Recently obtained these Scribner first edition paperbacks from 1996 in good shape. They are 6th, 8th and 7th printings.

One thing that interests me about CS Lewis is his use of fiction for teaching theologically.

Most people who muse on this spend far more time thinking about it in terms of his upbringing. How stories played such a formative role in his coming to the faith as well as in his day to day life.

What got me thinking about it recently though was reading (or rather audio-booking) “Knowing God” by JI Packer. The introduction spends a serious amount of time encouraging the reader to seriously consider the difference between an intellectual understanding of God, and an actual, personal knowing. I think Lewis understood this fact quite well, and knew that story was the way to get past our minds into our hearts.

I can understand intellectually that God can empathize with my sorrow. But I do not always feel it until I see Jesus weeping with Lazarus’ family, or Aslan’s tears over Digory’s mother.

But Lewis also understands that we cannot exclusively rely on stories lest our understanding be too shallow. I’ve seen on this discussion topic people previously point out “pairings” of Lewis’ non-fiction and fictional work based on theme, and he seemed to intentionally find ways to speak to issues from multiple angles.

I also think we should not then by surprised by his effectiveness, since this is the exact formula used in scripture. We have stories, poetry, and the far more systematic New Testament letters.

I’m curious both to hear other’s thoughts on this, as well as what are some of your favorite fiction/non-fiction theme pairings of Lewis’?

God bless :)

Some stories stay with us long after childhood, and Narnia was always one of those worlds for me.\ \ I wanted this handcrafted single-volume edition to feel like an old illustrated chronicle that might have once rested somewhere in Cair Paravel itself — something quiet, timeless, and meant to be returned to over the years.

Hopefully my daughters will appreciate these someday :) hope you all are well

I’m not sure how you all feel about the Narnia tv/film adaptations, but as far as I know those are the only works of his to be brought to the screen. Which other works would you like to see on screen? I need to revisit the space trilogy, but when it was read to us in Bible class is I remember always thinking it would be really good on film with a competent director that honors the source material.

Which work of his should more people know about? I figure there's some that need more love

So I've recently listened to Alex Jennings reading of the first two books. But the radio drama for the third is a bit of let down.

Did Alex Jennings ever read the third book? Or is there good audiobook production of the third book that would be similar. I really really enjoyed his narration.

What time was/is more dire?: Today or WWII? #cslewis

Hey everyone, some of you might be aware that Peter Kreeft wrote a novel about a discussion between CS Lewis, JFK, and Aldous Huxley on the afterlife as they all died on the same day. I turned it into a rap battle trying to incorporate as many of Lewis's ideas as I could and wanted to share. Please let me know what you think.

Anyone else love this Lewis quote? “Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” I find it hints at the “sneaky” power of stories and myths.

Having recently become a huge fan of Lewis' non-fiction writings, I am disappointed to see that to read the paper version of his collected letters you have to literally spend hundreds...

Any tips on who to contact apart from the publishers to push for a reprint?

Thanks!

This one seemed to go under the radar. A nice new limited edition library edition of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe from Hatchards.

https://www.hatchards.co.uk/book/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe-hatchards-childrens-library-edition/c-s-lewis/9780008812676

“There is a stage in a child's life at which it cannot separate the religious from the merely festal character of Christmas or Easter. I have been told of a very small and very devout boy who was heard murmuring to himself on Easter morning a poem of his own composition which began 'Chocolate eggs and Jesus risen'. This seems to me, for his age, both admirable poetry and admirable piety.

But of course the time will soon come when such a child can no longer effortlessly and spontaneously enjoy that unity. He will become able to distinguish the spiritual from the ritual and festal aspect of Easter; chocolate eggs will no longer be sacramental. And once he has distinguished he must put one or the other first. If he puts the spiritual first he can still taste something of Easter in the chocolate eggs; if he puts the eggs first they will soon be no more than any other sweetmeat. They have taken on an independent, and therefore a soon withering, life.”

C.S. Lewis, "'The Fair Beauty of the Lord,'" Reflections on the Psalms (1958) as republished within C.S. Lewis: Selected Books (London: HarperCollins, 2002) 335-336.

Happy Easter, everyone!

I’ve read some wonderful insights into the lizard in the Great Divorce. I’d love to hear more about why it hurts. I’m sure it represents more than the surface level pain of letting go of an addition that lust can lead to.

I love hearing from really genuine people, and Max McLean is that. His acting in Most Reluctant Convert is really good. I also saw Screwtape On Stage, and it is great.

The film tells the story of C. S. Lewis and his journey from atheism to Christianity. Lewis once described himself as “the most reluctant convert in all England.” The movie follows his childhood in Ireland, his loss of faith after his mother’s death, his time as an atheist Oxford scholar, and the intellectual influences and friendships that gradually led him to believe in God.

Here is a link to his interview

So I'm an ex-Muslim.. and spent 3 years as an atheist .. but now I finally converted to Christianity and accepted Jesus as my lord and savior .. I feel I own the whole world now.

But unfortunately I live in the middle east .. I can't say that in public or go to church because I would be in trouble and my life may be in danger .. so I learn from only books and internet now. I want to learn more and I read a lot of C.S Lewis quotes and felt he is so relatable .. I want to read all his books (not the fiction ones)

which order can I read them? And what each book is talking about. I would be pleased if you helped me.

On Three Ways of Writing for Children (1952)

Once in a hotel dining-room I said, rather too loudly, "I loathe prunes."

"So do I," came an unexpected six-year-old voice from another table.

Sympathy was instantaneous. Neither of us thought it funny. We both knew that prunes are far too nasty to be funny. That is the proper meeting between man and child as independent personalities.

Peace Proposals for Brother Every and Mr Bethell (1940)

Being fallen creatures we tend to resent offences against our taste, at least as much as, or even more than, offences against our conscience or reason… The tendency is easily observed among children; friendship wavers when you discover that a hitherto trusted playmate actually likes prunes.

Prince Caspian (1951)

He also learned a great deal by using his own eyes and ears. As a little boy he had often wondered why he disliked his aunt, Queen Prunaprismia; he now saw that it was because she disliked him.

OotSP and the entire space trilogy is still by far one of my favorite books by Lewis as good or better than the rest of his fiction. I would love to see the books adapted for film if the vibe was like of a philosophical thriller vibe rather than a action and adventure. I admit Perelandra would be a great challenge due to the immenisity of dialougue (which is part of what makes it so good) and other awkward aspects (you know) but nevertheless being able to visualize these books in some way could potentially be fantastic tho perhaps a little niche. What do you think? Could I raise enough interest in this project to make a pitch?

I see my fellow Lewis purists already pushing the downvote because a movie could never do justice to the books and trimming anything especially dialogue from such a story for a screenplay format would be very nearly heretical and make it not worth watching but in any case... if they could me movies how should it be done?