Reading C.S. Lewis A Commentary

From the unbending belief in invisible powers that animates Till We Have Faces to the depiction of Aslan's sacrifice and resurrection in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis's writing has sparked intense debate about the presence and function of religion in his works. Today, a reader's opinion of Lewis is more often than not based on his or her perspectives on religion. In Reading C. S. Lewis, Wesley A. Kort examines Lewis's work as a whole, investigating why and at what points Lewis turns to religion-and particularly to Christianity-in order to advance his arguments.

Kort moves through more than a dozen of Lewis's major books, providing a useful guide to their various elements while connecting readers to the literary contexts that influenced the works and Lewis himself. Reading C. S. Lewis examines the standing of Lewis's work, how best to approach the books, and the misunderstandings that lead to mistaken readings. The commentaries also function as free-standing essays that can be read individually and in any order.

Reading C. S. Lewis: A Commentary sets a new standard for C. S. Lewis studies. A comprehensive examination of the major Lewis texts, this volume is a captivating look into the author's work from a refreshingly undogmatic point of view.

Wesley A. Kort is Professor of Religion at Duke University.

Preface

Introduction

Part One
Chapter 1: Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life
Chapter 2: The Problem of Pain
Chapter 3: The Screwtape Letters
Chapter 4: Mere Christianity
Chapter 5: Some Reasonable Assumptions

Part Two
Chapter 6: Out of the Silent Planet
Chapter 7: Perelandra: A Novel
Chapter 8: The Abolition of Man
Chapter 9: That Hideous Strength: A Modern Fairy-Tale for Grown-Ups
Chapter 10: Some Cultural Critiques

Part Three
Chapter 11: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian
Chapter 12: The Four Loves
Chapter 13: The Magician's Nephew and The Last Battle
Chapter 14: Some Principles Applied

Conclusion