Reading C. S. Lewis: A Commentary

by Wesley A. Kort

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190221348
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/30/2015
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Wesley A. Kort is Professor Emeritus of Religion at Duke University and author of C. S. Lewis Then and Now (OUP 2004).

Table of Contents

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

Editorial Reviews

"[A]ccessible and practical."—Philip Irving Mitchell, Religion and the Arts

"A rich presentation of C.S. Lewis' place in the literary and academic culture of Oxford and Cambridge, with fresh, exciting views on his space trilogy, Narnia, apologetics, and his standing as a moral philosopher. A must for serious students of this writer, whose importance increases with every decade." —Philip Zaleski, co-author of The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings: J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield

"Reading C.S. Lewis should be read by Lewis devotees and detractors alike. In this remarkably wise and balanced account of Lewis' imaginative and apologetic works, readers of every persuasion will discover an intellect more capacious, a sensibility more congenial, and a world-view more inclusive and edifying than those of the sectarian Lewis created and somewhat distorted by our own cultural wars." —Sanford Schwartz, author of C.S. Lewis on the Final Frontier: Science and the Supernatural in the Space Trilogy

"Wesley Kort's achievement is to have written a treatment of C. S. Lewis that is, first, synoptic, in that it covers generously yet concisely the broad ambit of Lewis's writing. Kort is at once a sensitive and a sensible reader of Lewis, who takes seriously Lewis' thought while refusing to play the 'are you for him or are you against him?' game. Kort has given us an 'experiment in criticism' of an order that Lewis himself would surely have appreciated." —Richard A. Rosengarten, The University of Chicago Divinity School

"It is clear that Kort has provided a commendable volume that is certain to be enjoyed by C. S. Lewis fans everywhere. I recommend it with enthusiasm!"—John Knight, Liberty University School of Divinity

"Kort describes himself as 'neither a devotee nor a detractor' of Lewis, and this is one of the strengths of his work. He provides honest commentary throughout his analysis when warranted, highlighting points that he thinks Lewis explains well and demonstrating places where he thinks Lewis has fallen short, especially from today's perspective." —Reading Religion

From the Publisher