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The Abolition of Man and the Great Divorce
Here are two classics of moral philosophy from one of the most revered Christian voices of our time. In The Abolition of Man, C. S. Lewis reflects on society and nature and the challenges of how best to educate our children. He describes what public education should be and how far from this standard modern education has fallen. Lewis eloquently argues that, as a society, we need to underpin reading and writing lessons with moral education. In The Great Divorce, Lewis presents his vision of the afterworld. A fictional narrator boards a bus on a drizzly English afternoon and embarks on an incredible voyage through Heaven and Hell, where he meets a host of supernatural beings and comes to some significant realizations about the nature of good and evil.
MP3 CD
Published October 2, 2000
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About the author
C.S. Lewis
1,014 books47.6k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
January 31, 2022
As a member of Cindy Rollins' patreon and a devoted follower of the Literary Life podcast (and a member of their patreon) I knew I wanted to re-read The Abolition of Man in 2022.
I looked on Audible and there, included in membership, was this combo. While we read The Great Divorce with the podcast in 2020, I thought it's short enough to revisit. I am glad I did! The first time I read it (20+years ago) I didn't like it. I gave it a chance with the podcast and "got" it so enjoyed it. This time, I really understood it even that much better. Woo-hoo.
I still plan to read a hard-copy of Abolition this year, but this audio version was a great way to give myself a little leg up ahead of the game. Lewis' message is dire and we see so much of what he warns of in our day. I'm excited to work through it with others this year.
Simon Vance (under pseudonym) is a gem. Perfect reader.
I looked on Audible and there, included in membership, was this combo. While we read The Great Divorce with the podcast in 2020, I thought it's short enough to revisit. I am glad I did! The first time I read it (20+years ago) I didn't like it. I gave it a chance with the podcast and "got" it so enjoyed it. This time, I really understood it even that much better. Woo-hoo.
I still plan to read a hard-copy of Abolition this year, but this audio version was a great way to give myself a little leg up ahead of the game. Lewis' message is dire and we see so much of what he warns of in our day. I'm excited to work through it with others this year.
Simon Vance (under pseudonym) is a gem. Perfect reader.
February 9, 2009
This was my 3rd or 4th time reading The Great Divorce, which continues to be one of my favorite books of all time. Lewis presents a vision of heaven, hell, divine judgment, and human response to God which is incredibly profound and yet easily digested. I highly recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read it yet. It's a short read--about 3 hours perhaps. This audiobook version was excellent and made several hours of yard work quite enjoyable.
The Abolition of Man sits on just about the opposite side of the spectrum from The Great Divorce, as far as Lewis's works are concerned. Where The Great Divorce is a work of fiction that reads easily, The Abolition of Man is an intellectual essay, requiring a bit more concentration to follow the thought. But no matter which form, Lewis's writing remains packed with insight. Here he addresses some fundamental problems with modern thought--how the result of the naturalistic, materialistic worldview which predominates in Western culture is ultimately dehumanization. His logic is excellent, and worthy reading for anyone interested in science, philosophy, or theology. It is also very accessible whether one comes from a Christian background or not--Lewis does not assume his reader is a Christian theist. I wish many more people, from all religious and non-religious perspectives read this book; it remains a very relevant and needed corrective to the intellectual errors of our society. Again, this audiobook was well-read and enjoyable, though I occasionally wished I were reading text so that I could more easily re-read certain sections or take notes.
The Abolition of Man sits on just about the opposite side of the spectrum from The Great Divorce, as far as Lewis's works are concerned. Where The Great Divorce is a work of fiction that reads easily, The Abolition of Man is an intellectual essay, requiring a bit more concentration to follow the thought. But no matter which form, Lewis's writing remains packed with insight. Here he addresses some fundamental problems with modern thought--how the result of the naturalistic, materialistic worldview which predominates in Western culture is ultimately dehumanization. His logic is excellent, and worthy reading for anyone interested in science, philosophy, or theology. It is also very accessible whether one comes from a Christian background or not--Lewis does not assume his reader is a Christian theist. I wish many more people, from all religious and non-religious perspectives read this book; it remains a very relevant and needed corrective to the intellectual errors of our society. Again, this audiobook was well-read and enjoyable, though I occasionally wished I were reading text so that I could more easily re-read certain sections or take notes.
January 15, 2023
Intriguing Lewis writing with lots of twists.
January 14, 2023
Some fascinating wisdom here:
- The Great Divorce needs some theological warning signs but it's still great at making you think.
- The Abolition of Man is worthy of another read, a powerful argument that naturalism leads to disaster.
2022 re-listen:
- Again so much to think about in the Great Divorce, seeking to paint a picture of meaning to be seen everywhere.
- The Abolition of Man is a really strong case that we need a source for morality must be identified that is not based on rationalistic materialism BUT it does not move on to making a case that we have one beyond observing that historically every culture has believed that there was one.
2023 re-listen:
This improves each time. Really valuable for thinking through meaning, purpose and beauty.
Also: burn away modernism.
- The Great Divorce needs some theological warning signs but it's still great at making you think.
- The Abolition of Man is worthy of another read, a powerful argument that naturalism leads to disaster.
2022 re-listen:
- Again so much to think about in the Great Divorce, seeking to paint a picture of meaning to be seen everywhere.
- The Abolition of Man is a really strong case that we need a source for morality must be identified that is not based on rationalistic materialism BUT it does not move on to making a case that we have one beyond observing that historically every culture has believed that there was one.
2023 re-listen:
This improves each time. Really valuable for thinking through meaning, purpose and beauty.
Also: burn away modernism.
March 10, 2020
(a repeat listen) As a duo listen this rates as 3 stars for me.
Separately The Great Divorce , on audio, would be 2-3 stars, and, The Abolition of Man /i> is a solid 4 . I’m currently reading through TGD quickly, and then TAoM slowly.
Separately The Great Divorce , on audio, would be 2-3 stars, and, The Abolition of Man /i> is a solid 4 . I’m currently reading through TGD quickly, and then TAoM slowly.
March 6, 2009
I really enjoyed The Great Divorce.
The Abolition of Man made me want to take a nap. I don't know if I just wasn't in the right mindset (each freaking time I pushed play), but I never got into it, and never cared to give it the focus that I assume it needed. I did a little dance when I finally got to the end because it meant that I could move on to much more enjoyable things. And no, I still couldn't tell you what it was about.
The Abolition of Man made me want to take a nap. I don't know if I just wasn't in the right mindset (each freaking time I pushed play), but I never got into it, and never cared to give it the focus that I assume it needed. I did a little dance when I finally got to the end because it meant that I could move on to much more enjoyable things. And no, I still couldn't tell you what it was about.
March 23, 2011
This rating and review are for The Abolition of Man. I have already rated The Great Divorce.
The Abolition of Man contains excellent arguments against relativism, for ultimate truth and morality. Three stars for enjoyment, four stars for value of argument.
The Abolition of Man contains excellent arguments against relativism, for ultimate truth and morality. Three stars for enjoyment, four stars for value of argument.
May 1, 2021
The Great Divorce 5 stars, Abolition of Man a wobbly 3
July 25, 2024
I last read The Great Divorce when I was in college and it has held up phenomenally well over the years. I wish Lewis had included more characters from the bus in recounting the tale, but the ones he had were sufficient to ram home his point, that given a perfectly free choice, unregenerate human belongs will always choose the wrong thing. Always. It is only by divine intervention that they are saved.
The Abolition of Man was probably even more surprising in how contemporary the issues Lewis addressed are in today’s society. Many of the arguments Lewis exposed are still popular today, even though they need not be. I would highly recommend someone take a long, slow read through this extended essay, reading with particular care the last chapter on the Abolition of Man. Absolutely excoriates the common university class pseudo-intellectual that we often see recently released from the college campus.
The Abolition of Man was probably even more surprising in how contemporary the issues Lewis addressed are in today’s society. Many of the arguments Lewis exposed are still popular today, even though they need not be. I would highly recommend someone take a long, slow read through this extended essay, reading with particular care the last chapter on the Abolition of Man. Absolutely excoriates the common university class pseudo-intellectual that we often see recently released from the college campus.
April 17, 2022
The Great Divorce gets 5 stars! It gave me so much to think about, and just as it was starting to become depressing, it delivered hope in a big and beautiful way. I saw the stage show around 10 years ago, and I remembered several things from it, but 10 years is plenty of time to both forget a lot, and to grow and change (probably in some positive and some negative ways). Reading it in this season of my life was very helpful. I'm sure I'll come back and read it again.
Abolition of Man gets 3ish stars. Sorry Clive, it's not you, it's me, but it was much harder to work through and a lot went over my head. If I choose to be a responsible reader, I'll come back and try again when I have more patience and time to work through the more challenging parts. I am not at all sorry I read it though, it still gave me some things to chew on, specifically in the first lecture.
Abolition of Man gets 3ish stars. Sorry Clive, it's not you, it's me, but it was much harder to work through and a lot went over my head. If I choose to be a responsible reader, I'll come back and try again when I have more patience and time to work through the more challenging parts. I am not at all sorry I read it though, it still gave me some things to chew on, specifically in the first lecture.
February 3, 2023
I really enjoyed The Great Divorce. This work of fiction is complex and very interesting. I enjoyed following the character's journey while at the same time thinking about 'heaven and hell' outside of the book.
The Abolition Of Man felt more like a philosophy class, this non fiction essay was also interesting but much more complex and hard to follow (at least for me, as an audiobook). This would be more like 2 or 3 stars for me 🫤
I'm not sure why they are put together in a book other than maybe their length, but I still feel happy to have consumed both.
The Abolition Of Man felt more like a philosophy class, this non fiction essay was also interesting but much more complex and hard to follow (at least for me, as an audiobook). This would be more like 2 or 3 stars for me 🫤
I'm not sure why they are put together in a book other than maybe their length, but I still feel happy to have consumed both.
June 25, 2025
The Abolition of Man is completely totally relevant today. I was hanging on by my fingernails intellectually through that one and would love to discuss it with someone. Superb.
December 22, 2021
I listened on Audible, and I’d say it was just okay. Might need to get the physical book to plow deeper, especially with the Abolition of Man. Lewis has some interesting thoughts, but several parts are hard to follow in an audiobook.
February 6, 2022
Preserving Mankind Whole and Splitting up Heaven and Hell
This pair of works by C. S. Lewis is a combination of fiction and non-fiction. The Great Divorce is read first, and is an imaginative dream sequence tale of a bus ride from hell to the foothills of heaven. The Abolition of Man is an essay in three parts that builds logically to a conclusion. Where the first book enmeshes the reader in fiction to express a point, the second book is open dialog that debunks faulty logic.
Lewis wrote The Great Divorce as a response to the poem William Blake titled The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. Blake died a good seven decades before Lewis was born, and died unappreciated. It was later that his works became so well known and loved. Blake was an enigma; having ideas that were on the whole spiritual, but often unorthodox in any religion. His ideology can probably be summed up very well as a marriage of heaven and hell: since he made heaven the sum total of all that he wanted it to be, even those parts that he wrested from the pits of hell. Suffice it to say that as a Christian, I find some of his writing blasphemous and shocking, though some of it can be mesmerizing and beautiful.
In The Great Divorce Lewis illustrates the idea that, even if one tries to marry heaven to hell here on Earth; at the end of life the two will be divorced and we will ultimately choose between heaven and hell. His characters are very British Brits. These comical caricatures mostly choose to return to hell, when given the terms. Its an intriguing story and very well narrated. I had read it before in the hardback edition I have. I enjoyed listening to it again, as I followed along with the Audible read by Simon Vance, and an e-copy I downloaded through the Faded Pages website. As much as I like hardback physical copies of my favorite books, it is invaluable to have a digital copy for searching.
The ideas covered by the three chapters of The Abolition of Man include:
1. The doctrine of Objective truth via a detour through the importance of teaching children to experience appropriate emotional responses
2. The doctrine of Values and Ethics.
3. The conquest of Nature
While the first is simple enough for anyone to follow, the second chapter may prove a bit esoteric. The third is quite simple and can be read on its own, as it is even titled by the name of the whole book. But, the earlier chapters build up a proof of the third chapter in a sense.
Altogether, it is a short work, and even with The Great Divorce that is read before it, both books take just a few hours to enjoy. The free Audible edition was well worth acquiring since Simon Vance is one of the best narrators in the business. These books can be enjoyed by anyone, and parents especially can enjoy the arguments in the first part of The Abolition of Man about textbook publishers and the importance of education. This is part of my Loving Lewis February Valentines reading.
This pair of works by C. S. Lewis is a combination of fiction and non-fiction. The Great Divorce is read first, and is an imaginative dream sequence tale of a bus ride from hell to the foothills of heaven. The Abolition of Man is an essay in three parts that builds logically to a conclusion. Where the first book enmeshes the reader in fiction to express a point, the second book is open dialog that debunks faulty logic.
Lewis wrote The Great Divorce as a response to the poem William Blake titled The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. Blake died a good seven decades before Lewis was born, and died unappreciated. It was later that his works became so well known and loved. Blake was an enigma; having ideas that were on the whole spiritual, but often unorthodox in any religion. His ideology can probably be summed up very well as a marriage of heaven and hell: since he made heaven the sum total of all that he wanted it to be, even those parts that he wrested from the pits of hell. Suffice it to say that as a Christian, I find some of his writing blasphemous and shocking, though some of it can be mesmerizing and beautiful.
In The Great Divorce Lewis illustrates the idea that, even if one tries to marry heaven to hell here on Earth; at the end of life the two will be divorced and we will ultimately choose between heaven and hell. His characters are very British Brits. These comical caricatures mostly choose to return to hell, when given the terms. Its an intriguing story and very well narrated. I had read it before in the hardback edition I have. I enjoyed listening to it again, as I followed along with the Audible read by Simon Vance, and an e-copy I downloaded through the Faded Pages website. As much as I like hardback physical copies of my favorite books, it is invaluable to have a digital copy for searching.
The ideas covered by the three chapters of The Abolition of Man include:
1. The doctrine of Objective truth via a detour through the importance of teaching children to experience appropriate emotional responses
2. The doctrine of Values and Ethics.
3. The conquest of Nature
While the first is simple enough for anyone to follow, the second chapter may prove a bit esoteric. The third is quite simple and can be read on its own, as it is even titled by the name of the whole book. But, the earlier chapters build up a proof of the third chapter in a sense.
Altogether, it is a short work, and even with The Great Divorce that is read before it, both books take just a few hours to enjoy. The free Audible edition was well worth acquiring since Simon Vance is one of the best narrators in the business. These books can be enjoyed by anyone, and parents especially can enjoy the arguments in the first part of The Abolition of Man about textbook publishers and the importance of education. This is part of my Loving Lewis February Valentines reading.
September 4, 2021
I'd read "The Great Divorce" (book version) before, and really appreciated listening to it this time round--talk about a different experience! :) Both have their perks, for sure, and the narrator did a fantastic job.
"The Abolition of Man" was new to me, and seemed fitting to listen to first since Lewis originally gave it as a series of 3 lectures. I think a fair bit went over my head, haha, and it would certainly merit a subsequent read/listen--it's not one anyone could get #allthethings from in just one pass. It does truly illustrate Lewis's genius, that's for sure!
"The Abolition of Man" was new to me, and seemed fitting to listen to first since Lewis originally gave it as a series of 3 lectures. I think a fair bit went over my head, haha, and it would certainly merit a subsequent read/listen--it's not one anyone could get #allthethings from in just one pass. It does truly illustrate Lewis's genius, that's for sure!
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May 28, 2018The Great Divorce was a deep and beautiful philosophical imagining of the afterlife. I was less fascinated by The Abolition of Man, which was a sermon or lecture. I may try to re-read it at some point.
July 21, 2020
The Great Divorce is wonderful in the way Lewis characterizes Hell and something people choose for themselves, and which becomes purgatory to those who choose to leave it. Also, I would dearly love to be back in the classroom, if only to assign The Abolition of Man and watch the sparks fly!
January 10, 2022
5 stars to the Abolition of Man and 3 to the Great Divorce.
March 28, 2024
Loved the audio version of these two works by C. S. Lewis. Written in the 1940s, they are more relevant today than ever.
November 5, 2024
Audiobook listen for me. I confess that The Abolition of Man went entirely over my head, a testament largely to how far my auditory processing has regressed. I enjoyed The Great Divorce more, similar in feeling as The Screwtape Letters. I'm certain that several metaphors slipped right by me, but I'm glad to have listened anyways.
January 27, 2025
I’ll never stop thinking about the way Lewis describes the separation between God and those who never accepted him.
April 27, 2019
Wow, this was great. I will have to read abolition of man again cause there was a ton there. I decided to to a quick overview read so I can come back later and have a baseline.
November 27, 2025
I love thinking, even if it’s related to religion
April 12, 2023
Not the biggest fan of the great divorce, but abolition was a delightful treat to read.
November 19, 2018
He's kind of like Shakespeare to me. So hard to understand at times - yet at the same time, he makes sooooo much sense.
July 10, 2015
"The Abolition of Man" is a must-read for Christian educators, as it provides Lewis's philosophy of education. Education is a moral act, shaping both the thought life and the spirit. To do less, especially willfully, is to create men (and women) "without chests:" heartless.
A section describing the frightening consequences of trying to free mankind from the worst in human nature through totalitarianism, bioengineering, and political correctness, provides a convincing proof that they will only enslave humanity to the worst in itself. This brought to mind Aldous Huxley and George Orwell. A quick search brought the startling realization that Lewis, Huxley, and JF Kennedy all died on the same day; only Lewis died peacefully. Someone ought to write a book about that..... Say, Peter Kreeft's novel, "Between Heaven and Hell"?
My search also yielded the following, quoted in TheAtlantic.com, 'theater critic Kenneth Tynan, a proud proponent of amorality, wrote in his diary after reading Lewis’s novels, “How thrilling he makes goodness seem—how tangible and radiant!”'
"The Great Divorce" yields another Huxley connection, as both authors wrote reactions to William Blake's "Marriage of Heaven and Hell." (Huxley's essay is "The Doors of Perception," which I have not read.) Lewis creates a dreamy otherworld, a sort of purgatory, where people become their truest selves, finally deciding for either Heaven or Hell. This final choice echoes back into history: one was either always in Heaven or in Hell, and this life is the threshold. (I may need to re-read "The Last Battle" from the Narnia Chronicles, to see how Lewis works this out in the fictional world.) Not all characters in the dream choose Heaven, but it is ultimately a hopeful story, with a strong emphasis on our ability to laugh at ourselves, a sign that we agree with God and are being transformed into those who are real enough to live the real life of His Presence.
Audiobook.
A section describing the frightening consequences of trying to free mankind from the worst in human nature through totalitarianism, bioengineering, and political correctness, provides a convincing proof that they will only enslave humanity to the worst in itself. This brought to mind Aldous Huxley and George Orwell. A quick search brought the startling realization that Lewis, Huxley, and JF Kennedy all died on the same day; only Lewis died peacefully. Someone ought to write a book about that..... Say, Peter Kreeft's novel, "Between Heaven and Hell"?
My search also yielded the following, quoted in TheAtlantic.com, 'theater critic Kenneth Tynan, a proud proponent of amorality, wrote in his diary after reading Lewis’s novels, “How thrilling he makes goodness seem—how tangible and radiant!”'
"The Great Divorce" yields another Huxley connection, as both authors wrote reactions to William Blake's "Marriage of Heaven and Hell." (Huxley's essay is "The Doors of Perception," which I have not read.) Lewis creates a dreamy otherworld, a sort of purgatory, where people become their truest selves, finally deciding for either Heaven or Hell. This final choice echoes back into history: one was either always in Heaven or in Hell, and this life is the threshold. (I may need to re-read "The Last Battle" from the Narnia Chronicles, to see how Lewis works this out in the fictional world.) Not all characters in the dream choose Heaven, but it is ultimately a hopeful story, with a strong emphasis on our ability to laugh at ourselves, a sign that we agree with God and are being transformed into those who are real enough to live the real life of His Presence.
Audiobook.
August 7, 2013
I LOVED the Great Divorce. Typical C.S. Lewis. Amusing while all the while imparting valuable Spiritual Truths that help everyone to take a second look at their lives. In this book, a world exists of ghosts and spirits. Heaven and Hell are but realms based on where we insist on putting our minds. What's not to like?
April 5, 2020
This particular work contained two short books. The Abolition of Man is a treatise on education and is packed with philosophy. I listened to the book and got the gist of it. In order to truly understand it, I would need to reread it slowly and carefully. The Great Divorce was equally hard to grasp. It is a fictional depiction of Heaven and Hell.
September 18, 2023
I'd really give Abolition of Man four stars, and The Great Divorce five, so I'll go with 4.5 for the combo.
A speaker at a gala we went to recently mentioned The Abolition of Man, and I realized I'd never read it. It's very short, but rather like a very scholarly expansion on an idea that I believe Lewis put forth in "Mere Christianity" about why there must be such a thing as a moral code and an absolute reality outside of our own beliefs and perceptions. But it wasn't just about this... I had a hard time following the point he was trying to make in a number of places, probably because he was arguing against something that was I guess very common in his day and age and he assumed it would be familiar to his readers. Best I could follow, the argument was that people kept trying to make everything in life a means to an end rather than ever an end in itself, and if they go on that way forever, they will end up conquering humanity itself--but in the act of doing so, they will have rendered themselves obsolete. Or something. I couldn't quite see how this could be managed in anything like concrete terms though.
The Great Divorce was far more entertaining, told as a fantasy. The main character fell asleep and went on a trip first to hell, and then on a field trip to heaven. This I listened to because at Sunday school last week, our teacher showed us a video on the five historical views on hell, and I realized based on this book that CS Lewis takes the metaphorical view of hell, with a little bit of purgatory thrown in (though not really the classical conception of it.) I knew that one of Lewis's heroes of the faith was George MacDonald, who appears as a character in this story too, and it's mentioned that he takes another of the views of hell: that of universalism (didn't know anybody truly held that position.)
I disagree with all of these positions, but it wasn't really the point of the story, as Lewis made it very clear that he's by no means arguing what heaven and hell are or are not - it's entirely a work of his imagination. What I found so fascinating about the story was both the psychological perspective on what it means to be in a unique hell of one's own making, and also the contrast of the super-reality of heaven to the mere wisp and vapor of hell. This was very similar to the way he depicted heaven in "The Last Battle" in the Chronicles of Narnia as well.
A speaker at a gala we went to recently mentioned The Abolition of Man, and I realized I'd never read it. It's very short, but rather like a very scholarly expansion on an idea that I believe Lewis put forth in "Mere Christianity" about why there must be such a thing as a moral code and an absolute reality outside of our own beliefs and perceptions. But it wasn't just about this... I had a hard time following the point he was trying to make in a number of places, probably because he was arguing against something that was I guess very common in his day and age and he assumed it would be familiar to his readers. Best I could follow, the argument was that people kept trying to make everything in life a means to an end rather than ever an end in itself, and if they go on that way forever, they will end up conquering humanity itself--but in the act of doing so, they will have rendered themselves obsolete. Or something. I couldn't quite see how this could be managed in anything like concrete terms though.
The Great Divorce was far more entertaining, told as a fantasy. The main character fell asleep and went on a trip first to hell, and then on a field trip to heaven. This I listened to because at Sunday school last week, our teacher showed us a video on the five historical views on hell, and I realized based on this book that CS Lewis takes the metaphorical view of hell, with a little bit of purgatory thrown in (though not really the classical conception of it.) I knew that one of Lewis's heroes of the faith was George MacDonald, who appears as a character in this story too, and it's mentioned that he takes another of the views of hell: that of universalism (didn't know anybody truly held that position.)
I disagree with all of these positions, but it wasn't really the point of the story, as Lewis made it very clear that he's by no means arguing what heaven and hell are or are not - it's entirely a work of his imagination. What I found so fascinating about the story was both the psychological perspective on what it means to be in a unique hell of one's own making, and also the contrast of the super-reality of heaven to the mere wisp and vapor of hell. This was very similar to the way he depicted heaven in "The Last Battle" in the Chronicles of Narnia as well.
February 9, 2025
This is my review for The Great Divorce portion of this audiobook. While I don't agree with every philosophy or doctrine of Lewis (though I do agree with the vast majority), this book earns nothing less than 5 out of 5 stars. It's simply brilliant. I read it 35 years ago shortly after my conversion; I've seen it performed on stage, and I've read many portions or quotes of the book through other authors over the years, so when I listened to the audiobook, it felt like I had read it just yesterday.
One common misconception about this book is that it's meant to instruct us on the afterlife, on heaven and hell. Lewis says upfront in his preface that it's "not even a guess or speculation" on the afterlife, rather, it is intended to be a moral tale. And a great moral tale it is. Lewis shows his keen insight into the human heart and the nature of man. The natural man (unredeemed, or ghosts in the story) primarily looks at the temporal, is self-focused, selfish, resentful, an idol-factory, pride-filled, self-willed, full of self-pity, yet unforgiving towards others, is a rejector of grace, self-righteous, and above all, thinks he deserves or has earned salvation. Lewis shows how the spiritual man (redeemed, or spirits) who repents and turns to faith in Christ flips the script on these sins, because he has new eyes to see. He becomes God-centered, gracious and relying on grace, forgiving and relying on forgiveness, humble, grateful, thankful, loving, and joyful.
That last one is a constant theme in this and many of Lewis's writings - how true, lasting joy is found only in Christ. We are prone to seek fleeting happiness while rejecting real, eternal joy in God. He shows this brilliantly in the book with the painter who has become more interested in the art of painting rather than the beauty of the creation being painted. How we turn the gifts of God into the ultimate thing to have rather than God Himself, who is the end of all things. We see this also in the possessive mother, or those who turn natural and good affections, like patriotism, into idols.
The key statement in the entire book, Lewis (in the character of George MacDonald) says, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.'"
One common misconception about this book is that it's meant to instruct us on the afterlife, on heaven and hell. Lewis says upfront in his preface that it's "not even a guess or speculation" on the afterlife, rather, it is intended to be a moral tale. And a great moral tale it is. Lewis shows his keen insight into the human heart and the nature of man. The natural man (unredeemed, or ghosts in the story) primarily looks at the temporal, is self-focused, selfish, resentful, an idol-factory, pride-filled, self-willed, full of self-pity, yet unforgiving towards others, is a rejector of grace, self-righteous, and above all, thinks he deserves or has earned salvation. Lewis shows how the spiritual man (redeemed, or spirits) who repents and turns to faith in Christ flips the script on these sins, because he has new eyes to see. He becomes God-centered, gracious and relying on grace, forgiving and relying on forgiveness, humble, grateful, thankful, loving, and joyful.
That last one is a constant theme in this and many of Lewis's writings - how true, lasting joy is found only in Christ. We are prone to seek fleeting happiness while rejecting real, eternal joy in God. He shows this brilliantly in the book with the painter who has become more interested in the art of painting rather than the beauty of the creation being painted. How we turn the gifts of God into the ultimate thing to have rather than God Himself, who is the end of all things. We see this also in the possessive mother, or those who turn natural and good affections, like patriotism, into idols.
The key statement in the entire book, Lewis (in the character of George MacDonald) says, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.'"
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