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Dorothy and Jack: The Transforming Friendship of Dorothy L. Sayers and C. S. Lewis
What happens when we push past the surface and allow real, grounded, mutually challenging, and edifying friendships to develop? We need only look at the little-known friendship between eminent Christian thinkers Dorothy L. Sayers and C. S. Lewis to find out. Born out of a fan letter that celebrated mystery novelist Sayers wrote to Lewis as his star was just beginning to rise, this friendship between a married woman and a longtime bachelor developed over years of correspondence as the two discovered their mutual admiration of each other's writing, thinking, and faith.
In a time when many Christians now aren't even sure that a man and a woman can be "just friends" and remain faithful, Gina Dalfonzo's engaging treatment of the relationship between two of Christianity's most important modern thinkers and writers will resonate deeply with anyone who longs for authentic, soul-stirring friendships that challenge them to grow intellectually and spiritually. Fans of Lewis and Sayers will find here a fascinating addition to their collections.
In a time when many Christians now aren't even sure that a man and a woman can be "just friends" and remain faithful, Gina Dalfonzo's engaging treatment of the relationship between two of Christianity's most important modern thinkers and writers will resonate deeply with anyone who longs for authentic, soul-stirring friendships that challenge them to grow intellectually and spiritually. Fans of Lewis and Sayers will find here a fascinating addition to their collections.
208 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2020
64 people are currently reading
3218 people want to read
About the author
Gina Dalfonzo
7 books150 followersGina Dalfonzo is the author of One by One: Welcoming the Singles in Your Church (Baker Books, 2017). She is the editor of Dickensblog and a columnist at Christ & Pop Culture. Her writing has been published in The Atlantic, Plough Quarterly, Christianity Today, First Things, The Weekly Standard, Guideposts, Aleteia, and OnFaith, among others. She lives in Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
August 11, 2020
I approached this book with trepidation. It is written by a modern author on a subject I have pondered much over the last year-the relationship between two of my favorite writers and thinkers, Dorothy L. Sayers and CS Lewis. I was more than a little suspcious that the author might accidentally step on my opinions and feeling about these two remarkable people. I am very happy to announce that Gina Dalfonzo was able to delve into this relationship without debunking either of the participants. While I struggled to get into the book at first, in the end I could not put it down and wanted more.
I can recommend this book to all who love 'Jack' and Dorothy. You will love getting to spend a few more hours with them.
I can recommend this book to all who love 'Jack' and Dorothy. You will love getting to spend a few more hours with them.
August 18, 2020
When I was in Uni I went through a Sayers phase. I read everything: her essays, her biographies... I was determined to find in her all of the strong questions I had that railed against the rather tame view of women from my sheltered minister's kid upbringing. She was smart. She was assertive and yet she flashed her faith in such a spirited and natural way. She was acerbic and railed and debated and questioned.
I, of course, fell for Peter and Harriet ( mostly Harriet) and my love deepened.
Lewis, on the other hand, always existed as someone not unlike the many, many guest speakers my mom hosted for Sunday lunch at our house after a long morning at my dad's church. I knew of him and his teachings but I felt disconnected.
But Sayers.... Sayers meeting Lewis bridged my two worlds: the world of the university woman in classes and libraries forging a faith outside of expectation and tradition of a minister's household and the philosophy and teachings quoted often and splashed across my father's home and church office libraries.
I tucked Dorothy Sayers into my pocket as an honourary Inkling. Someone who could speak for me but bridge the world that my dad and his guest speakers inhabited.
In Dorothy and Jack, that world is reconciled. With Dalfonzo's easy and accessible tone ( not ever once detracting from her remarkable intelligence and deep research), we are pulled into the spher eof two minds who battled the greatest questions of faith and theology.
Herein, Dorothy and Jack draws a welcoming line between gender questions and rooted in history and biography allows us to see how their magnificent minds complimented each other, challenged each other and uplifted each other.
Their discourse is an inspiration in an age of immediate cancel culture and a propensity to nose-dive quickly into argument.
Their balance is at the center of this moving and informative tale.
With humour and warmth, Dalfonzo invites us to tea with two of the greatest minds of the 20th Century (and beyond). Not shying from their faults but happy to spotlight their strengths, this marriage of consciousness and deep understanding is a balm in the midst of a world too eager to sever any tentative divides before they can flourish from sometimes dissonant to altogether enriching.
Also, OMG with the research! my mind reels at the depth and care taken here.
I, of course, fell for Peter and Harriet ( mostly Harriet) and my love deepened.
Lewis, on the other hand, always existed as someone not unlike the many, many guest speakers my mom hosted for Sunday lunch at our house after a long morning at my dad's church. I knew of him and his teachings but I felt disconnected.
But Sayers.... Sayers meeting Lewis bridged my two worlds: the world of the university woman in classes and libraries forging a faith outside of expectation and tradition of a minister's household and the philosophy and teachings quoted often and splashed across my father's home and church office libraries.
I tucked Dorothy Sayers into my pocket as an honourary Inkling. Someone who could speak for me but bridge the world that my dad and his guest speakers inhabited.
In Dorothy and Jack, that world is reconciled. With Dalfonzo's easy and accessible tone ( not ever once detracting from her remarkable intelligence and deep research), we are pulled into the spher eof two minds who battled the greatest questions of faith and theology.
Herein, Dorothy and Jack draws a welcoming line between gender questions and rooted in history and biography allows us to see how their magnificent minds complimented each other, challenged each other and uplifted each other.
Their discourse is an inspiration in an age of immediate cancel culture and a propensity to nose-dive quickly into argument.
Their balance is at the center of this moving and informative tale.
With humour and warmth, Dalfonzo invites us to tea with two of the greatest minds of the 20th Century (and beyond). Not shying from their faults but happy to spotlight their strengths, this marriage of consciousness and deep understanding is a balm in the midst of a world too eager to sever any tentative divides before they can flourish from sometimes dissonant to altogether enriching.
Also, OMG with the research! my mind reels at the depth and care taken here.
December 16, 2020
Though a couple good contenders vie for the title, I think The Mutual Admiration Society: How Dorothy L. Sayers and her Oxford Circle Remade the World for Women wins for my favorite book of 2020. It thus felt appropriate to celebrate my record-breaking 365th book this year with another bio focusing on the friendships of Dorothy L. Sayers. And while I love this book, I have to admit, I still half-love what it might have been over what it was.
On the plus side, this is a rather marvelous biography centered on the friendship of Dorothy L. Sayers and C.S. Lewis. It provides enough biographical details that the unfamiliar reader can follow along with the lives of these two thinkers fairly easily. But at the same time, it keeps things mercifully short. While some biographical details must sneak through regardless of their relation to the duo's friendship (for example, Sayers's son or Lewis's brother), for the most part the book centers on the shared friends and influences of these two. For example, the book references G.K. Chesterton's influence as formative for both thinkers.
The book is sprinkled with delightful quotes from both Sayers and Lewis, but again, never enough to be tiresome. The quotes are kept short and relevant and leave you wanting more. And while on the one hand this book describes the friendship of Sayers and Lewis, the very act of describing means delving into the philosophical debates the two shared about art, gender, faith, and so much more.
And being the rather rabid fan I am of both authors, it left me wanting so much more.
Here is where I see the missed opportunity: this book could have been Surprised by Laughter: The Comic World of C.S. Lewis. In other words, a biography that engages with the ideas that influenced an author by really delving into the broader conversation that inspired the ideas that influenced the author. In other words, we get one, masterful chapter in this book about how Sayers and Lewis viewed gender roles. And we get a taste of how they might have misinterpreted the views of gender from a peer they both respected and admired. But the chapter itself left me salivating for the broader conversation...to know what thinkers they talked about or people they quoted.
If we mention the influence of Chesterton, I want to know what Chesterton. I want to begin untangling the wonderful, interwoven philosophical ball of Christian thought that emerged from thinkers like Lewis and Sayers and Chesterton. I want to find a whole stack of authors to follow up on (like when I was first really introduced to Sayers in The Golden Age of Murder) and theologically knotty questions to further explore.
But of course, what I want simply falls outside the scope of this book. And I understand that (it is why it gets five stars anyway! for evoking the longing for more.) But still...
Also, while the ideas were lovely (and the quotes delightful as you would expect from Sayers and Lewis), the actual writing style of the book left something to be desired. It is interesting enough to keep you focused but sometimes repetitive and overly fond of pithy "as already mentioned" or "as will later to be discussed." The author also includes herself in the narrative more than I personally enjoy.
But overall, I would say if looking for an overview of the friendship between Dorothy L. Sayers and C.S. Lewis with the added bonus of chapters about their views on gender and creativity, I highly recommend.
On the plus side, this is a rather marvelous biography centered on the friendship of Dorothy L. Sayers and C.S. Lewis. It provides enough biographical details that the unfamiliar reader can follow along with the lives of these two thinkers fairly easily. But at the same time, it keeps things mercifully short. While some biographical details must sneak through regardless of their relation to the duo's friendship (for example, Sayers's son or Lewis's brother), for the most part the book centers on the shared friends and influences of these two. For example, the book references G.K. Chesterton's influence as formative for both thinkers.
The book is sprinkled with delightful quotes from both Sayers and Lewis, but again, never enough to be tiresome. The quotes are kept short and relevant and leave you wanting more. And while on the one hand this book describes the friendship of Sayers and Lewis, the very act of describing means delving into the philosophical debates the two shared about art, gender, faith, and so much more.
And being the rather rabid fan I am of both authors, it left me wanting so much more.
Here is where I see the missed opportunity: this book could have been Surprised by Laughter: The Comic World of C.S. Lewis. In other words, a biography that engages with the ideas that influenced an author by really delving into the broader conversation that inspired the ideas that influenced the author. In other words, we get one, masterful chapter in this book about how Sayers and Lewis viewed gender roles. And we get a taste of how they might have misinterpreted the views of gender from a peer they both respected and admired. But the chapter itself left me salivating for the broader conversation...to know what thinkers they talked about or people they quoted.
If we mention the influence of Chesterton, I want to know what Chesterton. I want to begin untangling the wonderful, interwoven philosophical ball of Christian thought that emerged from thinkers like Lewis and Sayers and Chesterton. I want to find a whole stack of authors to follow up on (like when I was first really introduced to Sayers in The Golden Age of Murder) and theologically knotty questions to further explore.
But of course, what I want simply falls outside the scope of this book. And I understand that (it is why it gets five stars anyway! for evoking the longing for more.) But still...
Also, while the ideas were lovely (and the quotes delightful as you would expect from Sayers and Lewis), the actual writing style of the book left something to be desired. It is interesting enough to keep you focused but sometimes repetitive and overly fond of pithy "as already mentioned" or "as will later to be discussed." The author also includes herself in the narrative more than I personally enjoy.
But overall, I would say if looking for an overview of the friendship between Dorothy L. Sayers and C.S. Lewis with the added bonus of chapters about their views on gender and creativity, I highly recommend.
October 17, 2023
the thing i loved most about this book was how clearly it showed both the influence of dorothy and jack on each other, and the good it did them both. i love that i can clearly trace the influence of each in the other's work, knowing more about when they met and how their friendship formed and how they pushed each other to be better
i also want to mention that Gina Dalfonzo does an amazing job with scoping out from the relationship to talk about the broader friendship groups and the interplay that had with jack and dorothy's relationship, while at other times scoping inward to really focus on the minutiae of the friendship.
i found out a lot about dorothy sayers that i didn't know, and even more about jack, which was lovely. this is a fabulous read--and a necessary one for anyone interested in learning more about either dorothy sayers or cs lewis
i also want to mention that Gina Dalfonzo does an amazing job with scoping out from the relationship to talk about the broader friendship groups and the interplay that had with jack and dorothy's relationship, while at other times scoping inward to really focus on the minutiae of the friendship.
i found out a lot about dorothy sayers that i didn't know, and even more about jack, which was lovely. this is a fabulous read--and a necessary one for anyone interested in learning more about either dorothy sayers or cs lewis
December 31, 2021
This was an excellent read and a great way to end my year of reading much of Dorothy L. Sayers' work. I know a lot about both Dorothy and Jack and have read a lot of their work, but I learned new things in this joint, focused biography. It reminded me how wonderful these two writers and people are, how complexly human they are.
Dalfonzo does a great job bringing both Dorothy and Jack to life and showing how their friendship deepened and evolved over the years. She quotes delightful passages from their letters to each other and ends with a poignant last word from Dorothy. The depth of Dalfonzo's research shines through. Dorothy and Jack were both prolific writers with huge personalities and intense genius. Dalfonzo's writing has impressive clarity and is succinct while also being readable and immensely interesting.
Dalfonzo points out that Jack was surrounded almost entirely by men after his mother died: in his boarding schools, in the army, and at Oxford in his all-male college (though he did tutor women) and with his largely male group of friends. I love the idea of Dorothy entering into Lewis's largely male world like a flash of lightning. Dalfonzo treats Jack's views of women gently, and I love her idea that his friendship with Dorothy broadened and deepened and challenged his view of women. I also love Dalfonzo's theory that Jack's friendship with Dorothy prepared him for Joy Davidman. Both women were full of zest and wit and intelligence in a society that struggled to know how to deal with such women, including Jack and his friends. Jack actually comes across much more positively than his friends regarding his view of women.
Very much recommend this book to anyone interested in either Jack or Dorothy, or better still, in both of them and the world they inhabited.
Dalfonzo does a great job bringing both Dorothy and Jack to life and showing how their friendship deepened and evolved over the years. She quotes delightful passages from their letters to each other and ends with a poignant last word from Dorothy. The depth of Dalfonzo's research shines through. Dorothy and Jack were both prolific writers with huge personalities and intense genius. Dalfonzo's writing has impressive clarity and is succinct while also being readable and immensely interesting.
Dalfonzo points out that Jack was surrounded almost entirely by men after his mother died: in his boarding schools, in the army, and at Oxford in his all-male college (though he did tutor women) and with his largely male group of friends. I love the idea of Dorothy entering into Lewis's largely male world like a flash of lightning. Dalfonzo treats Jack's views of women gently, and I love her idea that his friendship with Dorothy broadened and deepened and challenged his view of women. I also love Dalfonzo's theory that Jack's friendship with Dorothy prepared him for Joy Davidman. Both women were full of zest and wit and intelligence in a society that struggled to know how to deal with such women, including Jack and his friends. Jack actually comes across much more positively than his friends regarding his view of women.
Very much recommend this book to anyone interested in either Jack or Dorothy, or better still, in both of them and the world they inhabited.
November 2, 2020
I love this book! The personalities of these two authors comes through so clearly. Gina Dalfonzo's prose is lovely. It's nice seeing a book looking at a close friendship between a man and a woman. As someone who tends to enjoy the life of the mind and imagination on a cerebral level first and emotional second is it no wonder I relate so much to Lewis and Sayers? This book verbalized much on close friendships between men and women that I've tried to explain to others. Now I just want to give this book to everyone who thinks men and women can't be close friends without it becoming romantic. Also I now have a burning need to read a ton of Dorothy L. Sayers for the first time, reread what I've already read of her body of work, and reread the complete works of C.S. Lewis.
July 7, 2022
It appears that there is no end of books written about C.S. Lewis. This was a delightful excursion into the friendship between two brilliant Oxfordians. So much more satisfying than a novel about the romance between Jack and Joy.
November 2, 2023
I am so grateful this friendship existed.
One time a young man accused me of flirting because he saw me have an extended conversation in a church sanctuary with a married man. We were discussing book drafting and publication. Intellectualism can be a lonely place for women because they are often viewed as fishing for relationships if they engage in substantive conversations. Reading about this platonic friendship of mutual respect was refreshing, and something I am happy to say I have experienced. I am so grateful in my two college experiences to have been able to interact with several men (both married and single) who encouraged and respected my intellectual growth as C.S. Lewis did for Dorothy.
The only thing I occasionally found grating was the admonishment of conservatives who oversexualize opposite-gender friendships. I agree with Delfonzo's points 100%, but I'm just getting tired of the debates. I wonder whether it would be more fruitful to give that precious energy towards encouraging people who are already hungry for and seeking to practice Dorothy and Jack's friendship.
One time a young man accused me of flirting because he saw me have an extended conversation in a church sanctuary with a married man. We were discussing book drafting and publication. Intellectualism can be a lonely place for women because they are often viewed as fishing for relationships if they engage in substantive conversations. Reading about this platonic friendship of mutual respect was refreshing, and something I am happy to say I have experienced. I am so grateful in my two college experiences to have been able to interact with several men (both married and single) who encouraged and respected my intellectual growth as C.S. Lewis did for Dorothy.
The only thing I occasionally found grating was the admonishment of conservatives who oversexualize opposite-gender friendships. I agree with Delfonzo's points 100%, but I'm just getting tired of the debates. I wonder whether it would be more fruitful to give that precious energy towards encouraging people who are already hungry for and seeking to practice Dorothy and Jack's friendship.
December 14, 2024
I absolutely loved this book, and will definitely be returning to it.
August 24, 2020
I had the privilege to finally meet Gina Dalfonzo at a C.S.Lewis Symposium in Montreat, North Carolina.
We had a good conversation about books, writers, and what a great community there is in the world now because of writers like like Lewis, Tolkien, MacDonald, Chesterton, Sayers, and others. In the conversation, Gina told me about her new book involving the friendship between Dorothy Sayers and C.S.Lewis coming out soon, and I was very excited about reading it.
Gina was kind enough to send me a copy in the mail recently, and I just did finish it today. I had known that Jack Lewis and Dorothy Sayers were friends to dome degree, but I did not realize just how much of an influence they had on each other.
I have read most of Lewis' works' (still working on that) but I have only read a few essays by Sayers and none of her fiction yet. This book, which captures the dynamic friendship between these two great writers, reminded me of rich memories from Oxford, England, and encouraged me to read more of Dorothy Sayers work, which I really look forward too.
We had a good conversation about books, writers, and what a great community there is in the world now because of writers like like Lewis, Tolkien, MacDonald, Chesterton, Sayers, and others. In the conversation, Gina told me about her new book involving the friendship between Dorothy Sayers and C.S.Lewis coming out soon, and I was very excited about reading it.
Gina was kind enough to send me a copy in the mail recently, and I just did finish it today. I had known that Jack Lewis and Dorothy Sayers were friends to dome degree, but I did not realize just how much of an influence they had on each other.
I have read most of Lewis' works' (still working on that) but I have only read a few essays by Sayers and none of her fiction yet. This book, which captures the dynamic friendship between these two great writers, reminded me of rich memories from Oxford, England, and encouraged me to read more of Dorothy Sayers work, which I really look forward too.
July 5, 2022
I love both C. S. Lewis and Dorothy L. Sayers' books. I always knew they were friends so when I saw this book, I thought it would be interesting to read and it was! The begining was a little hard to get into, but I enjiyed it overall.
There is a lot to gain by reading about this friendship. They did not always agree, but when they disagreed they respected each other enough that, instead of getting mad at each other, they found it stimulating. In today's culture when it seems that you can't state your own opinions, for fear of offending someone, it is refreshing to see examples of friendships where they felt comfortable to discuss things.
There is a lot to gain by reading about this friendship. They did not always agree, but when they disagreed they respected each other enough that, instead of getting mad at each other, they found it stimulating. In today's culture when it seems that you can't state your own opinions, for fear of offending someone, it is refreshing to see examples of friendships where they felt comfortable to discuss things.
September 10, 2020
Every page kept my interest. Though I've already had many encounters with C.S. Lewis's life and work, this book's focus on the friendship between him and Dorothy L. Sayers revealed yet another side to one of my favorite authors. Getting to know Sayers better, too, was just as exciting since I've only just this year started delving into her writing. If you love either or both of these authors, this is a book you'll want to read.
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December 21, 2020I love learning about the lives of other authors. This slender volume offers welcome insight into the minds and writing of Dorothy Sayers and C.S. Lewis. As you might imagine, their conversations and correspondence are witty, cerebral, intellectual, and passionate. I gained much more understanding into both authors and their works, and it makes me want to read the stories they wrote all over again. If you're a fan of either author, you'd enjoy this, too.
August 22, 2020
Through the correspondence of Sayers and Lewis, we're able to see how their relationship influenced their respective work and lives. Dalfonzo's tidy and well-researched volume stands in testament to the enduring value of friendship.
January 13, 2021
I enjoyed this look into a literary/personal friendship between two authors I admire. I intend to read some things by Dorothy Sayers that I have not read and some Lewis that I haven't read for a long time as a result of reading this book. Part of my campaign to "break bread with the dead" this year.
August 27, 2020
Reading Dorothy and Jack made these two amazing writers come to life for me. 4.5 stars.
There are not many books about great friendships between a man and a woman. They are either shallow or end in romance. This book truly stand out and so do the lives of the two well-known and well-loved literary giants: C. S. Lewis and Dorothy L. Sayers.
I approached the book with a mix of excitement and hesitancy. But, I need not have worried. While I didn't love the beginning, I absolutely LOVED the ending. (I may have even shed a tear or two.)
I had just read Strong Poison, Gaudy Night, and Are Women Human? Astute and Witty Essays on the Role of Women in Society by D. L. Sayers - brilliant detective novels and a fantastic essay on feminism.
I am also currently reading The Horse and His Boy, An Experiment in Criticism, and Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis - a most wonderful fairy tale, a life-changing work of literary criticism, and a compelling apologetic work.
So, I knew some of their work but I didn't know them.
Reading Dorothy and Jack made these two amazing writers come to life for me. I have not read any other biographies about Lewis or Sayers yet, but this book showed a very personal side of them. I knew a little bit about their letters though. That is why I appreciate this biography all the more. Because Dalfonzo does a great job putting their letters and their friendship in a context and she does this in such a beautiful way that now Lewis and Sayers feel like friends to me. Friends I never met, but who I have begun to love dearly and yes, when the book ended and so did their lives, I was not yet ready to say goodbye.
There are not many books about great friendships between a man and a woman. They are either shallow or end in romance. This book truly stand out and so do the lives of the two well-known and well-loved literary giants: C. S. Lewis and Dorothy L. Sayers.
I approached the book with a mix of excitement and hesitancy. But, I need not have worried. While I didn't love the beginning, I absolutely LOVED the ending. (I may have even shed a tear or two.)
I had just read Strong Poison, Gaudy Night, and Are Women Human? Astute and Witty Essays on the Role of Women in Society by D. L. Sayers - brilliant detective novels and a fantastic essay on feminism.
I am also currently reading The Horse and His Boy, An Experiment in Criticism, and Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis - a most wonderful fairy tale, a life-changing work of literary criticism, and a compelling apologetic work.
So, I knew some of their work but I didn't know them.
Reading Dorothy and Jack made these two amazing writers come to life for me. I have not read any other biographies about Lewis or Sayers yet, but this book showed a very personal side of them. I knew a little bit about their letters though. That is why I appreciate this biography all the more. Because Dalfonzo does a great job putting their letters and their friendship in a context and she does this in such a beautiful way that now Lewis and Sayers feel like friends to me. Friends I never met, but who I have begun to love dearly and yes, when the book ended and so did their lives, I was not yet ready to say goodbye.
July 29, 2020
In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out.— C.S. Lewis, The Four LovesI remember being surprised and interested to learn that Dorothy Sayers and C.S. Lewis were friends who exchanged comments about writing and many other things in their acquaintance. I was intrigued by the idea of what the famous mystery writer and a famous Inkling had to discuss. That's because, while I knew a lot about C.S. Lewis's life, I knew only the basics about Dorothy Sayers. I'd forgotten that when she'd taken the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries as far as she felt she could, Sayers turned to writing theological books and plays, translating Dante, and in general serving her Christian faith. So, of course, she and Lewis were on the same path.
This book does a good job of tracking their friendship, what it meant to each of them, and how they supported and critiqued each other's work. It also does a good job of giving brief but comprehensive biographies for each, so I learned a lot more about Sayers' life. And, in the context of that friendship, it helped me see C.S. Lewis more clearly.
There is an emphasis throughout holding up Sayers' and Lewis's friendship as an ideal proving that men and women can be friends without succumbing to sexual attraction. The idea that my friendship with a man would lead to us automatically flinging ourselves into each other's arms was a very strange idea to me. I understand prudently keeping an eye on anything that might strike a spark. It is a very rare circumstance in my experience. I actually tend to have as many male as female friends. However, I discovered it is evidently a well known assumption in some Evangelical circles. So much so that you should've seen the Facebook page for the book launch light up with passionate (haha) arguments about the book promoting incorrect ideas. It doesn't detract from the book overall but it is an odd thread woven throughout. And I suppose if this is a thing you care about, then this book will be of extra interest.
All things considered, I enjoyed filling in the story of these strong-minded but mutually respectful famous friends. Their friendship is the sort that I have with a few people myself and I liked reading it.
November 9, 2022
I am grateful for Gina Dalfonzo's enjoyable and thoughtful study, Dorothy and Jack: The Transforming Friendship of Dorothy L. Sayers and C. S. Lewis. With a storytelling style accessible to all curious readers, Dalfonzo captures the story of this unique friendship, and how it shaped both of their adult lives. It takes years of study to become an expert in the life and works of either figure, and yet Dalfonzo is able to invite us into the essential elements of their relationship without causing us to be lost in the myriad details of their full lives. I am far from a Sayers scholar, and yet I was able to feel the inside of her story. This is not an easy task for any biographer--let alone someone trying to tell the story of two figures who each produced dozens of books and left thousands of letters on record.
There are some features that I wish were a little stronger in even a short book like this one. I would have liked more moments from their fiction--tiny links to Narnia and Wimsey that capture the voice of the artist in everyday life. I really like how Dalfonzo handled a longer study on gender. However, in carefully responding to concerns about Lewis' ideas of gender, I felt like Sayers was overshadowed a bit on this point. As I often feel in reading well-written biographies, I felt like some of the edge is lost in the decades between--that we cannot feel as readers the social horror and public controversy that threatened both of these writers behind the scenes.
Finally, in the preface and in the text, Dalfonzo is offering pushback on a concept that seems strange to me: that men and women cannot be friends. Presumably, she is addressing an American Evangelical culture of sex division. While American Evangelicals are significant readers of Lewis, interest in both Sayers and Lewis is broad and global. Dalfonzo's story of friendship should not be limited by local concerns.
For there is a story that lives in the pages of Dorothy and Jack. For me, this was a delightful introduction to a figure that intrigues me--D.L. Sayers--in conversation with someone I study in interest--C.S. Lewis.
See the full review at A Pilgrim in Narnia.
https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2022/11/...
There are some features that I wish were a little stronger in even a short book like this one. I would have liked more moments from their fiction--tiny links to Narnia and Wimsey that capture the voice of the artist in everyday life. I really like how Dalfonzo handled a longer study on gender. However, in carefully responding to concerns about Lewis' ideas of gender, I felt like Sayers was overshadowed a bit on this point. As I often feel in reading well-written biographies, I felt like some of the edge is lost in the decades between--that we cannot feel as readers the social horror and public controversy that threatened both of these writers behind the scenes.
Finally, in the preface and in the text, Dalfonzo is offering pushback on a concept that seems strange to me: that men and women cannot be friends. Presumably, she is addressing an American Evangelical culture of sex division. While American Evangelicals are significant readers of Lewis, interest in both Sayers and Lewis is broad and global. Dalfonzo's story of friendship should not be limited by local concerns.
For there is a story that lives in the pages of Dorothy and Jack. For me, this was a delightful introduction to a figure that intrigues me--D.L. Sayers--in conversation with someone I study in interest--C.S. Lewis.
See the full review at A Pilgrim in Narnia.
https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2022/11/...
July 30, 2020
I really enjoyed this book about the friendship of CS Lewis and Dorothy Sayers. I especially enjoyed the second half, which focused more on their letters. The first half dug into some of their own sexual histories and the sins of one of their friends, Charles Williams, more than I was comfortable with. The author also was fighting against the modern view many believers hold that friendships between men and women when one or both are married to someone else are prone to leading to emotional or physical affairs. I happen to agree that these friendships easily spiral into an improper attachment, so this section was frustrating.
December 28, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's one of those books that has you looking up footnotes and adding titles to your to-be-read list. I knew more about Jack than Dorothy going into this text. I learned a lot and enjoyed relearning even more. Fans of either Jack or Dorothy will relish this little 171 pager.
January 28, 2020
This book is pure magic! ❤
January 7, 2021
8/11/20 * 🌟
Thanks to the author for the NetGalley Kindle copy.
Thanks to the author for the NetGalley Kindle copy.
January 19, 2021
Dorothy Sayers and C.S. Lewis are two authors whose work I find myself reading over and over again. Both have shaped my mind and outlook, probably in more ways than I even realize. Unsurprisingly, it was great fun to read a book specifically focused on their friendship. I very much enjoyed this volume, particularly the many excerpts from their letters. It made me wish I could buy a book that included their entire correspondence.
Although I appreciated much of what Ms. Dalfonzo had to say, I must admit I thought her thesis a bit of a stretch. She offers the relationship between Sayers and Lewis as evidence that men and women should be free to form meaningful friendships with each other, and that Christians shouldn’t fall prey to an overly-sexualized mentality by assuming friendship opens the door to sexual sin. She specifically complains about Christians who think men and women should observe protocols about meeting with members of the opposite sex.
I think our culture is bad at friendship and I have no love for overly rigid rules myself; but I don’t think Sayers and Lewis are actually a good case study for this thesis. Their friendship was highly intellectual rather than personal. Much of it was conducted by letter. Considering that they spent most of their time talking about their work, and considering how highly individual both of them were, their situation wasn’t necessarily analogous to the ones Ms. Dalfonzo seems to have in mind. Most of us aren't C.S. Lewis and Dorothy Sayers!
I must also quibble with the author’s complaint that, by believing men and women should fulfill different roles* in life, Lewis was falling into the weakness of letting his cultural ideas influence his interpretation of Scripture. She seems to assume that her own more egalitarian approach is more clear-sighted. However, isn’t it likely that this very egalitarianism reflects at least some aspect of 21st century cultural values? Ahem.
Again, though, an overall delightful read that flew by quickly once it got going. The bits that I personally considered weaker were very minor aspects of the whole.
*I don't have a good handle on Lewis' views of women. This is something I'd like to delve into farther.
Although I appreciated much of what Ms. Dalfonzo had to say, I must admit I thought her thesis a bit of a stretch. She offers the relationship between Sayers and Lewis as evidence that men and women should be free to form meaningful friendships with each other, and that Christians shouldn’t fall prey to an overly-sexualized mentality by assuming friendship opens the door to sexual sin. She specifically complains about Christians who think men and women should observe protocols about meeting with members of the opposite sex.
I think our culture is bad at friendship and I have no love for overly rigid rules myself; but I don’t think Sayers and Lewis are actually a good case study for this thesis. Their friendship was highly intellectual rather than personal. Much of it was conducted by letter. Considering that they spent most of their time talking about their work, and considering how highly individual both of them were, their situation wasn’t necessarily analogous to the ones Ms. Dalfonzo seems to have in mind. Most of us aren't C.S. Lewis and Dorothy Sayers!
I must also quibble with the author’s complaint that, by believing men and women should fulfill different roles* in life, Lewis was falling into the weakness of letting his cultural ideas influence his interpretation of Scripture. She seems to assume that her own more egalitarian approach is more clear-sighted. However, isn’t it likely that this very egalitarianism reflects at least some aspect of 21st century cultural values? Ahem.
Again, though, an overall delightful read that flew by quickly once it got going. The bits that I personally considered weaker were very minor aspects of the whole.
*I don't have a good handle on Lewis' views of women. This is something I'd like to delve into farther.
February 28, 2024
I have loved Dorothy L Sayers since I was 12 and C S Lewis since I was 14 (I encountered Narnia rather late), but it was years before I had any clue that they knew each other. This book helped me understand both of them better and gave me a real appreciation for how their friendship benefited them both, personally and professionally.
I'm not sure I've digested it all properly yet, but here are a few thoughts:
I've been planning to read Dante soon and am definitely going to choose Sayers' translation - I was leaning towards it anyway - since it sounds much livelier than the others. (I even HAVE her Inferno somewhere, but will probably have to get it from the library.)
I feel justified in despising Milton's attitude toward women so much that I have no desire to reread Paradise Lost, important though it is in English literature - DLS apparently felt much the same way. I recognize that he was a great poet, of course.
I believe I now understand Miss Sayers' "wild oats" period of life much better than I did before.
I want to read Barbara Reynolds' biography of her. And I want to reread The Man Born to be King.
I'm just now realizing that all the thoughts above are focused on Dorothy and none on Jack, though I've almost certainly spent more time reading his books than hers and have been more influenced in my thinking by them. It's probably because I already knew so much more about him (from many sources) than I did about her. The main thing I've read about Dorothy is *Such a Strange Lady*, the first biography of her, which came out in the 70s, and which I haven't read since it was new. But it is a fact that this book *Dorothy and Jack* has taught me a lot about him, too. In particular I learned more about his relationships with his brother Warren, with Mrs Moore, and with Joy Gresham. And I was interested to see that he turned down the chair that Cambridge offered him TWICE before he was persuaded to accept it (by Tolkien, I think).
I love that Dorothy and Jack fondly called each other dinosaurs. I've always been interested in dinosaurs.
I'm not sure I've digested it all properly yet, but here are a few thoughts:
I've been planning to read Dante soon and am definitely going to choose Sayers' translation - I was leaning towards it anyway - since it sounds much livelier than the others. (I even HAVE her Inferno somewhere, but will probably have to get it from the library.)
I feel justified in despising Milton's attitude toward women so much that I have no desire to reread Paradise Lost, important though it is in English literature - DLS apparently felt much the same way. I recognize that he was a great poet, of course.
I believe I now understand Miss Sayers' "wild oats" period of life much better than I did before.
I want to read Barbara Reynolds' biography of her. And I want to reread The Man Born to be King.
I'm just now realizing that all the thoughts above are focused on Dorothy and none on Jack, though I've almost certainly spent more time reading his books than hers and have been more influenced in my thinking by them. It's probably because I already knew so much more about him (from many sources) than I did about her. The main thing I've read about Dorothy is *Such a Strange Lady*, the first biography of her, which came out in the 70s, and which I haven't read since it was new. But it is a fact that this book *Dorothy and Jack* has taught me a lot about him, too. In particular I learned more about his relationships with his brother Warren, with Mrs Moore, and with Joy Gresham. And I was interested to see that he turned down the chair that Cambridge offered him TWICE before he was persuaded to accept it (by Tolkien, I think).
I love that Dorothy and Jack fondly called each other dinosaurs. I've always been interested in dinosaurs.
June 13, 2022
“Both [Dorothy L. Sayers and C.S. Lewis] were brilliant, well-educated, thoughtful, opinionated Christians. Their views were well-informed and well-thought-out. Yet with all that, each of them still needed something more—a way to look at the world sometimes from another perspective, something or someone to push back against and at the same time offer a new way of looking at things. They found this in each other.” -Gina Dalfonzo in DOROTHY AND JACK
…
It has been a while since I have shed tears over a nonfiction book! The Inklings and Sayers have been a favorite subject of mine ever since my own experience in an Inklings class in college (much like that of the author’s). The genuine friendship of Lewis and Sayers is too often forgotten in the memories of today’s Christians, and Dalfonzo has done a lovely job of bringing it into light. Her genuine storytelling and use of excerpts from Lewis and Sayers’s writings was very moving; so moving that, as mentioned before, the last chapter had me misty-eyed. This book is both a beautiful tribute to their friendship and a thoughtful examination of both writers. I would definitely recommend this book to any fans of Lewis and/or Sayers!
…
It has been a while since I have shed tears over a nonfiction book! The Inklings and Sayers have been a favorite subject of mine ever since my own experience in an Inklings class in college (much like that of the author’s). The genuine friendship of Lewis and Sayers is too often forgotten in the memories of today’s Christians, and Dalfonzo has done a lovely job of bringing it into light. Her genuine storytelling and use of excerpts from Lewis and Sayers’s writings was very moving; so moving that, as mentioned before, the last chapter had me misty-eyed. This book is both a beautiful tribute to their friendship and a thoughtful examination of both writers. I would definitely recommend this book to any fans of Lewis and/or Sayers!
July 28, 2020
*Many thanks to the author for providing the galley proof. This is my honest review.*
There were things I liked about this book. I enjoyed learning how Sayers and Lewis met, and I have a newfound desire to get hold of Dorothy Sayers' correspondence, because she sounds like she was just as delightful through the mail as she was in her novels.
That having been said, I cannot recommend this book as a whole. Ultimately it was less a story of the friendship of two beloved authors, than a hijacking of the fact of their friendship to promote Dalfonzo's "woke" propaganda: among other things, in the idea that unmarried men and women can have intimate friendships without impropriety, and the suggestion that Lewis (of all people) was misogynistic and Sayers was the heroic feminist who saved him. I'm not going to get into a point-by-point refutation, because that could take hours; suffice it to say that Dalfonzo has misrepresented these characters as a knee-jerk misogynist and a proto-feminist, rather than two people with carefully reasoned policies and who were probably careful to avoid scandal in their relationship.
There were things I liked about this book. I enjoyed learning how Sayers and Lewis met, and I have a newfound desire to get hold of Dorothy Sayers' correspondence, because she sounds like she was just as delightful through the mail as she was in her novels.
That having been said, I cannot recommend this book as a whole. Ultimately it was less a story of the friendship of two beloved authors, than a hijacking of the fact of their friendship to promote Dalfonzo's "woke" propaganda: among other things, in the idea that unmarried men and women can have intimate friendships without impropriety, and the suggestion that Lewis (of all people) was misogynistic and Sayers was the heroic feminist who saved him. I'm not going to get into a point-by-point refutation, because that could take hours; suffice it to say that Dalfonzo has misrepresented these characters as a knee-jerk misogynist and a proto-feminist, rather than two people with carefully reasoned policies and who were probably careful to avoid scandal in their relationship.
July 26, 2020
Once I started, I couldn't put "Dorothy and Jack" down. It's delightful. I felt that I was in the same room with Sayers and Lewis, eavesdropping on their written conversations, and seeing them beyond "famous author status" to their humanity. It was also very interesting to follow the evolution of their friendship from professionally related correspondence to sharing everyday events, such as getting chickens. (Sayers' description of her hens as Elinor and Marianne in "Sense and Sensibility" is hilarious.)
I believe there is a lot we can learn especially in a day when friendship between brothers and sisters in Christ is considered dangerous and/or impossible. Sayers and Lewis proved otherwise to their mutual benefit. I think we can benefit from their experience as well.
I believe there is a lot we can learn especially in a day when friendship between brothers and sisters in Christ is considered dangerous and/or impossible. Sayers and Lewis proved otherwise to their mutual benefit. I think we can benefit from their experience as well.
August 25, 2020
My, I loved this book. It is a rare that a book of this nature keeps me turning the pages, wanting more from beginning to end. But it did. It is so well researched yet never gets bogged down in details. (Ms. Dalfonzo is an excellent writer.) It is also obvious the author has great fondness for Sayers and Lewis yet she loves them with a realistic admiration for the people they were not in a hero-worship kind of way as people without flaws. I hated for the story of their friendship to end and certainly had some tears in my eyes when I was done reading it. And now I have so many more books/plays I must add to my too-long reading list.
July 27, 2021
An insightful friendship biography. It increases my appreciation for Sayers, Lewis and friendship in general.
March 28, 2023
This is a sort of biography of the friendship between Dorothy Sayers and CS Lewis. For fans of either it’s well worth reading. They were both Oxford alumni but didn’t meet until much later. Dalfonzo shows how their relationship developed over the course of 15 years (until Sayers’ death in 1957) and how they mutually benefitted. Among other things, Lewis encouraged Sayers in her translation of Dante, and thanks to the influence of Sayers, Lewis came to understand that men and women could actually be friends—not merely allies, but friends.
Quotes:
“The observation reminds us how fortunate each of them was to have the other to help provide such criticism. It was an integral and vital part of their friendship, something each needed and valued. It was what helped to make theirs a true relationship of equals—a meeting of minds.”
“It’s worth noting that this same portrayal of Jesus that Dorothy created, which meant so much to Jack, exemplified what Dorothy saw as ideal interactions between men—specifically, one Man—and women. She had famously written of Jesus in her essay ‘The Human-Not-Quite-Human’:
“This was the way Dorothy saw Jesus treating women in the Gospels and the way she wished His church would treat women. Her portrayal of Him, emphasizing these qualities, could not help but develop and enrich Jack's view of women as well as his view of Jesus Himself.”
Quotes:
“The observation reminds us how fortunate each of them was to have the other to help provide such criticism. It was an integral and vital part of their friendship, something each needed and valued. It was what helped to make theirs a true relationship of equals—a meeting of minds.”
“It’s worth noting that this same portrayal of Jesus that Dorothy created, which meant so much to Jack, exemplified what Dorothy saw as ideal interactions between men—specifically, one Man—and women. She had famously written of Jesus in her essay ‘The Human-Not-Quite-Human’:
Perhaps it is no wonder that women were first at the Cradle and last at the Cross. They had never known a man like this Man—there never has been such another. A prophet and teacher who never nagged at them, never flattered or coaxed or patronised; who never made arch jokes about them, never treated them either as "The women, God help us!" or "The ladies, God bless them!"; who rebuked without querulousness and praised without condescension; who took their questions and arguments seriously; who never mapped out their sphere for them, never urged them to be feminine or jeered at them for being female; who had no axe to grind and no uneasy male dignity to defend; who took them as he found them and was completely unself-conscious.
“This was the way Dorothy saw Jesus treating women in the Gospels and the way she wished His church would treat women. Her portrayal of Him, emphasizing these qualities, could not help but develop and enrich Jack's view of women as well as his view of Jesus Himself.”
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