters as well. He brings most everything back to Narnia and other works such as Till We Have Faces and the Ransom trilogy, as well as CSL's nonfiction. Helpful features include a brief biography and bibliographies of CSL books and books about him. Dr. Schakel is one of the most foremost and highly respected experts and wise scholars and he proves this once again in this welcome addition to Lewis scholarship. This book helps deepen one's faith and broaden one's vision of God drawing us ever closer to our Maker and Lord. -- Sandra Coffey, College English Instructor ... Read more

Product Description
In this humorous and perceptive exchange between two devils, C. S. Lewis delves into moral questions about good vs. evil, temptation, repentance, and grace.Through this wonderful tale, the reader emerges with a better understanding of what it means to live a faithful life.Amazon.com Review
Who among us has never wondered if there might not really be atempter sitting on our shoulders or dogging our steps? C.S. Lewisdispels all doubts. In The Screwtape Letters, one of hisbestselling works, we are made privy to the instructionalcorrespondence between a senior demon, Screwtape, and his wannabediabolical nephew Wormwood. As mentor, Screwtape coaches Wormwood inthe finer points, tempting his "patient" away from God.

Each letter is a masterpiece of reverse theology, giving the reader aninside look at the thinking and means of temptation. Tempters,according to Lewis, have two motives: the first is fear of punishment,the second a hunger to consume or dominate other beings. On the otherhand, the goal of the Creator is to woo us unto himself or totransform us through his love from "tools into servants and servantsinto sons." It is the dichotomy between being consumed and subsumedcompletely into another's identity or being liberated to be utterlyourselves that Lewis explores with his razor-sharp insight and wit.

The most brilliant feature of The Screwtape Letters may belikening hell to a bureaucracy in which "everyone is perpetuallyconcerned about his own dignity and advancement, where everyone has agrievance, and where everyone lives the deadly serious passions ofenvy, self-importance, and resentment." We all understandbureaucracies, be it the Department of Motor Vehicles, the IRS, or oneof our own making. So we each understand the temptations that slowlylure us into hell. If you've never read Lewis, The ScrewtapeLetters is a great place to start. And if you know Lewis, but haven'tread this, you've missed one of his core writings. --PatriciaKlein ... Read more

Customer Reviews (428)

It was a great example of everyday life.
Screwtape Letters I think, is a great example of everyday life and how Satin tries to tempt us through everything we do.

Screwtape Letters is about a new christian, "the patient" and how he was tempted by Screwtape and his nephew Wormwood. They were trying to get the patient off the path to Heaven and onto the path of Hell. This is exactly what Satin tries to do with us; because he doesn't want us in the Kingdom of God. Satin will do everything in his power to steal us away from God and have us go the opposite direction. We need to realize what Satin is tring to accomplish and not let it happen. If we have done something wrong in this time we need to ask God for forgivness. For example, the patient was living with his mom and Satin got in a place of his life were it caused them to argue over little problems which turned into bigger ones. Slowly, the patiant was backing away from God. He then realized what he was doing and repented.

Satin tries to get into a part of our lives where we aren't as strong with God and starts bringing us down. Everyone sins, it is part of our human nature, but we as christians need to realize it, repent, and move on from our mistakes. In the end it will only strengthen our relationship with Christ.

It was a great example of everyday life.
Screwtape Letters I think, is a great example of everyday life and how Satin tries to tempt us through everything we do.

Screwtape Letters is about a new christian, "the patient" and how he was tempted by Screwtape and his nephew Wormwood. They were trying to get the patient off the path to Heaven and onto the path of Hell. This is exactly what Satin tries to do with us; because he doesn't want us in the Kingdom of God. Satin will do everything in his power to steal us away from God and have us go the opposite direction. We need to realize what Satin is tring to accomplish and not let it happen. If we have done something wrong in this time we need to ask God for forgivness. For example, the patient was living with his mom and Satin got in a place of his life were it caused them to argue over little problems which turned into bigger ones. Slowly, the patiant was backing away from God. He then realized what he was doing and repented.

Satin tries to get into a part of our lives where we aren't as strong with God and starts bringing us down. Everyone sins, it is part of our human nature, but we as christians need to realize it, repent, and move on from our mistakes. In the end it will only strengthen our relationship with Christ.

Falling or Standing Strong, Loved it!!!
I would recommend this book, The Screwtape Letters to pretty much anyone, but specifically new born Christians.I have been a Christian all my life and never really understood what everyone meant by Satan temps you.Yes, I knew that he tries to pull you farther and farther away from God, but I didn't realize how hard Satan and his friends try.This book is an amazing book and will definitely awaken you on what Satan is really doing.
Inside of me I kind of regret not reading this book sooner because already, in my short life I have been tempted so many times by Satan and haven't know what to do.I feel like this book was written just for me.For a while I have actually been struggling with Satan and his temptations and this book definitely awakened me on what I should be doing.
In the book, Screwtape, the uncle, tries to teach his nephew, Wormwood, how to tempt his patient in so many ways.They both try so hard to tear the patient away from God.They try to tempt him with girls, smoking, drugs, sexual immorality, and by the end of the book they soon realize God is more powerful in all things. No wonder why some many people fall into their traps because they don't stop until they get what they want, but always remember, God will be there for you always.He will be there through any temptation Satan or his friends throw at you.
Again I highly recommend this book to everyone.I think everybody needs to realize what Satan is doing and how we can stop it.Everybody deserves to know how important it is staying on a straight path with God.
The one thing that I wasn't all for, was that the whole book was letters.At times I got a little confused because Wormwood's letters didn't show.I think that really was the only thing I would change. Overall great book, great message!!

Falling or Standing Strong, Loved it!!!
I would recommend this book, The Screwtape Letters to pretty much anyone, but specifically new born Christians.I have been a Christian all my life and never really understood what everyone meant by Satan temps you.Yes, I knew that he tries to pull you farther and farther away from God, but I didn't realize how hard Satan and his friends try.This book is an amazing book and will definitely awaken you on what Satan is really doing.
Inside of me I kind of regret not reading this book sooner because already, in my short life I have been tempted so many times by Satan and haven't know what to do.I feel like this book was written just for me.For a while I have actually been struggling with Satan and his temptations and this book definitely awakened me on what I should be doing.
In the book, Screwtape, the uncle, tries to teach his nephew, Wormwood, how to tempt his patient in so many ways.They both try so hard to tear the patient away from God.They try to tempt him with girls, smoking, drugs, sexual immorality, and by the end of the book they soon realize God is more powerful in all things. No wonder why some many people fall into their traps because they don't stop until they get what they want, but always remember, God will be there for you always.He will be there through any temptation Satan or his friends throw at you.
Again I highly recommend this book to everyone.I think everybody needs to realize what Satan is doing and how we can stop it.Everybody deserves to know how important it is staying on a straight path with God.
The one thing that I wasn't all for, was that the whole book was letters.At times I got a little confused because Wormwood's letters didn't show.I think that really was the only thing I would change. Overall great book, great message!!

I have read better books
The book The Screwtape Letters by C.S Lewis was unlike any other book that I have read.I have only been understanding how God helps us through life, and encourages us. It was a change for me to read a book that shows me Satan's side, and how he tempts us. It also showed me what Satan and his followers do to tempt us, and how they feel when a person gets closer to God.
This book gives good details. For example, when someone became a Christian, Uncle Screwtape ( one of Satan's higher followers) yelled at the follower in charge of keeping that person away from God. He was also giving advice on how to pull the person back away from God.
One of the things that I didn't like about this book, was the fact that the whole book was set up as letters. There wasn't really any narraration. It got boring for me to keep reading the same beginning of"My Dear Wormwood", and the same ending of " Your Affectionate uncle Screwtape." Personally I think it would be better if some of the chapters started and ended different, and if there was some narraration.
Overall this was a pretty good book. I would reccomend this book to teenagers of either genders. ... Read more

Product Description

They open a door and enter a world

Customer Reviews (661)

The Chronicles of Narnia
Book arrived ten days before estimated delivery date.Book in very good condition. Plot was filled with fantasy, excitement and was a quick read.

A sonnet review (from All-Consuming Books)
"The book that started all the wonder,
mystery and magic of Narnia trips
could easily be shelved and buried under
"Kids Books," "Fantasy," or "Christian Lit,"
but really, it's all three and more: designed
for younger readers, full of quests and peril
and talking beasts, but older folks will find
this simple story hides an entire barrel
of serious talking points and epic themes.
Sin needs redemption; Aslan's sacrifice
and resurrection must occur. He seems
to be a God who's good, but never "nice."
A longtime favorite, I love everything
about it, most of all, its lion-king."

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has been around for sixty years, and it's so popular that it's individual title is more recognizable as a brand name than "The Chronicles of Narnia," the series to which it belongs. The story begins in a dark place. It's set in England in WWII, and the four Pevensie children have left their home in the city to stay in the countryside during the London bombings. They're displaced, which puts them in the perfect frame of mind for adventures, since they're already outside the normal order of things as guests in a strange place. They aren't too sorrowful or afraid after their big move, partly because they are avatars for the reader. One of the things I like about the recent film versions of the Narnia stories is that they fleshed out the characters and tried to give them distinct personalities.

The kids go exploring Professor Kirk's big house, and the youngest girl Lucy steps into a wardrobe in a spare room, just because it's there. She walks through the wardrobe into a snow-filled wonderland where she meets a goat-footed man who invites her over for tea (don't do it, Lucy! He's a stranger!). Lucy finds that she has stumbled into this alternate dimension at a really bad time--they're in the middle of a hundred-year winter brought about by a despotic Witch. In addition, there's the prophecy saying that four human children who come into Narnia will overthrow the Witch, so there's a price on Lucy's head. But goaty little Mr. Tumnus soon decides that he can't hand Lucy over to the Witch to be turned to stone, so he lets her go. She runs back to tell her siblings what she's discovered, but unfortunately, the wardrobe is an interdimensional portal that doesn't always work, so when she tries to show the older kids they just see an empty wardrobe.

But Lucy's brother Edmund later finds his way into the wardrobe, too, and instead of meeting a friendly woodland creature, he comes across the evil Witch herself, who makes him promise to come back to see her, bringing his brother and sisters with him. If he does this, she promises that she'll make him a prince of Narnia, and Edmund's very vulnerable to any suggestion that he's special and should be in a position of power. Of all the children's characters, Edmund's is perhaps the most consistent. In early passages, his dialogue reflects his status as an antagonist to the others: he's always mocking Lucy, contradicting Susan, and challenging Peter, so he can't be accused of playing favorites--he's equally huffy with all his siblings. He teases Lucy mercilessly about Narnia, even after he learns the truth, and his eventual betrayal and defection to the Witch are just the next logical step in his character arc. He's by no means an outright villain, but he is selfish and spiteful and prone to self-deception. I think his bad attitude attitude may have something to do with his position in the family--he has no defined place and no responsibilities. Peter is the commander, Susan is the nurturer, and Lucy is the wide-eyed, joyful baby of the group, but Edmund has no role to fill. And I think it's important to note that though Lucy is treated like she's very much the baby of the family, Edmund is said to be only one year older, so his maturity level has only progressed a tiny bit past hers, if at all.

Back to the story. All the Pevensies go into the wardrobe to hide from a group of tourists who are combing through the house, and they get to Narnia where they find that Mr. Tumnus has been arrested, hauled off, and potentially turned to stone already. Then they meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who lead them to safety as they run from the Witch's wolf guards. The kids learn more about their own role in the prophecy, and about Aslan, the king of Narnia, whose return is much anticipated by the animals and other creatures. Edmund gives his family the slip and sneaks out to join the Witch. The remaining three kids run for their lives, worry over their brother, celebrate the coming of spring which signals Aslan's return, and side with the Narnian forces who are gearing up for the big battle against the Witch.

Blatantly awesome elements: 1. Father Christmas gives swords, bows, daggers, and a life-restoring cordial to the kids because they're heading for battle. When was the last time Santa gave out anything so cool and yet so practical? 2. Co-opted mythology. Greek/Roman creatures like fauns, nymphs, dryads, and Bacchus himself are all mentioned, and it gives me the idea that Narnia potentially contains characters from all myths and legends, adopting them and enfolding them into its own structure. 3. The Witch's hall of statues. It's creepier than you'd imagine, and seeing all the stone forms of creatures who have angered her marks the moment that the reader knows how deadly serious a situation Edmund has gotten himself into. 4. Permanency. The kids don't solve all Narnia's problems in a week and go home. They become a four-person monarchy and righteously rule the land for something like twenty years. 5. Peter duels with a wolf. Nothing else need be said.

I don't have any complaints, except that I wish there were more to the story. It's under 200 pages, the perfect length for a children's book or Mid-Grade, but as an adult I'm longing for more detail. Seven books just isn't enough to satisfy a Narnia fan!

If you spent some portion of your childhood as I did, trying to get to Narnia through closets, cabinets, laundry nooks, and even the cracks between sofa cushions, you already know the lasting impact of the story. It's not a one-to-one Christian allegory like Pilgrim's Progress where every fictional character, location, and object has a direct biblical equivalent, but it is a fantasy set in a Christian universe, where Jesus/Aslan is someone you can know, even if you can't always see him, and where good triumphs over evil, but only after a long and costly struggle. It's not rose-colored-glasses children's literature--it's powerful, moving, and worth multiple reads.

Wonderful item !
I brought this book as a gift for my Grandaughter. She was thrilled, it arrived in great condition. I will buy from this seller again.

Heartache with Pleasure
Dear All who read this...

I recently ordered this book, and was happy about the price.I only spent $.01 on the book!I think it is ironic that the shipping cost more than the book, but it was a lot cheaper than driving across the country to get it.I love books.For me, books are a life source.I was going to rate this a 5 star purchase, but I wasn't fully satisfied.When I bought the book, the discription said it was in excellent condition.Well, I was not pleased to find that there was writing in the cover and on the page sides.Plus, and I don't understand why, the company put a sticker on the cover that tore as I was trying to remove it.You see, I collect books.The set that this book belongs to is now complete, however, this book is slightly damaged and now defaced.I am happy about having it, but I would have liked it to be free of writing and stickers.Overall, the company who sent me the book is very professional and quick to reply.They were friendly, and I didn't have to wait too long for the book.I believe I got it in like 4 or 5 days.So, that is why I only rated it with a 4.However, I was happy with the company overall.I will buy from them again.

Thanks,
Sir Romeo Mango

Must Read
I've read this book two times and it hasn't gotten old at all. The more times you read it the better it gets. This is an all time classic. Its a must read. ... Read more

Product Description
Mere Christianity is C. S. Lewis's forceful and accessible doctrine of Christian belief. Bonus feature: The Abolition of Man is an eloquent and erudite essay concerning what education should be and how far from this standard modern education has fallen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Highly Recommend This Book
I like the audio version of this book as it was originally a series of radio shows.I would highly recommend this version.

CS Lewis
Heard a lot about this "great" Christian writer but didn't know exactly what to expect.Very pleasantly surprised to experience an eye-opening process that has greatly influenced my expanded take on Theology...

Great Audio Book for Christians to Feel Validated
I wanted to like this book. My boss and good friend, who I greatly admire, gave me a paperback copy of this book. I never had the time to read the book, so I ordered the audio book. I am very disappointed.

The quality of the reading and the recording are great. The speaker enunciates perfectly, to the point of sounding pompous. The reading actually goes well with the subject matter, because the author seems very pleased with himself. He has it all figured out.

The main problem I have with this book is that it falls short of its goals. The author sets out to prove that there is a god, that this god is the Christian God, and that all of the Christian values are in fact the way humans are supposed to behave. However, he starts with a flimsy assumption, which he states as fact. Then he builds upon that another flimsy assumption, which is supposedly another fact, and so on. The result is a magnificant castle built on a very shaky foundation. I couldn't help but roll my eyes and shake my head, especially when he proved that women are supposed to be subservient to men (and I'm a man).

If you're a Christian and you would like to hear some flimsy logic and convenient analogies to support your beliefs, then this is a great book. For everybody else, it might be an amusing exercise in patience and tolerance.

Audio Pleasure
We all know that C.S.Lewis wrote the incredible Mere Christianity as a follow-on to his radio talks during the War, but what an unexpected pleasure to listen to his thoughts by these two articulate narrators on this CD set (M.C. plus Abolition of Man).Great job! ... Read more

Product Description
C.S. Lewis's celebrated Space Trilogy - Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength - was completed over sixty years ago and has remained in print ever since.In this groundbreaking study, Sanford Schwartz offers a new reading that challenges the conventional view of these novels as portraying a clear-cut struggle between a pre-modern cosmology and the modern scientific paradigm that supplanted it.

Schwartz situates Lewis's work in the context of modern intellectual, cultural, and political history. He shows that Lewis does not simply dismiss the modern "evolutionary model," but discriminates carefully among different kinds of evolutionary theory-"mechanistic" in Out of the Silent Planet, "vitalist" in Perelandra, and "spiritual" in That Hideous Strength-and their distinctiveviews ofhuman nature, society, and religious belief. Schwartz also shows that in each book the conflict between Christian and "developmental" viewpoints is far more complex than is generally assumed.In line with the Augustinian understanding that "bad things are good things perverted," Lewis constructs each of his three "beatific" communities-the"unfallen" worlds on Mars and Venus and the terrestrial remnant at St. Anne's-not as the sheer antithesis but rather as the transfiguration or"raising up" of the particular evolutionary doctrine that is targeted in the novel.In this respect, Lewis is more deeply engaged with the main currents of modern thought than his own self-styled image as an intellectual "dinosaur" might lead us to believe. He is also far more prepared to explore the possibilities for reshaping the evolutionary model in a manner that is simultaneously compatible with traditional Christian doctrine and committed to addressing the distinctive concerns of modern existence.

C.S. Lewis on the Final Frontier highlights the enduring relevance of Lewis's fiction to contemporary concerns on a wide variety of issues, including the ethical problems surrounding bio-technology and the battle between religious and naturalistic worldviews in the twenty-first century.Far from offering a black and white contrast between an old-fashioned Christian humanism and a newfangled heresy, the Space Trilogy should be seen as a modern religious apologist's searching effort to enrich the former through critical engagement with the latter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent study of the Space Trilogy
The review of April 11, 2010, mischaracterizes Schwartz's fine book. It is not a "commentary," which indicates a verse-by-verse explanation of particular points in a text, but rather a work of scholarship that argues a unified thesis about the literary structure and themes of C. S. Lewis's Space Trilogy. The book is intelligent, even erudite, but at the same time it is clearly written and accessible to the non-specialist. I'm a university professor who teaches a course on C. S. Lewis, and I would recommend this book highly to my undergraduate students who want a first-rate treatment of the trilogy.

Probably helpful but....
When I purchased this I thought it included these fabulous books.A commentary to reference while reading them would have been helpful.I was so very disappointed that it was only the commentary that I paid $15.00 for.I recently got my Kindle and was very much looking forward to reading these books with a dictionary on hand!Somewhere, packed away in a box because I have limited storage space, are my copies of this Trilogy. I have very fond memories of reading these books so I wanted to read them again with tools on hand to gain more understanding.(I LOVE MY KINDLE!!!) Alas, the books were not included and not yet available on the Kindle.Big, very disappointed sigh... ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

RIPOFF
THESE ARE CLIFF NOTES!!!!!! - NOT THE REAL BOOK

THIS IS A RIPOFF

FALSE ADVERTISEMENT

DO NOT BUY

misleading description
I should have read the reviews before purchasing.This is like cliffnotes, a book about a book.I thought I was buying a 2 in 1 book.I was wrong.Wastd time and money.

Don't Buy
This is like Cliff Notes, not the actual books. I feel ripped off and time wasted.

Misleading title, descriptions and reviews
This book's title, synopsis and descriptions are misleading.This is not C.S. Lewis' books (2 in 1).It is just some notes about them.I bought it thinking I was getting two C.S.Lewis books for a very good price.InsteadI just some dry notes that have little value compared to Lewis' excellentbooks.Publishers like this are taking advantage of Lewis' popularity tomake money.Buy Lewis' books, not these dry notes. ... Read more