Today marks the passing of C.S. Lewis from this world. While it’s been 45 years since he died, Lewis still provokes inspiration, discovery, and argument. He is remembered for writing the seven volumes of The Chronicles of Narnia as well as his famous apologetic work, Mere Christianity, derived from his radio talks at the BBC in the midst of the Second World War. Lewis also wrote The Screwtape Letters, which is a series of letters from a demon named Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood on tactics of human temptation. Merely naming the above works does not even do justice (as is true of what I say next) to the rest of Lewis’ writing, which emcompassed scholarly titles on literary criticism and literature as well as writing as a layperson on theology and apologetics. Works of allegory, poetry, science fiction, and volumes of letters round out what is an impressive body of writing. Lewis was simply a brilliant mind and his legacy will always be remembered.
Let’s reflect on how C.S. Lewis influenced each of us in the comments as we remember his passing today as well as the 110th anniversary of his birth on November 29.
- Simply Lewis: Reflections on a Master Apologist After 60 Years – written by N.T. Wright last year for Touchstone Magazine.
- A reminder of the Three Special C.S. Lewis Offers at Zossima, one of which involves Branches to Heaven, an excellent work by Jim Como on the geniuses of Lewis.
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Already gave some of my reflections over at Hogwarts Professor. I’ll just paste them here.
“I was introduced to Lewis in 4th or 5th grade when during our story time our teacher read LWW. This was also the same year she read The Hobbit to us. Those two books out of all the ones read were the ones that grabbed my imagination.
I wish I could put into words how they did it. Perhaps the baptizing of the imagination or training in stock responses or sneaking past sleeping dragons. Maybe more so the opening of a window into the deeper realities of life, although that sounds awfully platonic!
But whatever it was, Lewis & Tolkien hooked me. Certainly in a way that Kennedy never could, as I was born two years after his death. And although I’ve read Huxley’s Brave New World a few times, & I still read quite a few dystopic books, Huxley never quite grabbed my imagination.
I don’t read Lewis or Tolkien as much as I used to do in my youth but I never get tired of reading them, if you know what I mean. And Ms. Rowling fits right into that category, which is what, to me, makes her a great writer.
And not to denigrate all that Kennedy did, but I truly think Lewis has had a greater impact on the world & will continue to do so long after Kennedy’s just another name in the list of U.S. Presidents.”
I was introduced to Lewis in 6th grade as well – along with Peter Beagle and Guy de Maupassant. The selection the teacher read to us didn’t make me immediately run to the library, as my first taste of de Maupassant did. But neither did I ever forget that scene with Lucy and Mr. Tumnus in the forest. Nor the White Queen, driving by in her sleigh. Beautiful imagery, there. If the book LWW were a movie, I’d have to say that the cinematography trumped the screenwriting. I think I was in grade 8 or 9 when I discovered Tolkien. And that did make me rush out to buy and devour LOTR.
Thanks for the post, Johnny. A very worthy topic.
No way I could write a reflection that would do justice to Lewis. The number of times he’s referenced in my book – a subject recently discussed here – is enough to make the point. I had no idea I’d referenced him that much.
The man was a genius, but he wasn’t only an intellectual genius. He was a genius in matters of the heart. Even his apologetic writing is moving. Almost every time I pick up a book to read lately, I consider reading something by or about Lewis before diving into the book I’m already working through.
I still can’t encounter Aslan in the pages of Narnia without tears.
I first read LWW for school in the fourth and fifth grade. I didn’t read the entire Chronicles of Narnia until I was in junior high. Lewis was the first writer to take me to another world (just like Tolkien years later) and I devoured each book wanting to know what happened next. Some of his powerful writing and imagery are in that series.
My fantasy bent began all in the one year. First it was Tunnels of Doom- that awesome dungeon-crawling game for the Texas Instrunments T.I.99-4A computer. My brother, Black Angus, got it for Christmas between my year 5 and 6 at school. The rest of the holidays were spent indoors…
Then after the holidays one of my schools friends showed me his Dungeons and Dragons game he’d got for Christmas. That hooked me very well.
I then noticed this cover of The Silver Chair in the school library. It interested me because of my recent interests. I didn’t read it but I borrowed the Sir Michael Horden read sound recordings of the chronicles of Narnia from the local library. I just loved them and then bought a boxed set of the Chronicles vith saved up pocket money. I still have them.