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On Stories: And Other Essays on Literature
A repackaged edition of the revered author’s collection of essays on writing fiction.
C. S. Lewis—the great British writer, scholar, lay theologian, broadcaster, Christian apologist, and bestselling author of Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Chronicles of Narnia, and many other beloved classics—was a professor of literature at Oxford University, where he was known for his insightful and often witty presentations on the nature of stories. This collection assembles nine essays that encapsulate his ideas about fiction, including "On Stories," "The Death of Words," and "On Three Ways of Writing for Children," as well as eleven pieces that were unpublished during his lifetime.
C. S. Lewis—the great British writer, scholar, lay theologian, broadcaster, Christian apologist, and bestselling author of Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Chronicles of Narnia, and many other beloved classics—was a professor of literature at Oxford University, where he was known for his insightful and often witty presentations on the nature of stories. This collection assembles nine essays that encapsulate his ideas about fiction, including "On Stories," "The Death of Words," and "On Three Ways of Writing for Children," as well as eleven pieces that were unpublished during his lifetime.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1981
130 people are currently reading
3779 people want to read
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 192 reviews
May 29, 2023
Uma ajuda fundamental para bem entender a obra de Lewis, mas também a de Tolkien e de inúmeros autores e livros aqui citados e analisados.
February 11, 2017
Without discussions, this is definitely a five star book!!!
Excellent, superb, light sheading and rewarding.....
If you love literature,
If you love C. S. Lewis books,
If you want to know what's going on in the mind of one of the finest authors ever, about bookish things,
Then, and only then will I say, you will join me without scruples or remorse and doubts of any kind in my evaluation of this essays collection!!!
So, folks, I've enjoyed immensely this collection, and at the same time have learn a lot of things about literature (and much more than that);which I hope, one day will make of me a better person.
Fabulous book, please don't omit this literary treasure from your reading experience!!!
By the way, the paperback edition is a genuine beauty....
I'm sure you will liked it!!!
Dean:)
Excellent, superb, light sheading and rewarding.....
If you love literature,
If you love C. S. Lewis books,
If you want to know what's going on in the mind of one of the finest authors ever, about bookish things,
Then, and only then will I say, you will join me without scruples or remorse and doubts of any kind in my evaluation of this essays collection!!!
So, folks, I've enjoyed immensely this collection, and at the same time have learn a lot of things about literature (and much more than that);which I hope, one day will make of me a better person.
Fabulous book, please don't omit this literary treasure from your reading experience!!!
By the way, the paperback edition is a genuine beauty....
I'm sure you will liked it!!!
Dean:)
June 6, 2025
Some great thoughts on reading, elements to good stories, critical thinking, developing good taste, teaching understanding vs appreciation, and more. Highlighted quite a number of good points and some comedic retorts.
Ages: 16+
Content Considerations: mentions some crude sexual remarks here and there; particularly in the last chapter in the closing of a discussions.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
Ages: 16+
Content Considerations: mentions some crude sexual remarks here and there; particularly in the last chapter in the closing of a discussions.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
August 10, 2022
reread aug 10, 2022:
So I reread it because I was thinking about the whole kappa-element-in-stories-thing (and wondering how important do I think deeply developed characters are to me in stories?) and Lewis just doesn’t get old. Like he expresses things so well? You know exactly what he’s talking about?
I feel so sorry for people who don’t enjoy rereading books. I get that it isn’t the same kind of pleasure for them as it is for me (and Lewis), but that’s exactly what I mean: they don’t get to experience that pleasure. They’re not built to...appreciate it. I dunno. It’s weird. Hopefully they have other compensations.
“The Parthenon and the Optative” is still the scariest, most accurate thing.
original thoughts:
I'm always amazed by how well Lewis says things that I've felt for a long time but have never known how to express or seen expressed or even hinted at. Two of my favorite Lewis essays, "On Stories" (which I had a cool discussion with my mom about, how we're basically two different types of readers) and "On Three Ways of Writing for Children" (which is just...incredible, and everyone who likes or cares about children's literature, but also just everyone, should read) are here. But a few of the other things I really appreciated:
-the tribute to Dorothy Sayers. Wow. I've only read a few Lord Peter books (and Lewis apparently had read none, not liking detective fiction), but what he said about that made me really itch to get back to reading through them. Also, I want to read her "The Mind of the Maker" more than ever now, and her other works. (Including her Dante translation.) She really must've been a lovely woman. The way Lewis describes her somewhat unique character is almost wry, quite entertaining, but in every line his affection is palpable.
-the Lord of the Rings review. You know when you have this really deep love for something, and it inspires these specific but really strong feelings, and it feels like something completely unique, and you simply can't get it into words that express the depth of it, but then someone does? That's what Lewis did here with The Lord of the Rings. I'm actually super grateful, and I felt, like, almost emotional reading it. Because he gets it. He gets the beauty of Tolkien's work. (I mean, obviously, he's Jack Lewis. But he gets it, is what I'm saying.)
-the George Orwell essay! So interesting! He talks about why he thinks Animal Farm is better than 1984, and puzzles exactly as I have often done over the greater popularity of 1984. To be sure, I've personally not read 1984, but for pretty much all the reasons Lewis gives when talking about why he thinks Animal Farm better. (He gets Animal Farm too. It's glorious.)
-"The Parthenon and the Optative." Golly. He nails, I think, the whole problem with the modern idea of "education" (which to a large degree is how I was educated, and I do not like it; I do not like the scanty amount of actual basic foundational knowledge I've been left with after having spent enough time in school, I feel like, that I could know some actual stuff) and just how we do so many things nowadays. When I took my two semesters of General Chemistry in college, I complained a lot about how dumb it was to expect kids to develop this deep intuitive knowledge of chemistry without just first, boringly, persistently, drilling the basics into them. Instead of dry basic knowledge or deep understanding, you get a nebulous, shaky-foundationed mumbo-jumbo that's neither. You get students who passed Chem and don't even remember the basics of redox reactions (and also have no idea how they passed Chem, it was a nightmare). Anyway, the same applies to literature. Lewis says it better than me. The essay's really good.
Pretty much all the essays are worth reading; those were the standouts for me. I would very much like to own this, just for "On Stories" and "On Three Ways of Writing for Children," but, like, for everything else too.
So I reread it because I was thinking about the whole kappa-element-in-stories-thing (and wondering how important do I think deeply developed characters are to me in stories?) and Lewis just doesn’t get old. Like he expresses things so well? You know exactly what he’s talking about?
I feel so sorry for people who don’t enjoy rereading books. I get that it isn’t the same kind of pleasure for them as it is for me (and Lewis), but that’s exactly what I mean: they don’t get to experience that pleasure. They’re not built to...appreciate it. I dunno. It’s weird. Hopefully they have other compensations.
“The Parthenon and the Optative” is still the scariest, most accurate thing.
original thoughts:
I'm always amazed by how well Lewis says things that I've felt for a long time but have never known how to express or seen expressed or even hinted at. Two of my favorite Lewis essays, "On Stories" (which I had a cool discussion with my mom about, how we're basically two different types of readers) and "On Three Ways of Writing for Children" (which is just...incredible, and everyone who likes or cares about children's literature, but also just everyone, should read) are here. But a few of the other things I really appreciated:
-the tribute to Dorothy Sayers. Wow. I've only read a few Lord Peter books (and Lewis apparently had read none, not liking detective fiction), but what he said about that made me really itch to get back to reading through them. Also, I want to read her "The Mind of the Maker" more than ever now, and her other works. (Including her Dante translation.) She really must've been a lovely woman. The way Lewis describes her somewhat unique character is almost wry, quite entertaining, but in every line his affection is palpable.
-the Lord of the Rings review. You know when you have this really deep love for something, and it inspires these specific but really strong feelings, and it feels like something completely unique, and you simply can't get it into words that express the depth of it, but then someone does? That's what Lewis did here with The Lord of the Rings. I'm actually super grateful, and I felt, like, almost emotional reading it. Because he gets it. He gets the beauty of Tolkien's work. (I mean, obviously, he's Jack Lewis. But he gets it, is what I'm saying.)
-the George Orwell essay! So interesting! He talks about why he thinks Animal Farm is better than 1984, and puzzles exactly as I have often done over the greater popularity of 1984. To be sure, I've personally not read 1984, but for pretty much all the reasons Lewis gives when talking about why he thinks Animal Farm better. (He gets Animal Farm too. It's glorious.)
-"The Parthenon and the Optative." Golly. He nails, I think, the whole problem with the modern idea of "education" (which to a large degree is how I was educated, and I do not like it; I do not like the scanty amount of actual basic foundational knowledge I've been left with after having spent enough time in school, I feel like, that I could know some actual stuff) and just how we do so many things nowadays. When I took my two semesters of General Chemistry in college, I complained a lot about how dumb it was to expect kids to develop this deep intuitive knowledge of chemistry without just first, boringly, persistently, drilling the basics into them. Instead of dry basic knowledge or deep understanding, you get a nebulous, shaky-foundationed mumbo-jumbo that's neither. You get students who passed Chem and don't even remember the basics of redox reactions (and also have no idea how they passed Chem, it was a nightmare). Anyway, the same applies to literature. Lewis says it better than me. The essay's really good.
Pretty much all the essays are worth reading; those were the standouts for me. I would very much like to own this, just for "On Stories" and "On Three Ways of Writing for Children," but, like, for everything else too.
March 5, 2019
Reading Lewis is always an enriching experience. Each read through his works offers meals with delightful and interesting food for thought. This was my first experience with this book. One of the take-aways that has taken root is something I was already feeling impressed to do. Now it’s more cemented within me and it’s given me a deeper understanding and reason for what I’m working towards. That is to reread. I have reread some books, but not with the energy and purpose I’m working towards now. Lewis didn’t feel he knew a book well enough to even comment on it until he read it more than once.
Some of the essays were unfinished. It didn’t make much of a difference in the reading experience. You still get his whole gist.
The book finishes with a transcribed conversation with Lewis and a few other writers. I enjoyed reading it as if I were listening. And that joke Lewis cracked at the end! Ha! Loved it! It was a perfect ending to an excellent work.
Some of the essays were unfinished. It didn’t make much of a difference in the reading experience. You still get his whole gist.
The book finishes with a transcribed conversation with Lewis and a few other writers. I enjoyed reading it as if I were listening. And that joke Lewis cracked at the end! Ha! Loved it! It was a perfect ending to an excellent work.
April 8, 2021
LEWIS. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.
This is Lewis talking about everything I love, and expressing my exact views on rereading and children's books and ALL KINDS OF THINGS. If I did not already think he and I were kindred spirits, I would think it after this book.
But also, he's given me a lot of food for thought about different types of scifi/fantasy, and criticism (that chapter on criticism was AMAZING!)
Additionally, I love Walter Hooper. He's done the intros for all the Lewis essay collections I've read and I love him. I've obviously never met him or anything, but his story about how he met Lewis and became his secretary and worked on his work and EVERYTHING is amazing (that's in Weight of Glory, admittedly, but there's more of that story in the preface of this one). He is just as much of a Lewis fan as I am. He's the best. (And lemme just say...Tolkien got the short end of the stick. Lewis got Walter Hooper, and Tolkien got stupid Humphrey Carpenter, who was the absolute worst.)
And, it's Lewis, and so there's much, much hilarity. And I love all of it. Especially the last segment.
Now, I need to go, because I still have one more review to do, but I'm sitting out in the shed with my laboring goat who is probably about to start pushing and so I don't have much time. XD Five stars!
This is Lewis talking about everything I love, and expressing my exact views on rereading and children's books and ALL KINDS OF THINGS. If I did not already think he and I were kindred spirits, I would think it after this book.
But also, he's given me a lot of food for thought about different types of scifi/fantasy, and criticism (that chapter on criticism was AMAZING!)
Additionally, I love Walter Hooper. He's done the intros for all the Lewis essay collections I've read and I love him. I've obviously never met him or anything, but his story about how he met Lewis and became his secretary and worked on his work and EVERYTHING is amazing (that's in Weight of Glory, admittedly, but there's more of that story in the preface of this one). He is just as much of a Lewis fan as I am. He's the best. (And lemme just say...Tolkien got the short end of the stick. Lewis got Walter Hooper, and Tolkien got stupid Humphrey Carpenter, who was the absolute worst.)
And, it's Lewis, and so there's much, much hilarity. And I love all of it. Especially the last segment.
Now, I need to go, because I still have one more review to do, but I'm sitting out in the shed with my laboring goat who is probably about to start pushing and so I don't have much time. XD Five stars!
May 27, 2021
What a wonderful book! I loved C.S. Lewis’ insights into both reading fiction and writing it. While I don’t agree with Lewis on everything, many of his insights are profound and have given me much to think about as I work on my own novel-in-progress! I also loved his reviews of different books that are now classics (I am currently rereading Lord of the Rings, so reading his review of Tolkien’s work was delightful). His responses to critics of his own work were intriguing. Lewis is witty as always. Recommended for both readers and writers!
Notes on rereading:
“On Stories”, “On Three Ways of Writing for Children”, and “A Reply to Professor Haldane” are the best essays in this collection. Loved Lewis’ comments on the importance of enjoyment in reading. His insights into what makes a good book review were helpful as well. I enjoyed this collection even more the second time.
Notes on rereading:
“On Stories”, “On Three Ways of Writing for Children”, and “A Reply to Professor Haldane” are the best essays in this collection. Loved Lewis’ comments on the importance of enjoyment in reading. His insights into what makes a good book review were helpful as well. I enjoyed this collection even more the second time.
March 31, 2016
This collection deserves space next to The Tolkien Reader for students of writing and literature, especially science fiction and fantasy. The titular essay explores story itself and is a notable counterpoint to current interest in plot and character as the dichotomy into which all discussions of writing seem divided.
Further Lewis's reviews of Tolkien, Haggard, Orwell and others expands the readers appreciation of those authors.
Not to be overlooked is the closing "Unreal Estates," a taped conversation about science fiction between Lewis, Lingsley Amis and Brian Aldiss at Magdalene College (Cambridge) on 4 December 1962, just before failing health forced Lewis's retirement. Lewis reveals the starting point and vulnerabilities of his own science fiction trilogy. All decry the snobbery of the literary establishment toward science fiction. Lewis closes with a ribald pun and "[Guffaws]".
My second reading (2011) confirms this volume's value to fans of Lewis, the Inklings, and more generally science fiction and fantasy. These are essays about writing, not stories themselves, but they are informative and entertaining to all readers. (I was tempted to say "all serious readers" but had just read Lewis' opinion, "Oughtn't the word serious to have an embargo slapped on it? 'Serious' ought to mean the opposite of comic, whereas now it means 'good' or 'literature' with a capital L.")
Five stars may be a stretch, but it is an amazing book.
(edited in 2016 to correct a typo.)
Further Lewis's reviews of Tolkien, Haggard, Orwell and others expands the readers appreciation of those authors.
Not to be overlooked is the closing "Unreal Estates," a taped conversation about science fiction between Lewis, Lingsley Amis and Brian Aldiss at Magdalene College (Cambridge) on 4 December 1962, just before failing health forced Lewis's retirement. Lewis reveals the starting point and vulnerabilities of his own science fiction trilogy. All decry the snobbery of the literary establishment toward science fiction. Lewis closes with a ribald pun and "[Guffaws]".
My second reading (2011) confirms this volume's value to fans of Lewis, the Inklings, and more generally science fiction and fantasy. These are essays about writing, not stories themselves, but they are informative and entertaining to all readers. (I was tempted to say "all serious readers" but had just read Lewis' opinion, "Oughtn't the word serious to have an embargo slapped on it? 'Serious' ought to mean the opposite of comic, whereas now it means 'good' or 'literature' with a capital L.")
Five stars may be a stretch, but it is an amazing book.
(edited in 2016 to correct a typo.)
January 18, 2022
You know *all* the C.S. Lewis quotes that show up on social media? Many are truly not from the pen of CSL. But it was a welcome surprise to see the context for many of the quotes I am familiar with. Similar to reading or watching Hamlet for the first time and discovering the familiarity.
I love the specificity of Lewis's essays. He mentions Trollope, Grimm, Austen, Grahame, Nesbit, Tolstoy, and particular titles. Which means my to-be-read list just expanded. I have H. Rider Haggard on my shelf, and I'm intrigued by CSL's comments on his writing.
I'll admit that I floundered in the science fiction essays. Not my favorite genre.
This was a delightful read once I took it at a leisurely pace. I started a Facebook group four years ago hoping to read through the CSL canon in three or four years. Both the project of reading and the curating of the group have been spectacular failures. I will keep on with more books of essays, clinging to the value of plodding.
I love the specificity of Lewis's essays. He mentions Trollope, Grimm, Austen, Grahame, Nesbit, Tolstoy, and particular titles. Which means my to-be-read list just expanded. I have H. Rider Haggard on my shelf, and I'm intrigued by CSL's comments on his writing.
I'll admit that I floundered in the science fiction essays. Not my favorite genre.
This was a delightful read once I took it at a leisurely pace. I started a Facebook group four years ago hoping to read through the CSL canon in three or four years. Both the project of reading and the curating of the group have been spectacular failures. I will keep on with more books of essays, clinging to the value of plodding.
April 10, 2020
If you are a writer or author, read this.
If you want to be a writer or author, read this.
If you are a lover of Story in general, read this.
Just read it.
It's worth the time.
If you want to be a writer or author, read this.
If you are a lover of Story in general, read this.
Just read it.
It's worth the time.
April 9, 2025
This is a collection of essays & articles written by Lewis related to writing. They range from his articles about other authors & their books to more broad works on stories in general. Some were more interesting than others. I particularly enjoyed the first one, On Stories, and the 4th one, On Three Ways of Writing for Children.
“No book is really worth reading at the age of 10, which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of 50.”
“We act from duty in the hope that someday we shall do the same acts freely and delightfully“
“When I was 10, I read fairy tales in secret and would’ve been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I’m 50 I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness, and the desire to be very grown-up. “
“It would be much truer to say that fairyland arouse is longing, for he knows not what. It’s stairs and troubles him (to his lifelong enrichment) with the damn sense of something beyond his reach, and, far from dulling are emptying the actual world, gives it a new dimension of depth. He does not despise real Woods because he is rid of enchanted words: the reading makes all real Woods a little enchanted. This is a special kind of longing. “
“No book is really worth reading at the age of 10, which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of 50.”
“We act from duty in the hope that someday we shall do the same acts freely and delightfully“
“When I was 10, I read fairy tales in secret and would’ve been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I’m 50 I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness, and the desire to be very grown-up. “
“It would be much truer to say that fairyland arouse is longing, for he knows not what. It’s stairs and troubles him (to his lifelong enrichment) with the damn sense of something beyond his reach, and, far from dulling are emptying the actual world, gives it a new dimension of depth. He does not despise real Woods because he is rid of enchanted words: the reading makes all real Woods a little enchanted. This is a special kind of longing. “
March 10, 2015
When I first discovered this collection of essays by Mr. Lewis, I was admittedly irritated that "nobody had told me" such a collection existed--I had analyzed and defended his stories for years, loved and adored the fairy-tale genre, and puzzled over some people's violent hostility towards it, never knowing that the best answers to my questions were answered by the author himself and that he had published replies to his own critics, explaining and refuting the misunderstandings already present in his own time of his writing and chosen genre--but once I began reading them, all irritation was lost in rapturous delight at holding in my hands a collection of his thoughts that I never dreamed could be available to someone born after his time.
In this collection of essays Mr. Lewis proves himself to have been a competent literary critic in addition to being a gifted storyteller. He brilliantly pitted 1984 against Animal Farm, he gave his opinion on the popularity, potential, and purpose of science-fiction, he defended fairy tales, he shared why he loved certain books and explained why he disliked others, he commented on the idea of "juvenile taste" and the best methods for writing to children, he gave glowing reviews of both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, shooting down finally and completely the ridiculous and insultingly narrow interpretation of The One Ring as representative of the atomic bomb, he responded to questions and criticism of his Space Trilogy, promulgating its true political, sociological, and anthropological themes, he remarked on different methods of teaching literature, and he spoke of the writing process and the oft-perverted task of literary criticism.
I felt as though I'd been invited to C. S. Lewis' own drawing room, to discuss our favorite topic over a warm cuppa' tea and have all my most burning questions answered to my heart's content. And in the last contribution of this collection, I was /actually/ transported to Mr. Lewis' drawing-room by means of the transcript of a taped, casual exchange Mr. Lewis had with two of his friends on the topic of the then-budding genre of science-fiction complete with some good Scotch and iconic British humor. My delight is complete. I will be returning to this collection often, as one often seeks out the company of a good and wise friend.
In this collection of essays Mr. Lewis proves himself to have been a competent literary critic in addition to being a gifted storyteller. He brilliantly pitted 1984 against Animal Farm, he gave his opinion on the popularity, potential, and purpose of science-fiction, he defended fairy tales, he shared why he loved certain books and explained why he disliked others, he commented on the idea of "juvenile taste" and the best methods for writing to children, he gave glowing reviews of both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, shooting down finally and completely the ridiculous and insultingly narrow interpretation of The One Ring as representative of the atomic bomb, he responded to questions and criticism of his Space Trilogy, promulgating its true political, sociological, and anthropological themes, he remarked on different methods of teaching literature, and he spoke of the writing process and the oft-perverted task of literary criticism.
I felt as though I'd been invited to C. S. Lewis' own drawing room, to discuss our favorite topic over a warm cuppa' tea and have all my most burning questions answered to my heart's content. And in the last contribution of this collection, I was /actually/ transported to Mr. Lewis' drawing-room by means of the transcript of a taped, casual exchange Mr. Lewis had with two of his friends on the topic of the then-budding genre of science-fiction complete with some good Scotch and iconic British humor. My delight is complete. I will be returning to this collection often, as one often seeks out the company of a good and wise friend.
July 3, 2012
I have always enjoyed C. S. Lewis' nonfiction more than his fiction. Using a gift card at Barnes and Noble, I came across this collection of essays and picked it up on a whim. What a pleasure the first essay is proving to be. For one thing, I had no idea that C. S. Lewis and I had such similar reading taste. And, of course, his logic about the importance of story and the different types of story is spot on. The essays are uneven, depending on what you are interested in, but all provide insights not only into reading and thinking about story, but also into C.S. Lewis' thoughts.
One of the most unexpected pleasures of this book was the final piece which was the transcript of a recorded conversation between C.S. Lewis, Brian Aldiss, and Kingsley Amis. The men were in C.S. Lewis' rooms and discussing science fiction, critics, and such topics. Their thoughts were fascinating and it was like reading a podcast conversation. Adding to the charm was their informality, especially moments when C.S. Lewis would say, "Are you looking for an ashtray? Use the carpet." And the response was, "No, I'm looking for the Scotch." Gotta love it.
One of the most unexpected pleasures of this book was the final piece which was the transcript of a recorded conversation between C.S. Lewis, Brian Aldiss, and Kingsley Amis. The men were in C.S. Lewis' rooms and discussing science fiction, critics, and such topics. Their thoughts were fascinating and it was like reading a podcast conversation. Adding to the charm was their informality, especially moments when C.S. Lewis would say, "Are you looking for an ashtray? Use the carpet." And the response was, "No, I'm looking for the Scotch." Gotta love it.
September 11, 2021
These essays were a genuine joy to read. Lewis had a depth of thought that seems uncommon these days, and it's refreshing to read writing by authors like Lewis or Tolkien or others with similar worldviews and experience that depth. He also has a great wit, and in his response to James Stephens' criticism of Chesterton it was so much fun to see Lewis thoroughly dismantle Stephens' criticisms while still making it abundantly clear how much respect he held for Stephens' work in general. It also makes me happy to read Lewis and Tolkien's thoughts in regard to each other's work; it's fun to catch a glimpse of how thoroughly they supported each other and how genuinely they enjoyed each other's stories.
I'll likely reread this collection when I can next take a break from my TBR.
I'll likely reread this collection when I can next take a break from my TBR.
May 18, 2015
Sometimes, reading C.S. Lewis is a labor. I find myself pouring over the same sentence five times to fully grasp the nuance of his meaning. Sometimes, reading C.S. Lewis is sheer pleasure. I was surprised to find this lovely collection of essays in the latter category. It contains essays on everything from the worth of stories in themselves to a panegyric on Dorothy Sayers. Most worthy of note are Lewis's reviews of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, as well as his essay on science fiction.
In one sentence, these essays reveal the man who hoped to contribute "to the encouragement of a better school of prose story...of story that can mediate imaginative life to the masses while not being contemptible to the few." To any who enjoyed his imaginative worlds in Narnia and the Cosmic Trilogy, these essays do much to explain his thought process, his writing process, and his personality. A true joy to read.
In one sentence, these essays reveal the man who hoped to contribute "to the encouragement of a better school of prose story...of story that can mediate imaginative life to the masses while not being contemptible to the few." To any who enjoyed his imaginative worlds in Narnia and the Cosmic Trilogy, these essays do much to explain his thought process, his writing process, and his personality. A true joy to read.
April 20, 2023
Most of Lewis's collections of essays have been delightful, but I find myself particularly attached to his essays on literature.
A number of the essays in this collection I read earlier this year in other collections (that is, perhaps, one of the most irritating things about trying to read all of Lewis's work--that essays appear in multiple collections, and without a clear memory of the title of every single essay, it's difficult to be sure if you're getting new content or not) but the repeats were ones I was happy to revisit, and the new ones (in particular, his review of Lord of the Rings) gave me all the Good Book Feels.
A worthy addition to the bookshelf of any lover of words and of literature.
Update, 4/20/23:
A fabulous collection of essays. It's fun to return to them, several years after a first reading, and realize that so many of the issues Lewis writes about are echoed in other of his pieces. (It's even more fun when your students realize it and point it out!)
A number of the essays in this collection I read earlier this year in other collections (that is, perhaps, one of the most irritating things about trying to read all of Lewis's work--that essays appear in multiple collections, and without a clear memory of the title of every single essay, it's difficult to be sure if you're getting new content or not) but the repeats were ones I was happy to revisit, and the new ones (in particular, his review of Lord of the Rings) gave me all the Good Book Feels.
A worthy addition to the bookshelf of any lover of words and of literature.
Update, 4/20/23:
A fabulous collection of essays. It's fun to return to them, several years after a first reading, and realize that so many of the issues Lewis writes about are echoed in other of his pieces. (It's even more fun when your students realize it and point it out!)
July 19, 2025
As a fan of C.S. Lewis’s works, these essays helped me to better understand him as an author, and this additional insight has altered some of my personal quibbles about elements of his work. I still don’t necessarily share all of his views on the creative process and the purpose of writing as a discipline, but as always I find him thought-provoking. As an aside, I’m humbled by his shocking breadth of reading (so many quotes in these essays from such a wide variety of literature).
For those interested in the authorial aspects of Lewis, this collection is indispensable.
For those interested in the authorial aspects of Lewis, this collection is indispensable.
October 25, 2019
This book was so lovely. I read this with my friend and we discussed the essays every morning. There is so much wisdom and food for thought in this book. We discovered that this book contains some of our favorite Lewis quotes!
I got chills when Lewis discussed how he came up with the Narnia stories and how the stories practically wrote themselves and the morals came when the stories showed him the morals.
I have a few images in my mind from this book that will stay with me and some of them surround Lewis discussing the creation of Narnia.
Something so beautiful and true that Lewis says towards the end of the book concerns critics. He said that people are always trying to find meanings and such where he didn't place any and people called him and wrote him letters and asked him these questions. He said something like they may have better luck asking dead authors those types of questions, for those authors won't be able to answer back. He also says that we all find our own meaning in books and he as an author can't give that to us- we find that ourselves. This is why I never took a literature class in college- books have always been too precious to me to discuss them with an "expert" or be forced to read scholarship on my beloved books.
I got chills when Lewis discussed how he came up with the Narnia stories and how the stories practically wrote themselves and the morals came when the stories showed him the morals.
I have a few images in my mind from this book that will stay with me and some of them surround Lewis discussing the creation of Narnia.
Something so beautiful and true that Lewis says towards the end of the book concerns critics. He said that people are always trying to find meanings and such where he didn't place any and people called him and wrote him letters and asked him these questions. He said something like they may have better luck asking dead authors those types of questions, for those authors won't be able to answer back. He also says that we all find our own meaning in books and he as an author can't give that to us- we find that ourselves. This is why I never took a literature class in college- books have always been too precious to me to discuss them with an "expert" or be forced to read scholarship on my beloved books.
May 26, 2015
A collection of essays. All on literature in some way.
There's reviews, and discussions of individual authors. (He doesn't review Orwell, for instance; he writes an essay comparing Animal Farm and 1984 and wonders why the latter is the more popular.) Others are analysis of types of literature, such as the nature of story, or science fiction. Some are about writing, such as for children. One's about words; astute readers will note the germs of Studies in Words. Another is about the teaching of literature.
An interesting look around.
There's reviews, and discussions of individual authors. (He doesn't review Orwell, for instance; he writes an essay comparing Animal Farm and 1984 and wonders why the latter is the more popular.) Others are analysis of types of literature, such as the nature of story, or science fiction. Some are about writing, such as for children. One's about words; astute readers will note the germs of Studies in Words. Another is about the teaching of literature.
An interesting look around.
April 2, 2025
A thoughtful collection of essays on various stories and authors. I particularly enjoyed his commentary on his friends, J. R. R. Tolkien and Dorothy L. Sayers, and his opinions of Orwell, for good or for ill.
His thoughts on criticism were also engaging—have we lost the ability to critic literature without mudslinging to preserve a standard of goodness in that literature? Literary enjoyment is subjective, but literary merit has more of a fixed standard. He said it far better than I can sum up, but what I’m saying it that it was good fodder for thought, haha.
His thoughts on criticism were also engaging—have we lost the ability to critic literature without mudslinging to preserve a standard of goodness in that literature? Literary enjoyment is subjective, but literary merit has more of a fixed standard. He said it far better than I can sum up, but what I’m saying it that it was good fodder for thought, haha.
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November 5, 2025Doesn’t matter the topic, love his essays.
February 12, 2021
I love the way Lewis does words. He's fascinating. I don't always know what he's talking about in these essays, because he's often addressing a specific author or cultural event that I'm not familiar with. But I enjoyed his words and the thoughts that he shared.
July 24, 2018
Reading my favorite author discuss one of my most favorite subjects was like coming Home.
His snark and vivaciousness towards some of the literary critics of his day made me adore him all the more.
His snark and vivaciousness towards some of the literary critics of his day made me adore him all the more.
June 19, 2017
I laugh at books I agree with. People think I'm reading a hilarious comedy when I'm reading C. S. Lewis. He's the only who understands some things.
February 25, 2022
This is a collection of odds and ends of his articles. One is even a sole paragraph. Some are absolutely delightful; his words about writing for children are, I think, wise and I love reading Lewis fanboy over LOTR. He's so ecstatic and full of wonder, almost like a child. His love for Haggard is similar(almost like my Harry Potter) but I don't have any sort of relationship with Haggard to compare it against.
I loved his last paragraph about Sayers, after her death: "She died instead; went, as one may in all humility hope, to learn more of Heaven than even the Paradiso could tell her. For all she did and was, for delight and instruction, for her militant loyalty as a friend, for courage and honesty, for the richly feminine qualities which showed through a port and manner superficially masculine and even gleefully ogreish---let us thank the Author who invented her."
Doesn't that give you a delightful picture of her? I loved that tribute.
It also doesn't hurt that he finds little to love in Orwell's 1984. :)
I loved his last paragraph about Sayers, after her death: "She died instead; went, as one may in all humility hope, to learn more of Heaven than even the Paradiso could tell her. For all she did and was, for delight and instruction, for her militant loyalty as a friend, for courage and honesty, for the richly feminine qualities which showed through a port and manner superficially masculine and even gleefully ogreish---let us thank the Author who invented her."
Doesn't that give you a delightful picture of her? I loved that tribute.
It also doesn't hurt that he finds little to love in Orwell's 1984. :)
August 31, 2017
This was a hidden gem. Among all of Lewis' work this is a unique book -- I loved his essay on Charles Williams, and his ode to Dorothy Sayers had me misty eyed. Then there is the technical end of writing, literature, and Lewis' approach (which I found to be more broad and open to admitting his own limitations -- an incredible and rare insight into his humble confidence). But, the final recording of a conversation between himself and two other professors transcribed was wonderful -- "I think we should leave in all the bits about drinking."
If you enjoy Lewis and want a slightly different approach to his life and work, this is worth picking up.
If you enjoy Lewis and want a slightly different approach to his life and work, this is worth picking up.
April 2, 2021
Extremely interesting book. Throughout all of it, we see C.S. Lewis' opinions on most of the subjects that surround the many genres of books out there. And sometimes, it often feels like Lewis is reviewing the books he really likes (as well as saying that he thinks Animal Farm is better than 1984). Reccomend it if you want to see many opinions on literature through the eyes of a writer.
November 7, 2017
Reread for the first time in probably ten years. Good collection of essays on literature, genre, and criticism, not all of them complete. Interesting in the unfinished ones to see earlier versions of ideas Lewis developed more fully in later essays.
January 1, 2022
Probably 4.5 stars. I really really enjoyed most of the essays in this. I was really cracking up over several of them. His essay about Dorthy Sayers was hysterical. So many good essays!! My sophomore is reading several of these that I have chosen for her along with essays by other authors as well.
March 3, 2024
He won me over at long last, even if Anscombe rightly put the kibosh on publication of his philosophical musings.
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