The Last Romantic: C. S. Lewis, English Literature, and Modern Theology

Hansen Lectureship

by Jeffrey W. Barbeau, Sarah Borden (Contributor), Matthew Lundin (Contributor)

Three Essays on C. S. Lewis and Romanticism

Many readers have heard C. S. Lewis's logical arguments for the Christian faith. Yet throughout his wide-ranging study and writing, Lewis often began with experience, intuition, and religious feeling rather than dogmatic assertions. The most profound questions of Lewis's own life, argues theologian and literary critic Jeffrey Barbeau, can be seen in his quest to understand the relationship between personal experience and the truth about the world around him.

In a series of three essays, Barbeau explores the influence of nineteenth-century Romanticism on the writings of C. S. Lewis. Barbeau demonstrates Lewis's indebtedness to Romantic notions of imagination and subjectivity, opens new contexts for understanding ideas about memory and personal identity in his autobiographical writings, and explores beliefs about nature and Christian sacraments throughout his writings on Christian faith. This theological and literary investigation reveals Lewis as a profoundly modern thinker and illuminates his ongoing relevance to contemporary debates about theology and culture.

Drawing on extensive reading of the marginalia in the personal library of C. S. Lewis held by the Marion E. Wade Center, Barbeau offers a fresh understanding of the influence of modern theology and Romantic poetry, especially Wordsworth and Coleridge, on many of Lewis's most beloved works. Essays and responses include:

• C. S. Lewis and the "Romantic Heresy," with response from professor Sarah Borden,
• C. S. Lewis and the Anxiety of Memory, with response from professor Matthew Lundin, and
• C. S. Lewis and the Sacramental Imagination, with response from professor Keith L. Johnson.

Based on the annual lecture series hosted at Wheaton College's Marion E. Wade Center, volumes in the Hansen Lectureship Series reflect on the imaginative work and lasting influence of seven British authors: Owen Barfield, G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Dorothy L. Sayers, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams.

Genres: Nonfiction, Literature, Religion, Philosophy, Poetry, Christianity, Criticism

176 pages, Paperback

Published January 28, 2025

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for C.S. Lewis fans, revealing how 19th Century Romanticism influenced his writings and his faith. Highly recommended!

[Jason Albertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little more book than I bargained for. I read an earlier one in the series a while ago (George MacDonald in the Age of Miracles by Timothy Larsen), and I remember it being pitched a bit lower. In comparison, The Last Romantic took me by surprise. Barbeau traces C. S. Lewis's literary, theological and philosophical influences by tracing the annotations in Lewis's books. Honestly, I struggled to keep up with its dives into 19th-century developments in German philosophy and English literature. Maybe that highlights the disparity between my intelligence and those of Lewis's generation. Maybe it's a sad commentary on the way media has eroded attention spans and cultural literacy between then and now. Even so, I wish this volume had been pitched a bit lower.

Even with those times when I was in over my head, though, this book has been really helpful for my thinking. In three essays, Barbeau tells the story of Lewis's influences from his work with Lewis's library. After each essay, a colleague responds.

Sarah Borden's response to the first essay is the high point of the book for me. Where Barbeau is concerned with documenting where Lewis falls within the history of philosophy, Borden comes at Lewis's philosophy and theology directly -- for me, that's the stuff. I appreciate Barbeau's work, and he walked me through some historical stuff that is really helpful, but I run out of patience for the historical angle. Borden's response cuts through some of the clutter to clarify Barbeau's points, and together that essay and response are a great combo.

The second essay is another high point for me. In this section, Barbeau considers the role of spiritual autobiography in discipleship literature. This genre is common in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition, but Lewis's apologetic literature uses it too (Surprised by Joy and A Grief Observed). I was raised in the Holiness section of the Wesleyan tradition, and I've wrestled with the role of spiritual autobiography in spiritual formation for years now. In the Holiness Movement, personal narratives are often used as theology, as a way to explore how God works in/with our lives. This essay explores the ways C. S. Lewis used personal narratives to offer a map to fellow travelers, and I think it provides some helpful insights for the way Holiness people theologize experiences. I hope to make the ideas here part of my thinking and teaching.

Barbeau has taken me deeper than I wanted to go, and I've missed some stuff along the way, but I'm grateful for this book. I'll be chewing on it for a while. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review at WORLD magazine.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both expanded my understanding of Lewis and renewed my interest in Romantics who I haven’t considered since college. Worthwhile.

[BJ Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Romantic is a dense yet illuminating exploration of how English Romanticism shaped the theological and imaginative vision of C.S. Lewis. Originally delivered as the 2023 Hansen Lectures at Wheaton College, Barbeau’s work digs deep into Lewis’s library, focusing especially on his marginalia, to uncover the literary and philosophical currents, especially those of Wordsworth, Coleridge, and German Idealists like Schleiermacher, that informed Lewis’s thought. The book’s structure: three lectures, each followed by a scholarly response, offers a multifaceted perspective, though it also demands a fair amount from readers. Those without a background in Romantic literature or philosophical theology may find parts challenging to follow, especially the more abstract reflections on sacramentality and epistemology.

Barbeau’s central claim is that Lewis’s theology and imagination were deeply formed by Romanticism’s emphasis on subjectivity, memory, and symbol, but without falling into the relativism or solipsism often associated with those traditions. In fact, Barbeau argues persuasively that Lewis’s method moves from the subjective to the objective. He begins with personal experience (as in Mere Christianity or Surprised by Joy) but always uses it to point toward universal truth. Particularly compelling is the second lecture’s discussion of spiritual autobiography, connecting Lewis to Methodist figures like Wesley, and arguing that Lewis’s autobiographical works adapt Romantic conventions to articulate a theological vision. This section is especially meaningful for readers from Holiness or Wesleyan traditions, who see experience as integral to theological reflection.

Though occasionally overburdened with academic detail, The Last Romantic offers a rich, archival portrait of Lewis not just as apologist or storyteller, but as a thinker shaped by and reacting to the Romantic tradition. Some readers may struggle with the technical discussions in the third lecture on symbolism and sacramentality, and not all the theological claims are fully convincing, particularly where the role of Christ is implied more than directly addressed. Nonetheless, Barbeau’s careful reading of Lewis’s annotated books and his recovery of the theological depth within Lewis’s imaginative writings make this a valuable contribution to Lewis studies and to the ongoing reassessment of Romanticism’s role in Christian thought.

[Katherine Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last Romantic was quite a heavy, acacdemic look at how 19th century romanticism and the thinkers of the day, influenced C.S. Lewis and his writings. As with most heavy academic books I read, personally, the first half is difficult to get through, then the second half or perhaps the final third of the book breezes by. This may be in part due to this book being established as separate academic essays, in book form. You can appreciate this with the many pages of citations at the end. The book was more than I bargained for, but an interesting perspective that probably could have been spread between more distinct chapters and sections, to make the reading of it easier. As a sidenote, the subtitle about english literature and modern theology really interested me, because I studied theology at the graduate level. Great read, but I wouldnt do so again unless I am in the headspace for it, or have the capacity for it, being such a heavy read. Not heavy as in difficult content, but heavy as in academic in nature. I do appreciate the search for truth being a centric issue in Lewis' life, as each argument is deeply considered, something which believers and skeptics can appreciate, and which is evident in many of his writings. As Barbeau greatly demonstrates, Lewis's theology and imagination found in his writings and his life were deeply formed by Romanticism - specifically the importance of symbol, as well as objective and subjective sides of life. Other romantic authors were mentioned and examined to varied extent, including Wordsworth and Coleridge, which is of interest to those who know something about English and Romantic poetry. These two greatly influenced C.S. Lewis, which is made clear with exposition in this book/set of papers. If you enjoy C.S. Lewis' writings and are in the mood for a heavier, academic examination of some of the heart and meaning behind his perspective in life, I recommend hits book. Plus, the cover is beautiful and is one of the reasons why I requested the book, aside from the fact its about C.S. Lewis. My rating is likely more personally driven rather than content driven, do not let that deter you from reading this one!

I received an ecopy of the book free from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, all opinions expressed are my own.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is comprised of three lectures by Barbeau on how C.S. Lewis was influenced by Romanticism, followed by thoughts on each lecture by a different scholar, then a conclusion in which Barbeau responds to the responses.
The book was short and I enjoyed reading it, but I will admit that I didn't understand every idea. If you don't know much about Lewis's work, about English Romantic poetry (primarily Wordsworth and Coleridge), or about the history of theological philosophy, I would guess you'd be in the same boat I was.
I was fascinated by Barbeau's use of Lewis's marginalia in his personal copies of poetry, philosophy, and theology to support his (Barbeau's) ideas.
Good book, but pretty technical.

[John Andrew Szott III · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little monograph monday action!
Having attended the latter two Hansen Lectures in 2023, I was very pleased to revisit this argument in written form. Through excellent archival work, this offers an exciting peak into the mind of one of my favorite authors! Well worth the read for any Lewis fan!

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

How does you review a book when you experience of its content is almost nothing? Or if it is a book on a subject you thought you knew something about but that is, in fact, a series of lectures that open up entirely new territory to you - theological, literary, and philosophical.

Well, let's find out.

I think this comes out on January 25th in the UK.

This book consists of three lectures given as part of the Ken and Jean Hansen Lectureship, which is an annual lecture series in honour of Wheaton College trustee Ken Hansen and his wife, Jean. One faculty member gives the lectures and others respond to them. Wheaton College is an explicitly Christian American College. It is also the location of a number of key archives, including C S Lewis, J R R Tolkien, Dorothy L Sayers and others.*

The main three lectures are given by Jeffrey W Barbeau, Professor of Theology. His main thesis is that Lewis's Christian literature - it's approach and it's arguments - is more dependent on the British Romantic writers, especially Wordsworth and Coleridge than we have previously understood. He bases his argument on evidence drawn from in-depth research into the marginalia of hundreds of books owned by Lewis, which are now at Wheaton College. The effort required is commendable.

The three lectures are 'C.S. Lewis and the "Romantic Heresy". Everything here has a theological centre, but this is the part with the most hard core philosophy. You're hit by names and concepts left, right, and centre:

"Although several philosophers and theologians belong to this tradition [left-wing Hegalianism], including the demythologist David Friedrich Strauss, among the most fateful developments of Hegelian philosophy appears in the writings of his erstwhile student at Berlin, Ludwig Feuerbach. The varied conceptions of self-consciousness that Schleiermacher and Hegel each theorized in defense of Christian faith become in Feuerbach the basis of one of modern theology’s severest critiques."

There is a response from Dr Sarah Borden, Professor of Philosophy at Wheaton. The response are all delightfully polite, which is nice. They are in conversation - and occasional disagreement - with some of Professor Barbeau's conclusions but the interaction between lecture and response does add value to the whole book.

The second lecture is on 'C.S.Lewis and the Anxiety of Memory' where Professor Barbeau's goal is to ...suggest C. S. Lewis draws on many of the same traditions of life writing in the composition of some of his most famous autobiographical works that inspired Sarah Congdon, with one key difference: the British Romantic literary tradition shaped C. S. Lewis’s conception of spiritual autobiography. The response is given by Matthew Lundin, Associate Professor of History at Wheaton.

This was, for me, the chapter I understood and enjoyed the most. Barbeau uses - usually two - examples of C. S. Lewis's works as examples to illustrate his arguments. Whilst pulling in texts from other sources to buttress them.

The third chapter is 'C.S. Lewis and the Sacramental Imagination', which begins with the famous wardrobe. (Which I feel should be written as The Wardrobe. After all if Irene Adler is The Woman then surely C.S. Lewis's wardrobe is The Wardrobe.) The response is by Keith L. Johnson, also a Professor of Theology at Wheaton.

Then there's Barbeau's conclusion, which is a responses to the responses and a summing up.

So, that's the organisation of the book and I think - a word we'll come back to - he makes an interesting case. But I am neither a C. S. Lewis expert, a theology student, or a philosophy student. Indeed, I'm not particularly a C.S. Lewis fan. Tolkien got me first - who is almost entirely absent from this book - and I always found Lewis's fiction sounded ridiculous in comparison. Jesus as Lion? Santa Claus? And his religious works almost entirely passed me by, although I read Humphrey Carpenter's book about 'The Inklings' and I read a biography of Lewis. But this was collateral damage from my fascination with Tolkien.

Why did I read this book then? Because I find things like this fascinating. The conversation between different writers in different times and places is always interesting. Tracking influences in a person's thinking. And this book makes a foundation for finding out more about philosophy, theology, epistemology, and the Romantics. It made me see Coleridge in an entirely different light and it made me even less worried about writing marginalia in my books. Although I don't expect Wheaton College to snaffle up my archive on my death.

I enjoyed reading it but it was a series of lectures. It is an academic book. It is also a book written by American Christians some of whom I have a very low opinion of at the present time. However all of the people here seem to be of a less extremist kind.

Sometimes you read a book and it isn't aimed at you but it opens up avenues for you to explore that you'd never really considered before. This is one of those books. For me.

*I find it sad and depressing that the archives of these three British writers have ended up in an American College. But follow the money I suppose. This is, of course, an unseemly jingoistic whinge.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: The influence of Romanticism on C.S. Lewis in terms of imagination, subjectivity, memory and identity, and the sacraments.

As a young Christian, the logical arguments of Mere Christianity were helpful in confirming me in my own Christian conviction. They also served as a source of “reasons to believe” that i could share with my friends. So I went on to read other works by Lewis including the Chronicles of Narnia and the Space Trilogy. These works captured my imagination and evoked both fear and love for the Lion who was on the move. Then I read Surprised by Joy, and how joy served as a signpost for Lewis in his journey to faith.

Jeffrey W. Barbeau helps me understand the subjective experience and Christian imagination I found in Lewis and its connection to the objective, logical arguments Lewis made for the Christian faith. What Barbeau develops in this book, a transcript of three Hansen Lectures, is the influence of nineteenth century Romantics on the thought of C.S. Lewis. He begins, though, with a debate during 1967 at his own institution, Wheaton College. Was Lewis’s thought infused with “the Romantic heresy”? The principles were Clyde Kilby, who obtained Lewis’s papers for Wheaton and introduced many in this country to Lewis, and Morris Inch, who took Lewis’s subjectivity to task.

Studying the marginalia in Lewis’s books, Barbeau traces interaction with Schleiermacher, Hegel, Marx, and Kant. He also shows the profound influence of Wordsworth, and especially Coleridge upon Lewis. While Lewis recognized that subjectivity could mislead, it could also evoke and mirror objective reality and point toward it. He shows how often in Lewis’s work, he begins with the personal to point toward the general, objective truth.

In the second lecture, Barbeau turns to what he calls “the anxiety of memory.” He observes that Lewis, in Surprised by Joy and A Grief Observed, draws on nineteenth century spiritual biography. He parallel’s Lewis to Sarah Eliza Congdon or Elmira, New York and the Journal she kept of her spiritual journey. Lewis didn’t know of Congdon but possessed a copy of John Wesley’s Journal. Again, for Lewis, Wordsworth and Coleridge released him from concerns about the “suffocatingly subjective” character of his own experience. Rather, Coleridge’s ability to connect spiritual intuition with objective theological truth was critical in the lead-up to Lewis’s conversion.

Finally, the third lecture focuses on how Romanticism influenced Lewis use of symbol. He unpacks Lewis’s view of nature, imagination, and of experiences of God. Barbeau shows how Lewis differed with figures like Nietzsche and Emerson, distinguishing nature’s power from nature worship. It is actually in the commonplaces of food and drink, and with our neighbors that we may most deeply encounter God, as in the bread and cup of the sacrament.

A distinctive contribution of Barbeau’s scholarship is his study not only of Lewis’s works but of his library. Lewis’s marginalia points to what he was thinking as he read philosophy, theology, and the works of the Romantics. Not only that, Barbeau retrieves Romanticism from the dustbin of evangelical thought as he elucidates the influence of figures like Coleridge on Lewis. It turns out the personal, the subjective, and the imagination may well point us to objective truth. Both cannot help but be inextricably involved in the Christian journey.

____________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.

[Rocio · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis:
In The Last Romantic, Jeffrey W. Barbeau presents C.S. Lewis as a figure profoundly shaped by the ideals of British Romanticism, exploring how these influences permeated his writings and theological outlook. Barbeau argues that Lewis’s deep love for literature—particularly the works of Romantic poets such as Wordsworth, Keats, and Coleridge—formed the foundation of his approach to storytelling, apologetics, and faith. The book delves into the interplay between Lewis’s literary background and his Christian beliefs, revealing how his exposure to poetry, mythology, and theology shaped his unique perspective. Ultimately, Barbeau offers a fresh understanding of Lewis’s legacy, not just as an apologist, but as a writer who sought to bridge the gap between imagination and faith in a modern world increasingly skeptical of both.

My Review:
Jeffrey W. Barbeau’s exploration of C.S. Lewis as “the last romantic” opened my eyes to just how deeply literature shapes our understanding of the world—whether we realize it or not. It made me reflect on my own reading habits and ask: What books have shaped me? Even if I don’t consciously acknowledge their influence, they have likely played a role in how I perceive and interpret life, faith, and storytelling. If someone were to look at my bookshelves, what would they say about me? What kind of influence have these books had on my thinking, and how do they shape my worldview, consciously or unconsciously? Barbeau suggests that Lewis, too, was shaped by his wide-ranging reading of poetry, theology, and fiction, which deeply influenced his approach to both apologetics and storytelling.

One of the key takeaways was why Lewis’s writings resonate with many is because they tap into our universal human experiences—our longings, fears, and desires—while pointing us beyond ourselves to God. This is where his romantic influence shines through; the Romantics taught him how to write stories that don’t just reflect human experience but direct our gaze toward something greater. As Christians, we understand that our experiences are not the ultimate reality but rather signs pointing us to the unseen truths of God, which we grasp by faith.

However, Barbeau doesn’t shy away from addressing the controversies surrounding Lewis’s theology. While his works have transformative power, some argue that his theological interpretations are subjective and may blur the lines of doctrinal truths. Many don’t consider him a theologian in the traditional sense—perhaps an apologist or storyteller, but not a doctrinal authority. I’ve often wrestled with this myself, as Lewis’s approach to faith, while compelling, sometimes leaves room for ambiguity that challenges a more structured theological framework.

Overall, The Last Romantic is a thought-provoking read that offers a compelling look at how Romanticism shaped Lewis’s life and work. It’s a fascinating blend of literary analysis and theological reflection, perfect for those who appreciate Lewis’s unique blend of imagination and faith.

Thank you to Netgalley & IVP Academic for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Gerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Romantic Romantic: C. S. Lewis, English Literature and Modern Theology is a study of the works of C. S. Lewis and the influences that affected his views and writings. It is taken from a series of essays and lectures in which they looked at how English Romanticism and German philosophy had an impact on his views. They looked at some of the footnotes in Lewis books as well as things that he had written about people such as Wordsworth or Coleridge.

C.S. Lewis had a way of reaching his readers as a common man rather than an Oxford scholar as was noted in the book. He did this sometimes by downplaying his own knowledge and understanding.

This also goes into various books of C.S. Lewis and the views expressed in them and influence upon them. So much so that his book Surprised by Joy, the title was taken from a Wordsworth poem. One of the Romantics that had influenced his thought processes.

It also goes into some detail relating to his views on how personal feeling and such things as organized religion correlate. Lewis gave an example of an individual’s experience of swimming in the ocean compared to a map of the ocean. There is much to be gained, learned and felt, from the experience. But without the map, if we needed to navigate upon the ocean we would be lost. So like a faith based only on feeling might cause us to lose our way. But combining it with a faith tradition and a moral basis, would serve as a course correction. Lewis doesn’t discount the need for feelings or a personal relationship in our faith but recognizes the need for more than feeling or love of nature to find our way to God.

This is quite a deep study of Lewis, his thoughts, works and the influences upon him. For me, this is book requires going more in depth into it and studying it and reading even re-reading the works of C.S. Lewis. There is definitely much food for thought here.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read it for an honest review.
#netgalley #thelastromantic

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Romantic
C. S. Lewis, English Literature, and Modern Theology
by Jeffrey W. Barbeau
Pub DateJan 28 2025
IVP Academic
Christian| Nonfiction \(Adult\)| Religion & Spirituality



Netgalley and IVP Academic provided me with a copy of The Last Romantic for review:




Most readers are familiar with C. S. Lewis's logical arguments for Christianity. Yet Lewis often began his study and writing with experience, intuition, and religious feelings rather than dogmatic assertions. The theologian and literary critic Jeffrey Barbeau argues that Lewis' quest to understand the relationship between personal experience and the truth about the world around him is the most profound question of his life.




In his book, Barbeau examines how 19th-century Romanticism influenced C. S. Lewis. As Barbeau shows in his autobiographical writings, Lewis is deeply influenced by Romantic notions of imagination and subjectivity. In his writings on Christian faith, he explores beliefs about nature and Christian sacraments, and opens up new perspectives on memory and personal identity. .This study of Lewis's theology and literature reveals Lewis as a profoundly modern thinker and illuminates his relevance to contemporary theological debates.


The Marion E. Wade Center's collection of S. Lewis's most beloved works offers Barbeau a fresh understanding of the influence of modern theology and Romantic poetry, especially Wordsworth and Coleridge. Essays and responses include:

C. S. Lewis and the "Romantic Heresy," with response from professor Sarah Borden,
C. S. Lewis and the Anxiety of Memory, with response from professor Matthew Lundin, and
C. S. Lewis and the Sacramental Imagination, with response from professor Keith L. Johnson.


I give The Last Romantic five of five stars!


Happy Reading!

[karla_bookishlife · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Romantic takes a detailed analysis into the writings of C s Lewis, and particularly look at his annotations to decipher the depth of Lewis's work from literary, philosophical, and theilogical standpoints. The three essays look at how Lewis's work can be considered part of the romantic movement, echoing the sense of Wordsworth, Coleridge and Co, despite Lewis writing long after the era had ended. The second essay looks at the spiritual autobiographical style used by Lewis , where personal narratives open up concepts to the wider audience. The third essay focuses on the legacy of the romantic symbol in Lewis's writing. The essays are well argued to balance the claim on Lewis being a romantic writer. The detail provided is not for the feint -hearted reader. These are not casual essays, but rely on studied knowledge of literary, philosophical and theological theory and rhetoric. Definitely must-read material for any C.S.Lewis scholars. #The LastRomantic #JeffreyWBarbeau #netgalley

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating look at the influences on CS Lewis and his reactions to some of them. It is framed as three essays, with expert responses to each. It means that after reading an essay, you immediately learn what another learned person thinks of Mr Barbeau’s arguments. The format definitely adds a lot to the reading.

Even though Lewis named a book after a Wordsworth poem, I hadn’t really thought of the Romantic poets influencing his own writing. This book sets up the idea beautifully using Lewis’s marginalia and notes. I love seeing people’s marginal notes and doodles in books ~ they give such an insight ~ and this book has examples so you can directly read the thoughts of the great man.

This is an academic book but it’s readable by a ‘lay person’ with an interest in the subject and as well as sending me back to reread Lewis, it’s sent me back to the poetry of the romantics ~ especially Coleridge whom I’ve always admired. There’s a lot of reading here and the book will add to the knowledge of even a diehard Lewis fan.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25
It’s well-written and thought-out however I do think that the book the Medieval Mind of CS Lewis lends itself better to the reader. This was more of an essay form, and if you haven’t studied CS Lewis or his academic writings published from Cambridge then it is a bit to slide through.
I will say even though I read this- I’m still not sure where the author landed as it was much too of an impersonal tone for me to really connect. I think had he allowed his voice and passion to come through in the writing it would have been better- instead of the scholarly teaching tone he took on.
Especially since he was talking about CS Lewis who was someone who was able to reach the masses so there was a bit of a disconnect there for sure.
I also want to know why on earth was Tolkien completely absent from this book? He talks about his friends leading him to Christianity- but not a whisper not a mention of Tolkien? That in and of itself is confusing.

[Jared Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! Short but satisfying. The connections Jeffrey Barbeau draws between C.S. Lewis and the Romantics make heaps of sense, bur the responses in each chapter from Sarah Borden, Matthew Lundin, and Keith Johnson truly take the book from one degree of glory to another. A must read for fans of C.S. Lewis. Now I want to read the Romantics too--at minimum Wordsworth and Coleridge--which I haven't read aside from required reading for high school English.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to learn about Lewis and the concepts of romanticism within his writing. Worth reading for anyone familiar with his books!

(I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

[Kris]

Here's a review I found helpful: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lynn R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about the Romantic writing of C.S. Lewis. The author does a wonderful job at examining the works of C.S. Lewis. If you are up for an adventure in exploration of the mind of C.S. Lewis, this book is for you. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this work.