C. S. Lewis and His Circle: Essays and Memoirs from the Oxford C.S. Lewis Society

by Roger White (Editor), Judith Wolfe (Editor), Brendan Wolfe (Editor)

Overview

For over thirty years, the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society has met weekly in the medieval colleges of the University of Oxford. During that time, it has hosted as speakers nearly all those still living who were associated with the Inklings-the Oxford literary circle led by C. S. Lewis--as well as authors and thinkers of a prominence that nears Lewis's own. C. S. Lewis and His Circle offers the reader a chance to join this unique group. Roger White has worked with Society past presidents Brendan and Judith Wolfe to select the most important talks, which are here made available to the wider public for the first time. They exemplify the best of traditional academic essays, thoughtful memoirs, and informal reminiscences about C. S. Lewis and his circle. The reader will reimagine Lewis's Cosmic Trilogy with former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, read philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe's final word on Lewis's arguments for Christianity, hear the Reverend Peter Bide's memories of marrying Lewis and Joy Davidman in an Oxford hospital, and learn about Lewis's Narnia Chronicles from his former secretary. Representing the finest of both personal and scholarly engagement with C. S. Lewis and the Inklings, the talks collected here set a new tone for engagement with this iconic Oxford literary circle--a tone close to Lewis's own Oxford--bred sharpness and wryness, seasoned with good humor and genuine affection for C. S. Lewis and his circle.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190214364
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/01/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	504 KB

About the Author

Roger White is curator of the Inklings Special Collection for the University Libraries as well as Professor of Ministry for the Seminary at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. Judith Wolfe is Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Theology and the Arts at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. She has published widely on C. S. Lewis and is the founding general editor of the Journal of Inklings Studies. Brendan N. Wolfe is a Germanic philologist at Oxford, editor of the Journal of Inklings Studies, and past president and secretary of the C. S. Lewis Society of Oxford University.

Table of Contents

Foreword Suzanne and Gregory Wolfe (Founders of the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society) Preface Roger White, Judith Wolfe, and Brendan N. Wolfe Author Biographies Part I: Essays Philosophy and Theology 1. C. S. Lewis, Defender of the Faith Alister Mcgrath (Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford) 2. C. S. Lewis's Rewrite of Chapter III of Miracles Elizabeth Anscombe (Leading twentieth-century philosopher) 3. C. S. Lewis and the Limits of Reason Stephen Logan (Musician, poet; Principal Supervisor in English, Clare College, Cambridge) 4. Sacramentalism in C. S. Lewis and Charles Williams Kallistos Ware (Metropolitan Bishop of Diocleia; Spalding Lecturer in Eastern Orthodox Studies (Emeritus), University of Oxford) 5. Charles Williams and the Problem of Evil Paul Fiddes (Professor of Systematic Theology, Oxford University) Literature 6. That Hideous Strength: A Reassessment Rowan Williams (Baron Williams of Oystermouth, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, previously 104th Archbishop of Canterbury) 7. Yearning for a Far-Off Country Malcolm Guite (Poet, singer-songwriter; Chaplain at Girton College, Cambridge) 8. W. H. Auden and the Inklings Michael Piret (Dean of Divinity, Magdalen College, Oxford) 9. The Lewis Diaries: C. S. Lewis and the English Faculty in the 1920s Tom Shippey (Walter J. Ong Chair of Humanities (Emeritus), Saint Louis University) 10. It All Began with a Picture: The Making of C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia Walter Hooper (Editor and biographer of C. S. Lewis; literary advisor to the C. S. Lewis Estate) Part II: Memoirs Memories of C. S. Lewis by His Family and Friends 11. The Lewis Family Joan Murphy (A Lewis Family Cousin) 12. Recollections of C. S. Lewis George Sayer (Former student, friend, and biographer of C. S. Lewis) 13. C. S. Lewis as a Parishioner Ronald Head (Formerly Vicar of Holy Trinity Church Headington Quarry, where C. S. Lewis attended) 14. Marrying C. S. Lewis Peter Bide (Friend and priest of C. S. Lewis, officiate of Lewis's marriage to Joy Davidman) 15. Memories of the Socratic Club Stella Aldwinckle (Founder of the Oxford Socratic Club) Memories of The Inklings 16. The Inklings Walter Hooper (Editor and biographer of C. S. Lewis; literary advisor to the C. S. Lewis Estate) 17. Lewis and/or Barfield Owen Barfield (Friend of C. S. Lewis, Inklings member, solicitor, philosopher, poet) 18. Brothers and Friends: The Diaries of W. H. Lewis John Wain (Friend of C. S. Lewis, Inklings member, poet, novelist) 19. Nevill Coghill and C. S. Lewis: Two Irishmen at Oxford John Wain (Friend of C. S. Lewis, Inklings member, poet, novelist) Afterword: A Brief History of the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society Michael Ward (Senior Member of the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society) Index

Editorial Reviews

"This book is a treat. Just when you might have thought there wasn't much more to say about Lewis, Tolkien, and their friends, we have a rich and diverse collection of reflections, reminiscences, expositions, and engagements from angles both expected and unexpected. By retaining the spoken style of the original contributions to the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society (not quite a new Inklings, not quite a new Socratic Club, but sharing the heritage of both), the editors give us the sense that we are there in Oxford, thinking through issues old and new, always being challenged to fresh visions of literature, faith, and a hundred other topics. There is here much to ponder, much to praise." —Rt. Revd. Prof. N. T. Wright, St. Mary's College, St. Andrews

"Among the many worthwhile studies of C. S. Lewis which have been published in recent years, this will prove to be among the most important. It gives us authentic and candid insights into his personal as well as his literary and scholastic life, adds significantly to our understanding of why his reputation continues to expand worldwide, and deepens his influence." —Aidan Mackey, Senior Fellow, G. K. Chesterton Institute

"The Oxford C. S. Lewis Society has always been a beacon for students of C. S. Lewis, his friends, and their shared vision. In this splendid collection, the editors share with us the choicest fruits of thirty years of scholarship and conversation. The result is an illuminating tribute to Lewis and an intellectual feast worthy of the liveliest of Inklings gatherings." —Carol Zaleski, co-author (with Philip Zaleski) of The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings: J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, Charles Williams

"The book is a treasure for Lewis fans. Highly recommended."—J. R. Griffin, Colorado State University, CHOICE

"The satisfactions of this volume are legion- far too numerous to be contained in this brief review. It is far better to find the book itself, along with a comfortable chair."—Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal

From the Publisher

05/01/2015
This collection of essays, edited by White (curator of special library collections, professor of ministry, Azusa Pacific Univ., CA), Judith Wolfe (theology, arts, St. Andrews Univ., Scotland), and Brendan Wolfe (editor, Journal of Inklings Studies), members of Oxford University's C.S. Lewis Society, includes never-before published talks given at the group's meetings between 1984 and 1999 by scholars and Lewis's relatives, students, and friends. Lewis (1898–1963), an authority on medieval and Renaissance English literature, is best known as the author of The Screwtape Letters, the "Chronicles of Narnia" series, and Surprised by Joy, all of which reflect his deep commitment to the Christian faith. This volume, which focuses on Lewis in the context of the literary sphere in which he lived and worked, consists of four sections. Parts 1 and 2 contain essays by scholars in the areas of philosophy, theology, and literature, and the remaining two sections consist of memoirs written by family, friends, and members of the Inklings, the Oxford literary group cofounded by Lewis. Recurring themes include Lewis's connections with writers such as Charles Williams and W.H. Auden. Alister McGrath's opening essay provides an overview of Lewis's life and works, and Walter Hooper's contribution does likewise about the Inklings. VERDICT The first half of the book will be of interest to scholars, while the latter will also appeal to devotees of Lewis's works.—Denise J. Stankovics, Vernon, CT

Library Journal