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Remembering C.S. Lewis: Recollections of Those Who Knew Him
To learn more about C.S. Lewis visit In this intimate, candid, and sometimes surprising community biography of the celebrated author and Christian apologist, twenty-four men and women who knew C.S. Lewis—as teacher, colleague, friend—offer their reminiscences and impressions of the complex man behind the critical and academic acclaim.
Through their recollections, we see “Jack” Lewis dazzling Oxford as he takes on atheists, materialists, and a host of other challengers. Most poignantly, we see him in everyday striding up and down the platform at a railroad station, presiding over leisurely dinners with students, expounding on the virtues of the pub.
“The net effect of this collection,” said the Catholic Review, “is to make us feel that we know Lewis as well as [his] friends.” And to quote the New Yorker, “The heterogeneity of the contributors assures a variety of Lewises, but certain traits appear in all these intelligence, imagination, gusto, a sense of fun, and, most frequently, magnanimity.”
Through their recollections, we see “Jack” Lewis dazzling Oxford as he takes on atheists, materialists, and a host of other challengers. Most poignantly, we see him in everyday striding up and down the platform at a railroad station, presiding over leisurely dinners with students, expounding on the virtues of the pub.
“The net effect of this collection,” said the Catholic Review, “is to make us feel that we know Lewis as well as [his] friends.” And to quote the New Yorker, “The heterogeneity of the contributors assures a variety of Lewises, but certain traits appear in all these intelligence, imagination, gusto, a sense of fun, and, most frequently, magnanimity.”
- GenresBiography
509 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 4, 2018
Excellent. Pure joy. It is a delight to hear from those who actually knew him what sort of man he was like.
February 14, 2019
A wonderful set of essays by men and women who knew CS Lewis. They each give a little snapshot of a very complicated man. Some are contradictory, not all are entirely complimentary, and many of the authors acknowledge that they were only granted access to a small portion of his life. I loved getting these glimpses of him, of learning a little more of the man behind some of my favorite books.
Eugene McGovern, when challenged with the question of whether or not an interest in Lewis himself (as opposed to his works) is reasonable or if it is narrow, disquieting, or even cultish, replied:
"... most admirers of Lewis have found that their reading and their interests are widened and expanded, rather than narrowed and confined by reading Lewis. He is simply the wrong author for someone who wants an uneventful mental life... and an interest in Lewis the man seems to be a perfectly natural and normal outgrowth of an appreciation of Lewis the writer." I would agree. And I would recommend this book for those who are interested in diving in and learning more of Lewis's life and friendships.
Eugene McGovern, when challenged with the question of whether or not an interest in Lewis himself (as opposed to his works) is reasonable or if it is narrow, disquieting, or even cultish, replied:
"... most admirers of Lewis have found that their reading and their interests are widened and expanded, rather than narrowed and confined by reading Lewis. He is simply the wrong author for someone who wants an uneventful mental life... and an interest in Lewis the man seems to be a perfectly natural and normal outgrowth of an appreciation of Lewis the writer." I would agree. And I would recommend this book for those who are interested in diving in and learning more of Lewis's life and friendships.
April 11, 2017
It was a delight to read about C.S. Lewis from those who personally knew him. He was an extraordinary man!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews