The Mirror, the Mask, and the Masterpiece: A Guide to C. S. Lewis’s “Till We Have Faces”

by Peter Kreeft

140 pages, Hardcover

Published February 2, 2026

About the author

Peter Kreeft is an American philosopher and prolific author of over eighty books on Christian theology, philosophy, and apologetics. A convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, his journey was shaped by his study of Church history, Gothic architecture, and Thomistic thought. He earned his BA from Calvin College, an MA and PhD from Fordham University, and pursued further studies at Yale. Since 1965, he has taught philosophy at Boston College and also at The King’s College. Kreeft is known for formulating “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God” with Ronald K. Tacelli, featured in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. A strong advocate for unity among Christians, he emphasizes shared belief in Christ over denominational differences.

Reviews

[Lizzy Brannan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Till We Have Faces has been and remains the most mysterious, yet soul-gripping book I've ever read. For years, I have had questions left unanswered - some of them, I didn't know how to put into words. Finally, my wondering heart and mind are satisfied in this guide by Peter Kreeft.

"I saw well why the gods do not speak to us openly, nor let us answer. Till that word can be dug out of us, why should they hear the babble that we think we mean? How can they meet us face to face till we have faces?"

In his leading us through C.S. Lewis's most controversial work, Till We Have Faces, Peter Kreeft gives us verifiable insight into its setting, characters, and philosophical and theological themes: the problem of evil, the question of identity, the identity of the gods, the relationship between faith, truth and reason, selfish vs. unselfish love, and heaven. In addition, Kreeft shines light on Lewis's signature theme Sehnsucht, the mysterious longing for something that cannot be clearly known or attained in this life, and its place in this masterpiece.

"I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice? Only words, words; to be led out to battle against other words."

This retelling of Cupid and Psyche has always cut me to the core, and I have never entirely known why. Kreeft has helped me put into words what I already knew to be true. This guide is brilliant. Learning that much of Lewis's version uses the topic of identity at its core had me asking for so long, "HOW? How is it that Lewis can use a pagan myth to point to identity in Christ?" I found that answer on p. 57: "And in the mind of C.S. Lewis, God has definitely replaced and displaced the gods. The difference this makes is that the pagan frame for Orual's story is itself implicitly enclosed by Lewis's Christian frame. He is teaching a Christian truth through a pagan myth, practicing Emily Dickinson's advice to 'tell all the truth, but tell it slant'." This is merely one of many questions answered throughout this guide. And now I want to read it over again. Thank you Peter Kreeft for guiding us through.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful discussion and literary analysis of TIL We Have Faces. This book felt like two of my favorite authors having tea together and I am invited to sip my beverage and listen in. Lewis has always been my favorite author. I came to know Kreeft through his Socratic Logic book several years ago and just love his systematic thinking, clear writing style and unapologetic insights into human nature. He brings all of that to bear on Lewis’s arguably most difficult to understand book. This is not a study guide, but it is certainly a guide. Written in beautiful prose and honoring instead of dissecting the text, this book not only shows us how to think about TWHF but how to think about reading any book. This felt like a class in lewisian theology but also a class in how to read any literature well. Please read this. Read TWHF first, and then read this.

[Johanna Keister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Till We Have Faces is one of my favorite books for many reasons, and I only bought the Kreeft commentary to get the simply stunning edition of TWHF that it came with.

Brief thoughts (in case you’re interested):
Kreeft sort of maintains decent respect for authorial intent, he writes beautifully on literature’s structure and purpose, and then draws out the most prevalent themes painted across Lewis’s myth. (Ex: disordered love, longing for heaven, the feminine archetype and its unfortunate decay, the problem of evil, and the false dichotomy posed between right reason and true faith).

Note: He nails those first and last themes! All evil comes from disordered love (this can be remedied). Faith is above reason - but not inherently opposed to it.

Kreeft humbly warns the reader against seeing his commentary as some code-breaking key. He says to not approach the story with calculative and solution-oriented intentions. He asks the reader to first recuse himself as judge and instead sit in wonder at TWHF with an “intuition of the heart”.

The main speed bump: Kreeft correlates several scenes to some uniquely Catholic doctrines. (Ex: he compares Oruals first encounter with the god of the mountain to the theologoumenon. He doesn’t claim that CS Lewis, a Protestant, intended for this… but he discredits/abandons his stated task of analysis with these tangents)

[Meg Acosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to read TWHF again and then read this book again with a notebook in hand. TWHF is my favorite book and Peter Kreeft opened it up to reveal so much more! I wish I was smarter and could dive through the next few layers but I imagine it would just keep going and so I’ll just keep plodding along and reading it again and again. “When we SEE him, there is nothing more to be said.”

[Taylor Roche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a phenomenal book. TWHF has long been one of my favorite books ever, and this just confirmed why.

[Landon Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5! A very short, helpful guide to understanding Lewis’s masterpiece, Till We Have Faces.

[Lawrence Hall · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not understand Lewis’ ‘Til We Have Faces, and now that I have read Professor Kreeft’s book I still don’t. I took this up for Lent and bought the accompanying new edition of the novel to replace the old copy I lost, but will skip a re-read. I have read almost all of C. S. Lewis with understanding and great joy, and many of Professor Kreeft's fine essay, but Orual's life is as much a mask to me as it was to her.

[Brodie Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last word—conveniently titled The Last Word—of the book was really the highlight of this companion piece to Lewis's Til We Have Faces. I found it helpful in understanding parts of Lewis's masterpiece and agree with Kreeft's general adoration of it. I am no philosopher, so the reading of this guide was understandably less exciting.

[Leah]

Not sure I agree with all of his analysis of TWHF, but this line was a banger:

“Because even though truth is as absolute, as eternal, and as divine as love, love explains truth more profoundly than truth explains love.”

[Caroline Paskert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kreeft has it. Beautiful insights into the MASTERPIECE that is "Till We Have Faces"

[Steve Limkeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. A must-read for anyone who wants a thorough understanding of TWHF; check out my published review in the May 2026 issue of WORLD!