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The Mirror, the Mask, and the Masterpiece: A Guide to C. S. Lewis's “Till We Have Faces”
- GenresNonfictionTheology
122 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2026
About the author
Peter Kreeft
193 books1,135 followersPeter 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.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 30, 2026
This book is a much needed companion to Lewis’s Till We Have Faces. The novel is my favorite book, and Kreeft does a brilliant job of making it more accessible. While not all will agree with some of his Catholic-based interpretations, that does not in any way diminish the value of the book.
I do wish some sections were better developed. He quotes lengthy passages without corresponding development of the claim the quote supports. If I were grading his book, he would be penalized for this 😂
I do wish some sections were better developed. He quotes lengthy passages without corresponding development of the claim the quote supports. If I were grading his book, he would be penalized for this 😂
August 8, 2026
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 Catholic doctrine of 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)
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 Catholic doctrine of 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)
July 4, 2026
This was excellent! Paired with the Literary Life podcast’s seven-episode series, it unlocks the richness of Till We Have Faces.
March 23, 2026
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.
"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.
July 12, 2026
Exactly what I hoped it would be. Kreeft covers the basics—style, setting, and characters—in Chapter 1; ten theological and philosophical themes in Chapter 2; the plot in Chapter 3; and reflection questions in the appendix. In the introduction, he argues that this often-misunderstood work is a masterpiece, and by the end, he had made me a believer.
The key is understanding Lewis's view of mythology, both historically (the "good dreams" God gave to the pagans) and Christologically—that is, Christianity as the myth that became fact. Then there is the all-important subtitle: A Myth Retold. What matters most is not how Till We Have Faces resembles its source material, but how it differs from it.
With these ideas in mind, the strangeness fades, and Lewis's perennial concerns emerge in their most mature form, expressed through his favorite literary medium.
This is the perfect companion for fans, teachers, and anyone who has found Till We Have Faces perplexing.
August 26, 2026
Loved this quote:
“Lewis uses Orual as a prophet to speak the pre-Christian truth to our post-Christian culture.
“For Lewis believed that pre-Christian mythology like pre-Christian philosophy was part of the providential soil in which Christianity was destined to grow in what Saint Paul and the church fathers called “the fullness of time.” Perhaps Lewis can help it grow again by restoring its soil. Thus TWHF can be seen as a work of pre-evangelization.”
I recently read “Eternity in Their Hearts,” and this quote jives perfectly with the premise that cultures who had never heard the name of Jesus had (albeit corrupted) mythologies that prepared them for the redemptive Truth of the Gospel. Read it! So good.
It’s definitely not necessary to read “The Mirror, the Mask, and the Masterpiece” to appreciate TWHF, but it’s a delightful nerdy discussion of it from a deeply philosophical fellow fan. Kreeft has some catholic conceptions that he overlays on the story that I don’t quite agree with (like purgatory), but his love for Christ and the power of narrative in communicating the gospel shines over all. I’d love to sit in on his classes. I’m so thankful for literary “friends” whose brilliance enriches my life.
“Lewis uses Orual as a prophet to speak the pre-Christian truth to our post-Christian culture.
“For Lewis believed that pre-Christian mythology like pre-Christian philosophy was part of the providential soil in which Christianity was destined to grow in what Saint Paul and the church fathers called “the fullness of time.” Perhaps Lewis can help it grow again by restoring its soil. Thus TWHF can be seen as a work of pre-evangelization.”
I recently read “Eternity in Their Hearts,” and this quote jives perfectly with the premise that cultures who had never heard the name of Jesus had (albeit corrupted) mythologies that prepared them for the redemptive Truth of the Gospel. Read it! So good.
It’s definitely not necessary to read “The Mirror, the Mask, and the Masterpiece” to appreciate TWHF, but it’s a delightful nerdy discussion of it from a deeply philosophical fellow fan. Kreeft has some catholic conceptions that he overlays on the story that I don’t quite agree with (like purgatory), but his love for Christ and the power of narrative in communicating the gospel shines over all. I’d love to sit in on his classes. I’m so thankful for literary “friends” whose brilliance enriches my life.
April 8, 2026
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.
August 28, 2026
I am quite torn as how to rate and think about this book. A 4-star, hearty “amen!” to many of his conclusions, roping in Donne’s “Batter My Heart, Three-Personed God”, fluent in the Inklings, correct in many ways of interpretation to myself and fellow readers? Dismayed by his poor scholarship/citation from the other three commentaries, journal articles, and even Lewis’s own words on the book, 2-star rating? A some points, a must read; and many others, a sigh and furious scribbling in the margins rebutting or questioning a comment. I wanted to love this book! I’ve read other works of Kreeft and they are all fascinating, well written, and even fun. I also have seen some of his interviews, and I believe him to be a fan and a good man. I just couldn’t get behind his guide as someone who loves TWHF more than any other book.
Kreeft certainly knows his way around Lewis, Tolkien, the Inklings writ large, philosophy, and Christianity (yes, I was fact-checking him with my own research/background); he does not always know Orual though. This, combined with his lack of literary knowledge, leads occasionally to bad readings of the text. The most obvious example of these twin errors is his discussion on womanhood in the book. I appreciate how Kreeft notes that femininity/womanhood is a major theme, but his understanding of that theme is all wrong. For example, he notes that Orual puts on the veil to try and suppress her womanliness. In doing so, he unintentionally sides with Lewis’s feminist critics (who Kreeft so often derides in the book), who use this very passage as evidence of the author’s “problematic beliefs”. If he had only read Meyer’s Bareface, he would have seen her articulately and convincingly point out why Kreeft and these critics are misreading the text. A third, less egregious error than the lack of literary scholarship and poor understanding of Orual’s struggle with femininity, is his attempt to make Lewis (an Anglican) into a Catholic (which Kreeft is). While there is much overlap in doctrine and practice, I believe it is ultimately uncharitable to Lewis in trying to make him into something he is not. The same goes for the sexism arguments in TWHF—don’t make the book/author into something it/he is not.
I loved all the references to The Silmarillion, Confessions, the Bible, etc.—it’s as if he were speaking in a language that only the nerdiest of the nerds could understand—but I walked away feeling that I only understood Kreeft’s Orual, not Orual or TWHF herself. Ultimately, the book fails on its own basis; he does not prove his thesis that TWHF is a masterpiece. TWHF IS A MASTERPIECE! I know this because I have reread this book 13 times and counting, and I always come up with more. I’m not sure a “philosopher and amateur theologian” could really ever demonstrate why Till We Have Faces is one of the greats. This “guide” is merely a retelling of his own faith and beliefs, which is at times breathtaking and insightful, and other times not a guide but a sermon. I am frustrated by this good man’s mediocre analysis of the great “Myth Retold”.
Kreeft certainly knows his way around Lewis, Tolkien, the Inklings writ large, philosophy, and Christianity (yes, I was fact-checking him with my own research/background); he does not always know Orual though. This, combined with his lack of literary knowledge, leads occasionally to bad readings of the text. The most obvious example of these twin errors is his discussion on womanhood in the book. I appreciate how Kreeft notes that femininity/womanhood is a major theme, but his understanding of that theme is all wrong. For example, he notes that Orual puts on the veil to try and suppress her womanliness. In doing so, he unintentionally sides with Lewis’s feminist critics (who Kreeft so often derides in the book), who use this very passage as evidence of the author’s “problematic beliefs”. If he had only read Meyer’s Bareface, he would have seen her articulately and convincingly point out why Kreeft and these critics are misreading the text. A third, less egregious error than the lack of literary scholarship and poor understanding of Orual’s struggle with femininity, is his attempt to make Lewis (an Anglican) into a Catholic (which Kreeft is). While there is much overlap in doctrine and practice, I believe it is ultimately uncharitable to Lewis in trying to make him into something he is not. The same goes for the sexism arguments in TWHF—don’t make the book/author into something it/he is not.
I loved all the references to The Silmarillion, Confessions, the Bible, etc.—it’s as if he were speaking in a language that only the nerdiest of the nerds could understand—but I walked away feeling that I only understood Kreeft’s Orual, not Orual or TWHF herself. Ultimately, the book fails on its own basis; he does not prove his thesis that TWHF is a masterpiece. TWHF IS A MASTERPIECE! I know this because I have reread this book 13 times and counting, and I always come up with more. I’m not sure a “philosopher and amateur theologian” could really ever demonstrate why Till We Have Faces is one of the greats. This “guide” is merely a retelling of his own faith and beliefs, which is at times breathtaking and insightful, and other times not a guide but a sermon. I am frustrated by this good man’s mediocre analysis of the great “Myth Retold”.
February 25, 2026
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.”
June 4, 2026
This book was so helpful to read after TWHF! I feel like I understand so much more about the book, and it makes me want to read TWHF again. Such a profound book and this commentary helped break it down in such an easily understandable way.
March 3, 2026
Such a phenomenal book. TWHF has long been one of my favorite books ever, and this just confirmed why.
April 3, 2026
4.5! A very short, helpful guide to understanding Lewis’s masterpiece, Till We Have Faces.
May 6, 2026
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.
June 15, 2026
TWHF is one of the most powerful novels I have ever read. I was shocked at how wrong Oruel was about Psyche. She was the quintessential unreliable narrator. This book provides some needed guideposts to understanding the novel, but I was bewildered by some of the language used by the author. I understand that my lack of understanding says more about me than the author. It is entirely possible that another reader will gain more insight than I. Again, since TWHF is a masterpiece, I may reread this book after rereading TWHF. The subject matter-who is God and what does he want of me, is too important to give this matter short shrift.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2026
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.
July 29, 2026
Philosophically enlightening and thought-provoking. I’ve read other guides and companions for TWHF, but this was my favorite to engage with. I definitely disagree with some of Kreeft’s analysis, seeing as he is drawing conclusions/interpreting ideas through a Roman Catholic theological lens, but I appreciated this book and his thesis—that “Till We Have Faces” is a masterpiece!
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May 5, 2026Not 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.”
“Because even though truth is as absolute, as eternal, and as divine as love, love explains truth more profoundly than truth explains love.”
June 18, 2026
Very good. Might be a 5* for some but there were some sections that I just couldn't follow very well, possibly due to my lack of any philosophy background or just not getting it. Overall a well written book to reflect and help interpret a great book.
March 25, 2026
Kreeft has it. Beautiful insights into the MASTERPIECE that is "Till We Have Faces"
March 30, 2026
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!
July 27, 2026
A good book about a great book.
“The very same light that blisses the blessed dooms the damned. Perhaps heaven and hell are the same place, the same thing—truth—oppositely experienced”
“The very same light that blisses the blessed dooms the damned. Perhaps heaven and hell are the same place, the same thing—truth—oppositely experienced”
August 14, 2026
This book spoke to me on so many levels. It was utterly profound.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews