The A-Z of C.S.Lewis: An Encyclopaedia of His Life. Thought and Writings by Colin Duriez ( 2013 ) Hardcover

by Colin Duriez

Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of C. S. Lewis's death, this complete guide covers all of Lewis' works, from his literary criticism to NarniaC. S. Lewis's work is widely known and regarded, but enthusiasts are often only aware of one part of his work—his children's stories and his popular theology; and yet he wrote so much more, including science fiction and literary criticism. This volume brings together all aspects of C S Lewis's lifeand thought. Arranged in alphabetical order, it begins with The Abolition of Man—written in 1943 and described as "almost my favorite"—to Wormwood, a character in The Screwtape Letters. This book will delight anyone who is interested in C. S. Lewis and wants to learn more about him, his thought, his works, and his life.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Reference

Hardcover

First published October 18, 2013

About the author

Colin Duriez is an English writer and scholar best known for his work on the Inklings, the literary circle that included C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Owen Barfield, and Charles Williams. Born in Derbyshire in 1947, he moved to Leicester in 1983 to work as a commissioning editor for the publisher IVP. Over the years he has combined editorial work with teaching, and in 2002 he established his own business, InWriting, in Keswick, Cumbria, providing writing and editorial services as well as book acquisition for publishers.
Winner of the Clyde S. Kilby Award in 1994 for his research on the Inklings, Duriez has been praised as one of the most valuable contemporary scholars on Lewis. His numerous books explore the lives, friendships, and imaginative worlds of Lewis and Tolkien, including Bedeviled: Lewis, Tolkien, and the Shadow of Evil, The Oxford Inklings, and Tolkien and C. S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship. His work has been lauded for accessibility, scholarly insight, and fresh perspectives.
Duriez has also appeared in television documentaries such as A Quest for Meaning – Myth, Imagination & Faith in the Literature of J. R. R. Tolkien & C. S. Lewis. He lives in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.

Reviews

[Ruth Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would call this book review rather mixed. Mostly, I can recommend this book. It has an incredible amount of information about C.S. Lewis, and it does assume that you are basically familiar with him and his writings. The book is not to be read as a biography or pleasure reading. This is an expanded dictionary, and it is a reference book. You can basically find any information you need about this Christian author, and I discovered much new information. I now long to read some of C.S. Lewis's writings with which I am not familiar.

My complaint is that in the author's brevity, I believe sometimes things were not written using the most careful language so as not to be misunderstood. I believe that when one tries to reconcile all of C.S. Lewis's writings, one will definitely struggle. He was a Christian whose faith continued to evolve over time. Just like with any growing Christian, what is believed at the beginning of the journey may not be the same as what is believed in subsequent years. I do not believe a Christian can be an agnostic, and I also don't believe that a true Christian will discount a literal heaven. Those are just a couple of the exceptions I would take with this volume. But in the end, the author accomplished his purpose. I am intrigued by C.S. Lewis more than I ever was, and I am already attempting to decide what I will read by Lewis next!

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

[Pauline Yu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive and Thorough

I wish there was more to read and learn from this well-researched and extensively presented encyclopedia of C.S. Lewis's life, thoughts and writings. I didn't want this to end. I will give this another read and more to make sure I don't miss more nuggets of wisdom about my favorite author and professor. Kudos to the author for the compilation and presentation.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Source: Free copy from Litfuse Publicity and Kregel/Lion Books in exchange for a review.
Clive Staples Lewis, C. S. Lewis, or to those who knew him intimately he was simply known as Jack. Born 1898 and died November 22, 1963. Does the date in November ring a bell for another famous person's death?
President John F. Kennedy died November 22, 1963.

C. S. Lewis was born in Belfast, Ireland. He had an older brother named Warren, also known as Warnie. C. S. Lewis taught at both Oxford and Cambridge. He was an author, teacher, apologist. He married late in life and had two step-sons.

This past November 22, 2013 marked 50 years since C. S. Lewis's death.

Summary:
The A-Z of C. S. Lewis, is a wonderful hard copy encyclopedic edition of Lewis's life and works.
Beginning with: Abhalljin, Abingdon, The Abolition of Man, and completing with: Wormwood, Wraggle, Wynyard School, Wyvern, Zalindreh, Zardeenah.
The book explores his: personal life, academics, writings, beliefs, friends, family members, atheism, belief in Jesus Christ, apologetics, marriage, death.

My Thoughts:
Pros:
The A-Z of C. S. Lewis, is a must read book for anyone who loves C. S. Lewis.
It is a book which can be utilized for general reference and information, or can be read from start to finish.
C. S. Lewis was friends with other literary giants, for example J. R. R. Tolkien. The A-Z of C. S. Lewis gives the reader a look at Lewis and Tolkien's comradely and relationship.
There were a few things about Lewis and his late wife Joy which I did not know until reading this book. Joy had been a communist earlier in her life, her first husband did not change in regards to his belief, but Joy later became a Christian.
I also did not know until reading this book Lewis loved medieval history and Arthurian legends. These themes are a favorite of mine as well.
While reading The A-Z of C. S. Lewis, I realized Lewis's wide scope of reading habits, friends, interests, and intelligence. He strikes me as a man who would be difficult to tear my eyes away from, or to move away from his speech.
A favorite part of the book is reading about Lewis's view of myth and his use of it in writing. Myth is"imaginative fiction and poetry". In reading a myth story, we see the world through a different lens. We are learning in a way which does not feel like learning. It's a perfect teaching tool, for both the young and mature reader.

Cons:
I would have liked a separate list showing all his books written.There is a list at the end of the book showing all his written material, and another list showing all the books written about him.
I also would have liked to have more information in this book about his turn from atheism to Christianity.
There are two dates in the book given as to his birth, 1892 and 1898. This could have been a typo.

[Laura Hartness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of author C.S. Lewis’ death in 1963, bringing about a new crop of titles related to this prolific writer. Many are familiar with Lewis’ work in The Chronicles of Narnia, as were portrayed most recently in films produced by Walden Media. While the general public’s awareness of these films has increased the visibility of this beloved novelist, his work went far beyond a magical wardrobe and a Christ-like lion. True, Lewis was known for fiction titles such as the Chronicles, his space trilogy and The Screwtape Letters, but the vast majority of his work was in nonfiction. As a noted Christian apologist, he produced numerous titles that explained and defended many aspects of his faith. Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain and his literary criticisms are highly regarded in Christian and academic circles alike.

Author Colin Duriez, a scholar who is well versed in all things C.S. Lewis, has compiled a volume which he has titled The A-Z of C.S. Lewis. Within this 350-page assemblage are dictionary-like entries of facts, names, literary titles and just about everything related to Clive Staples Lewis. From “Abhalljin” (a fictional island) to “Zardeenah” (a moon goddess), Duriez defines and explains scores of topics, linking many of them with cross references. Most of Lewis’ books are summarized or described, which is an effective way to educate the reader who is unfamiliar with particular titles. Biographical entries are also included, giving us background on who he was and the life he led.

While The A-Z of C.S. Lewis appears to be a standard reference book, I found it to be oddly addicting as I perused its pages. A great number of the listings have the aforementioned cross references, and as I would enjoy one entry, the cross reference would lead me to examine a related one. That next listing would be linked to yet another item, leading me on again into Lewis’ world. Many readers of this title may not choose to read it straight through from the first page to the last, but over time it would be fairly easy to cover the majority of the content through the cross references alone.

In 1998 I made my first online transaction with Amazon.com. By book of choice was The Quotable Lewis by Martindale and Root. I loved reading each entry, getting nibbles and snacks of Lewis along the way. It remains one of my favorite Lewis-related titles to this day. Duriez’s dictionary is much in the same vein. It can be used as a research tool for one who is looking for information on specific topics in Lewis’ life, but reading it for pure pleasure is also a likely choice. The A-Z of C.S. Lewis is excellent for the novice and will be a delight for seasoned Lewis fans. Duriez’s work is not only a labor of love, but a resource for the world as well.

[ACS Book-finder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outside of reading The Chronicles of Narnia to my children, my interest in C.S. Lewis was limited to the movie "Shadowlands" and reading several portions from Essays on Theology and Ethics. This volume has once again piqued my interest to read more of Lewis's works. From the very preface of the book, the quote on how to enjoy a book by Lewis (p. 9) caught my attention.

Having grown up in a home filled with old books, and blessed with an attic which was a childhood hideaway for he and his brother, Warren, to play in for hours, explore writing and drawing, it seems like a happy childhood. Unfortunately, sorrow engulfed the family's life when Lewis's mother died of cancer when he was nine. His father was unable to cope with his grief and sent Clive Staples or "Jack" as he wished to be called, to a boarding school in England from their home in Belfast. He was later moved back to college in Belfast, then to several other schools. However, he was never happier than when sent in 1914 to a private tutor. He briefly served in the First World War, until he was injured and subsequently discharged. During all this time he had been writing poetry intended for publication.

In this volume, you can read of his close relationships with other authors of his time. Many of them met weekly at a favorite pub to fellowship and intellectually challenge each other as they read portions of their current writings aloud. They were known as "The Inklings". Lewis was especially close to J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Hugo Dyson. He credits Tolkien and Dyson with drawing him to Christianity. Through my overview of this volume, I have been challenged to read The Pilgrim's Regress, written after Lewis's conversion to Christianity and in response to The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. Reviews of all his works by Duriez, a lifetime student of Lewis, are very helpful when read prior to the actual writing.

Whether you are looking for specific information on the writings of Lewis, information on his closest earthly relationships, or merely browsing through this alphabetic text, you will find many entries of interest with cross references to lead you, as Aslan said, "higher up and deeper in" to the world of C.S. Lewis. I recommend this book to lovers of C.S. Lewis and those who desire to get to known and understand his varied and treasured contributions to 20th century literature.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy of The A-Z of C.S. Lewis, An Encyclopedia of His Life, Thought and Writings by Colin Duriez and Published in 2013 by Lion Hudson in Oxford. was provided byin exchange for this review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer. No compensation was provided for this review.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

He captivated millions with his writings, from Narnia to the Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity, he has widen his readers scope of how a Christian man can write. Yet, there is much more to C.S.Lewis than that. Colin Duriez writes a fantastical encyclopedia that everyone who is an admirer or fan of Lewis's writings should read, must read.

What more can a reader ask for than an encyclopedia dedicated to exploring the life, thoughts and writings of one special one author? Especially because this author wrote my most adored children's novels which I am sure many of you know the name, The Chronicles of Narnia.

I am captivated when it comes to C.S.Lewis. The moment I got this book I was in heaven (metaphorically of course). I was also in mystery mode and thought to myself, "What are the truths in this book that give us more detail on C.S.Lewis?" The physical presentation of this book gets an A+. I love the picture they chose of C.S.Lewis. He looks like the friendly uncle that always had a story or some wisdom to share, and boy does C.S.Lewis share some pro-founding wisdom.

This book is literally A-Z, and acts like any other encyclopedia. The depth of this book is remarkable! Duriez was so dutiful and tactful at sharing a wide range of engaging information about the great author. I believe every author should have one for the reasons that it is immensely helpful and insightful for their readers. The book mentions topics ranging from titles of unfinished works, close friends, titles of stories that inspired C.S.Lewis and foods that were present in his writings ( my favorite, Turkish delight ^_^).

Duriez accomplished an outstanding feat but starting and finishing a book as excellent as this one. It will be a book that I will return to for future references and also for pure enjoyment. It's always more endearing to read of a favored author from childhood and come to know of him personally through a trusted source of a novel than maybe an unknown source.

Well researched and recommended to the sky and back if you adore anything C.S.Lewis, be it Narnia, short stories, essays or even quotes this book does him well. It's a work of art.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bookshelves
Disclaimer: I received a free copy for an honest review from Litfuse Publicity Group.

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the Book:
Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of C. S. Lewis's death, this complete guide covers all of Lewis' works, from his literary criticism to Narnia.

C. S. Lewis's work is widely known and regarded, but enthusiasts are often only aware of one part of his work—his children's stories and his popular theology; and yet he wrote so much more, including science fiction and literary criticism. This volume brings together all aspects of C S Lewis's life
and thought. Arranged in alphabetical order, it begins with The Abolition of Man—written in 1943 and described as "almost my favorite"—to Wormwood, a character in The Screwtape Letters. This book will delight anyone who is interested in C. S. Lewis and wants to learn more about him, his thought, his works, and his life.

About the Author:
Colin Duriez is a widely respected authority on Tolkien and a regular speaker at Tolkien conferences. He is the author of The C. S. Lewis Encyclopedia, A Field Guide to Narnia, The Inklings Handbook, and Tolkien and C. S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship, among others.

My Review:
First of all, WOW! The author truly outdid himself. This is a very thorough, authoritative writing on the life of C.S. Lewis and his beloved writings. If you want to learn more about the man, the myth, the legend than this book is truly one for all that and more.

I have reviewed only one book on C. S. Lewis and it was a children's book, so I knew very little about him. But knowing that he rejected Christ at some point in his life seem to be enough, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

The author helps us break down his writings so that they are easier to understand, but understanding his writings is just the tip of the iceberg, you learn even more about the man behind it all.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Litfuse Publicity.

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colin Duriez in his new book “The A-Z of C. S. Lewis” published by Lion Books gives us an encyclopedia of His Life, Thought, and Writings.

From the back cover: Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of C. S. Lewis’s death, this complete guide covers all of Lewis’ works, from his literary criticism to Narnia

C. S. Lewis’s work is widely known and regarded, but enthusiasts are often only aware of one part of his work—his children’s stories and his popular theology; and yet he wrote so much more, including science fiction and literary criticism. This volume brings together all aspects of C S Lewis’s life
and thought. Arranged in alphabetical order, it begins with The Abolition of Man—written in 1943 and described as “almost my favorite”—to Wormwood, a character in The Screwtape Letters. This book will delight anyone who is interested in C. S. Lewis and wants to learn more about him, his thought, his works, and his life.

Let’s do word association. What comes to mind when I say C. S. Lewis? Perhaps that he was friends with J. R. R. Tolkien. Maybe that he was an atheist until he found Jesus. Most might say “Narnia” or “Screwtape”. All of them would be correct however none of them would touch upon his thoughts, times, works, loves and life. Colin Duriez has put together as much of the man as possible in alphabetical order so that everything is available for us to read and consider. This is an admirable job and very well done. If you are interested in the life of a man from A-Z then this is the book for you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Stacie Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the A-Z of C.S. LewisThe A-Z of C S Lewis: A Complete Guide to His Life, Thoughts and Writings, in exchange for review from Litfuse.

wanted to read the book because I love Chronicles of Narnia. I read the entire series over a few days. My mother is also a fan of C.S. Lewis's non-fiction books. She has a whole collection of the non-fiction, plus Narnia and the ScrewTape letters. Some of her books includes Mere Christianity, Words to Live by, A Joyful Christian and a Case for Christianity. She is awaiting me to give her this book because of her collection.

The A-Z Guide is an encyclopedia of C.S. Lewis's books, thoughts, and writings. The book is in alphabetical order.


Each entry provides a description of a book or writing or character in a book, etc. Some entries are related to other entries. Some entries have further reading to expand your knowledge.

For example, I looked up Aslan. In the book, Aslan is:

The creator and ultimate sovereign of Naria.
Aslan is intended to be a symbol of Christ in Christian teaching.
Readers are moved to tears when Aslan dies (yep, I was sad too).
See Allegory ("an extended metaphor, or sustained personification. figurative narrative or description, which conveys a hidden meaning.". See also imagination, Aslan, or Allegory of love.
Imagination: hard to define. fantasy is a power and product of imagination (p. 141).

The book also contains a bibliography of Lewis's work.

[Sunflower · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first received, "The A-Z of C.S. Lewis: A Complete Guide to His Life, Thoughts and Writings", my initial thoughts was that it would be like a biography or a collection of his quotes, but what I discovered instead is basically an encyclopedia collection of everything, C.S. Lewis, that makes a great companion piece for fans of him and his writings.

Filled with interesting bits of trivia, tidbits and the books he had written, some that I hadn't realized I wasn't even aware of that was in existence.

The information varies from short tidbits of information to a comprehensive look at C.S. information that by the time one finishes perusing this copy, would leave them feeling like they know everything that there is to know about C.S. Lewis.

Good for those who are needing an all in one starting point for reference materials starting points or just a fan of his work, I was pleasantly surprised by the book, although I was hoping too that added with it, could have been a collection of his quotes as well.

Complete with cross references however, if you are needing a great reference book for either a paper on C.S.Lewis or you're just a fan of him and his writings, I highly recommend this book.

[Create With Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of C.S. Lewis, if you enjoy reading reference books, or if you love learning little known facts and trivia about prominent people, then The A – Z Of C.S. Lewis by Colin Duriez deserves a spot on your bookshelf!

This book contains alphabetical entries and cross-references on anything and everything you've ever wanted to know about C.S. Lewis’s life if only you’d known to ask!

If you are only familiar with slices of C.S. Lewis's life, you’ll be surprised to learn the breadth and depth that his life spanned.

It takes a lot of research and imagination to delve into all of the corners of a person’s life – to pull out the pertinent parts – and to piece them together in a logical yet compelling manner. Kudos to Colin for hitting a home run and providing us with an invaluable reference!

To read my review in its entirety, please visit Create With Joy.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The following is a review of The A-Z of C.S. Lewis. All opinions are mine and mine alone, no other compensation was received.

Are you a fan of C.S. Lewis? Think you know everything there is to know about him? Wish you had an encyclopedia of sorts to reference while you are reading his books or are talking about him to other people?

Look no further than The A-Z of C.S. Lewis. This book is exactly what you may be looking for.

Arranged like a dictionary, Colin Duriez (a C.S. Lewis scholar and author) has put together quite the reference tool for any C.S. Lewis novice or expert.

In this book, expect to find references to all of his writings, places he visited, friends, nearly anything you could think of to reference about C.S. Lewis. It is laid out easy to use like a small encyclopedia. In the back of the book is quite an impressive bibliography for your further reading and research.

This is a terrific book for anyone who loves C.S. Lewis. Colin Duriez took a ton of time and care in putting this wonderful resource together.

My husband even loved this book and wants to sit down and read it cover to cover.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the writings of C.S. Lewis. I was given the chance to read the book A-Z of C.S Lewis by Colin Duriez. I was familiar with C.S Lewis and his many children's books especially 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' so found this book very interesting as it opened my eyes to a lot more of C.S Lewis. This book brings together a lot of the writings and information together into one book. It is a little hard to read and takes a little persevering. I did learn a lot of things but I felt I had to work at it.

The main reason it was so overwhelming is because so much knowledge is packed into this little book!

This is not a book I could sit and read all the way through at once. However I love having this sat on my bookshelf to turn to as a reference or flick through when interested. It contains quotes and even information on places that C.S. Lewis had visited. It's very interesting.

This is definitely an excellent resource for all C.S. Lewis fans.

[Jeff LeMaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clive Staples Lewis, author, critic, philosopher and theologian, left his mark on civilization through his friendships, students, and books. This Lewis encyclopedia will take the reader from zero to expert in one fascinating read.

C. S. Lewis created whole realms, so it is only fitting that we have this resource that opens both the real world of his life and the varied worlds of his imagination. Lewis devotees will devour every page.

I thought I had read most of his books until I saw his entire bibliography. I now have a new list of books on my reading list.

A Lewis-lover, I was ecstatic when Litfuse offered a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

Read the entire review.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only comprehensive book on C. S. Lewis I have perused but it certainly looks definitive to me. There are entries on everything, the books (characters, places, themes), the essays, the lectures, his friends, people who influenced him, his relatives, his beliefs, on and on. Some entries are short but others, like Lewis' theology of romance, go on for five pages. I have read much of Lewis, the Narnia books, his space trilogy, and many of his nonfiction. But I had no idea there was so much more to the man. This is a great book one will return to time and again. Lewis was very influential in how we see our world today and this book shows us why. See my full review at http://bit.ly/1jBxddM.

[Beckie Burnham · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a serious student of C. S. Lewis or just want to know more about this influential author — his life, works and thoughts, you need to get The A-Z of C. S. Lewis. Filled with everything you need to know, this book is a well-researched and exhaustive reference. It contains listings for the important people and places in Lewis’ life, the characters and settings of his major works, references to his essays and lectures and the basic beliefs he held. Duriez also includes a detailed bibliography including posthumous works and criticism and biography. This book is a great companion for all your Lewis reading. It certainly opened my eyes to a world beyond Narnia and Mere Christianity.

Recommended.

(Thanks to LitFuse for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[Rebekah Gyger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This work of non-fiction is a great collection of C. S. Lewis's life and work. It contains a lot of interesting facts that I had not known and that I will enjoy reading again. My one complaint is that I wished a few things would have gone a little more in depth.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.

[Kingsley Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very useful as a reference to everything Lewis.

[Elisha]

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