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The Neglected C.S. Lewis: Exploring the Riches of His Most Overlooked Books
Readers who can quote word for word from C.S. Lewis’s theological classic, Mere Christianity, or his science fiction novel, Perelandra, have often never read his work as a professional literary historian. They may not even recognize some of the neglected works discussed, here. Mark Neal and Jerry Root have done students of Lewis a great service, tracing the signature ideas in Lewis’s works of literary criticism and showing their relevance to Lewis’s more familiar books. Their thorough research and lucid prose will be welcome to all who would like to understand Lewis more fully, but who feel daunted by books of such evident scholarly erudition.
For example, when you read The Discarded Image on the ancients’ view of the heavens, you understand better why Ransom has such unpleasant sensations when first descending toward Malacandra in Out of the Silent Planet. And when you come across Lewis’s discussion in OHEL of a minor sixteenth-century poet who described the hellish River Styx as a “puddle glum,” you can’t help but chuckle at the name when you meet the famous Marshwiggle in The Silver Chair. These are just two examples of how reading the “Neglected Lewis” can help every reader understand Lewis more fully.
For example, when you read The Discarded Image on the ancients’ view of the heavens, you understand better why Ransom has such unpleasant sensations when first descending toward Malacandra in Out of the Silent Planet. And when you come across Lewis’s discussion in OHEL of a minor sixteenth-century poet who described the hellish River Styx as a “puddle glum,” you can’t help but chuckle at the name when you meet the famous Marshwiggle in The Silver Chair. These are just two examples of how reading the “Neglected Lewis” can help every reader understand Lewis more fully.
- GenresNonfiction
196 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2020
19 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 11, 2020
I’ve read a fair amount of C.S. Lewis’s writings, but after reading THE NEGLECTED C.S. LEWIS I am astonished at how the introduction to his academic literary works enhances my understanding of his more popular writings., as well as my appreciation for Lewis himself as a scholar and a thinker. Mark Neal and Jerry Root offer thoughtful and accessible overviews of books that many of us have passed over, but are gems when it comes to CSL’s body of work. Are these books ones that I naturally gravitate to? Clearly not. But thanks to this book, I’m ready to dust off my copies of THE ALLEGORY OF LOVE and THE FAIRIE QUEEN, among others. This line toward the end of the book caught my attention: “Entering the literary world at Lewis’s invitation may reveal some degree of awkwardness, but all growth is preceded by moments of disequilibrium. ...if you are not awkward someplace in your life you are simply not growing.” With this resourceful book, I’m confident that I’m up to the challenge.
May 30, 2020
I thought I was familiar with the works of C. S. Lewis. I'd read all his fiction and a few of his popular nonfiction books, like Mere Christianity and The Problem of Pain. I now realize I was familiar with only a portion of Lewis's works. Lewis was a fellow at Oxford University and later Professor of Medieval and Renaissance English Literature at Cambridge University. He wrote a number of academic books, often bringing attention to neglected works of others he felt were of significance. He felt the knowledge gained from reading historical works was important and prevented what he called “chronological snobbery.”
Lewis's academic works are hard going and I wondered if they were worth pursuing. Neal and Root go through eight of the fifteen academic works Lewis wrote, highlighting major ideas. In An Experiment in Criticism, Lewis wrote about readers. He distinguished the few who totally immerse themselves in the literary experience. They need little detail because of a fertile imagination. On the other hand are the many. They require lots of action and are not changed by what they read. The concepts in the chapter on this book convinced me reading hard books is worthwhile.
Here are some highlights from the other Lewis books reviewed in this one. Lewis gave an example of an academic dialogue without rancor in The Personal Heresy. Another chapter includes Lewis's thoughts on poetry as well as interesting comments on Bible translations. Yet another includes Lewis on imagination and its use in comprehending reality. The chapter on The Allegory of Love, reveals the development of passionate love. Yet another chapter deals with how language changes over time.
Lewis drew the attention of his contemporaries to important works he felt were valuable but being neglected. Neal and Root have done the same for Lewis here. Whether one ultimately decides to read these obscure works of Lewis or not, reading this book will help gain insight into Lewis's ideas that formed the basis for much of his works with which we are familiar, such as his fiction.
I like how these authors glean lessons out of Lewis' more obscure books. They assure us that Lewis's writing, though academic, still holds readers' interest because of his writing style and humor. Reading the academic works of Lewis will give us windows onto a greater world, the authors say. Our perspective will be broadened.
I recommend reading this book to get a greater understanding of the writings of Lewis. It might be hard going for the general lay person but it is worth the effort to understand Lewis better and be introduced to concepts in his academic works.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Lewis's academic works are hard going and I wondered if they were worth pursuing. Neal and Root go through eight of the fifteen academic works Lewis wrote, highlighting major ideas. In An Experiment in Criticism, Lewis wrote about readers. He distinguished the few who totally immerse themselves in the literary experience. They need little detail because of a fertile imagination. On the other hand are the many. They require lots of action and are not changed by what they read. The concepts in the chapter on this book convinced me reading hard books is worthwhile.
Here are some highlights from the other Lewis books reviewed in this one. Lewis gave an example of an academic dialogue without rancor in The Personal Heresy. Another chapter includes Lewis's thoughts on poetry as well as interesting comments on Bible translations. Yet another includes Lewis on imagination and its use in comprehending reality. The chapter on The Allegory of Love, reveals the development of passionate love. Yet another chapter deals with how language changes over time.
Lewis drew the attention of his contemporaries to important works he felt were valuable but being neglected. Neal and Root have done the same for Lewis here. Whether one ultimately decides to read these obscure works of Lewis or not, reading this book will help gain insight into Lewis's ideas that formed the basis for much of his works with which we are familiar, such as his fiction.
I like how these authors glean lessons out of Lewis' more obscure books. They assure us that Lewis's writing, though academic, still holds readers' interest because of his writing style and humor. Reading the academic works of Lewis will give us windows onto a greater world, the authors say. Our perspective will be broadened.
I recommend reading this book to get a greater understanding of the writings of Lewis. It might be hard going for the general lay person but it is worth the effort to understand Lewis better and be introduced to concepts in his academic works.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Want to read
December 6, 2020I wish I had thought of this idea.
May 19, 2022
This is a very important book about the important of C. S. Lewis's literary criticism.
June 2, 2020
This is one of those books that you read and feel like you have a mountain of homework to get everything in it. Outside of Lewis' fiction and apologetic work, he has mounds of works that are largely overlooked. He is a man full of thoughtful opinions about the works of others. I have found some new books by other authors to read that he wrote about.
The thing that has stuck with me from this book is how important reading widely is. Reading takes us into the thought and hearts of others and gives a clear eyed view into the plight of another. Given our current rioting, I can see how important it is to figuratively peer into the window of another man's house. We can see things and move on the behalf of others because we have developed a sense of care.
"Reading at the level Lewis advocates is a yearning for connection and clarity, to imagine oneself living many lives, seeing through many eyes the many ways the world can be apprehended. It is a way to engage in beneficial iconoclasm, in breaking down those barriers of blindness that keep our hearts and minds fettered. This kind of reading helps us to come awake from the lethargy of self- delusion. G. K. Chesterton noted that “If you look at a thing 999 times, you are perfectly safe. If you look at it for the 1000th time, you are in frightful danger of seeing it for the first time.”256 This is what the eyes of others can give us, where we finally see beyond ourselves, the windows are opened, the light streams in, and our view of the world clarifies and expands."
This also struck me and left me wondering how we get back to beauty and significance.
"The medievals saw the universe packed with beauty and significance. Our modern sensibility tends to see the universe in terms of fear: as an infinite, empty void."
Synopsis: Readers who can quote word for word from C.S. Lewis’s theological classic, Mere Christianity, or his science fiction novel, Perelandra, have often never read his work as a professional literary historian. They may not even recognize some of the neglected works discussed, here. Mark Neal and Jerry Root have done students of Lewis a great service, tracing the signature ideas in Lewis’s works of literary criticism and showing their relevance to Lewis’s more familiar books. Their thorough research and lucid prose will be welcome to all who would like to understand Lewis more fully, but who feel daunted by books of such evident scholarly erudition.
For example, when you read The Discarded Image on the ancients’ view of the heavens, you understand better why Ransom has such unpleasant sensations when first descending toward Malacandra in Out of the Silent Planet. And when you come across Lewis’s discussion in OHEL of a minor sixteenth-century poet who described the hellish River Styx as a “puddle glum,” you can’t help but chuckle at the name when you meet the famous Marshwiggle in The Silver Chair. These are just two examples of how reading the “Neglected Lewis” can help every reader understand Lewis more fully.
The thing that has stuck with me from this book is how important reading widely is. Reading takes us into the thought and hearts of others and gives a clear eyed view into the plight of another. Given our current rioting, I can see how important it is to figuratively peer into the window of another man's house. We can see things and move on the behalf of others because we have developed a sense of care.
"Reading at the level Lewis advocates is a yearning for connection and clarity, to imagine oneself living many lives, seeing through many eyes the many ways the world can be apprehended. It is a way to engage in beneficial iconoclasm, in breaking down those barriers of blindness that keep our hearts and minds fettered. This kind of reading helps us to come awake from the lethargy of self- delusion. G. K. Chesterton noted that “If you look at a thing 999 times, you are perfectly safe. If you look at it for the 1000th time, you are in frightful danger of seeing it for the first time.”256 This is what the eyes of others can give us, where we finally see beyond ourselves, the windows are opened, the light streams in, and our view of the world clarifies and expands."
This also struck me and left me wondering how we get back to beauty and significance.
"The medievals saw the universe packed with beauty and significance. Our modern sensibility tends to see the universe in terms of fear: as an infinite, empty void."
Synopsis: Readers who can quote word for word from C.S. Lewis’s theological classic, Mere Christianity, or his science fiction novel, Perelandra, have often never read his work as a professional literary historian. They may not even recognize some of the neglected works discussed, here. Mark Neal and Jerry Root have done students of Lewis a great service, tracing the signature ideas in Lewis’s works of literary criticism and showing their relevance to Lewis’s more familiar books. Their thorough research and lucid prose will be welcome to all who would like to understand Lewis more fully, but who feel daunted by books of such evident scholarly erudition.
For example, when you read The Discarded Image on the ancients’ view of the heavens, you understand better why Ransom has such unpleasant sensations when first descending toward Malacandra in Out of the Silent Planet. And when you come across Lewis’s discussion in OHEL of a minor sixteenth-century poet who described the hellish River Styx as a “puddle glum,” you can’t help but chuckle at the name when you meet the famous Marshwiggle in The Silver Chair. These are just two examples of how reading the “Neglected Lewis” can help every reader understand Lewis more fully.
June 18, 2020
I am loving this book!!! I've been a C.S. Lewis fan most of my life (I've read Narnia more times than I can count) but I did realize he had so many other nonfiction books. As a former English major, I thoroughly enjoyed delving into the scholarly side of C.S. Lewis and learning more about his "serious" works and how those influenced his fiction. Through these works, it's easy to understand the great depths of his "lighter" writing, and why Narnia and his other stories have been so popular for so many generations. If you are a C.S. Lewis fan too, I highly recommend checking out this enlightening yet readable overview of C.S. Lewis's less well-known books.
June 17, 2020
Did you ever wish you could sit in an Oxbridge classroom and listen to C. S. Lewis lecture on literature? I certainly have. Ever since I first learned that his most famous works like The Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity were side hustles, so to speak, and his day job was Professor of Medieval and Renaissance English Literature, first at Oxford, then Cambridge, I have wished I could have been a fly on those walls.
Enrolling in his classes is no longer possible, but Lewis left us a considerable body of written work in his academic discipline and adjacent literary subjects.
Summary
In the new book The Neglected C. S. Lewis, authors Mark Root and Jerry Neal guide readers through eight of these less famous works. Some of these books comprise actual university lectures edited for print; some include academic papers requested for this or that occasion; some discuss philosophy of literary criticism and analysis; some are full of essays from one book-lover to the rest of us. In the process, Neal and Root demystify their subject matter and highlight the benefits of embracing the challenge of reading some of Lewis’s more overlooked works.
The authors discuss the following:
The Allegory of Love;
The Personal Heresy;
The Arthurian Torso;
English Literature in the Sixteenth Century Excluding Drama (OHEL series);
Studies in Words;
An Experiment in Criticism;
The Discarded Image; and
Selected Literary Essays (see “Highlights” below for more detail on these).
Takeaways
Key themes familiar to readers of Lewis’s more popular works also appear in these: friendship, chronological snobbery, how deeply and broadly Lewis read, and what an insightful intellect he had. Reading these “neglected” works, or even just these chapters about them, will enrich your experience of Narnia, the Space Trilogy, and Till We Have Faces. The medieval feel of Narnia with its kings and queens and swords and nobles comes from Lewis’s academic background. I suspect the sense of wonder those stories convey to the reader belonged to Lewis first and derived, in part, from steeping his thoughts in the medieval view of the world for so many years. Reading his thoughts on that worldview might just re-enchant our own, and we in 2020 certainly need a bit of that.
Neal and Root also point out the cross-pollination between Lewis’s Christian faith and his approach to medieval literature. The academic works do not preach or overtly share gospel truth the way Mere Christianity, for example, does, but Lewis’s faith is frequently in evidence in how he handles literature. He exemplifies integration of faith and “secular” work.
I hope that for many, the excerpts and guidance provided in The Neglected C. S. Lewis spark curiosity to attend to these overlooked books and explore the full range of Lewis’s thought. My favorite chapters were the ones on An Experiment in Criticism and The Discarded Image. I was most pleasantly surprised by the chapter on The Allegory of Love, which I confess I did not fully appreciate when I read it alone and unaided 20+ years ago.
Things to Consider
Sometimes the authors stray into the weeds of literary jargon a bit, dropping names and genres that may be unfamiliar to educated readers whose education didn’t happen to focus on literature. It is also not a book for those brand-new to Lewis, as it assumes a moderate amount of knowledge of his better known works and some basic biographical information.
My only real quibble is that the discussion of Selected Literary Essays which concluded the book commentary lost momentum from what preceded. I might have moved that earlier in the order or discussed different essays from the book. Neal and Root still stuck the landing with the summary chapter that followed.
Suggested Audience
Book nerds like me, English major types whose eyes light up at the idea of reading Lewis’s books, books about books, and books that point to new books for the TBR list (e.g., Faerie Queene, Michael Drayton’s poetry, and Lewis’s works here that I didn’t read in college);
People who know that TBR list is to-be-read list (and who have one, probably much longer than the average child’s Christmas wish list);
Lewis fans who have never explored this substantial area of his life & writing and would like to enjoy the more familiar works even more than they already do;
English literature students and teachers curious about how Lewis might help with coursework; and
Readers who enjoyed Karen Swallow Prior’s book On Reading Well.
Bottom Line
Neal and Root have done a great service to the reading world in drawing attention to these “neglected” works of C. S. Lewis. They write clearly and choose their quotes well so that the reader engages with the works discussed and not only their commentary on them. This is not a “light summer beach read” kind of book, but it amply rewards the slow attention it demands. If you love Lewis and the books introduced here are new to you, I strongly commend this volume. If you have already read the works discussed here, I still commend this volume and expect you will grow in understanding and appreciation through the years of study Neal and Root have gathered here. In my book, it’s 4.5 stars. I’ll let the authors conclude in their own words:
“There is a tremendously rich and varied past that is vital for us to know. Again, Lewis would have us beware of chronological snobbery, of thinking that our own age is somehow better than others. This is our starting point. Additionally, we somehow need to be able to step away from our habits of mind in order to access the past more fully. And we will be up against it in the effort. Deep habits of the contemporary mind include, among others, constant distraction, the inability to focus or be quiet, the loss of the historical continuum, and constant stimulation. Most people will not see the need and even if they do, won’t do anything about it. Unfortunately, it will only be for the few who are willing to undergo its rigors. And those rigors will not be inconsequential. Finally, we should see the past as an interpreter of the present. In whatever way we can and to whatever degree, we need to study the past” (Kindle location 2830).
Enrolling in his classes is no longer possible, but Lewis left us a considerable body of written work in his academic discipline and adjacent literary subjects.
Summary
In the new book The Neglected C. S. Lewis, authors Mark Root and Jerry Neal guide readers through eight of these less famous works. Some of these books comprise actual university lectures edited for print; some include academic papers requested for this or that occasion; some discuss philosophy of literary criticism and analysis; some are full of essays from one book-lover to the rest of us. In the process, Neal and Root demystify their subject matter and highlight the benefits of embracing the challenge of reading some of Lewis’s more overlooked works.
The authors discuss the following:
The Allegory of Love;
The Personal Heresy;
The Arthurian Torso;
English Literature in the Sixteenth Century Excluding Drama (OHEL series);
Studies in Words;
An Experiment in Criticism;
The Discarded Image; and
Selected Literary Essays (see “Highlights” below for more detail on these).
Takeaways
Key themes familiar to readers of Lewis’s more popular works also appear in these: friendship, chronological snobbery, how deeply and broadly Lewis read, and what an insightful intellect he had. Reading these “neglected” works, or even just these chapters about them, will enrich your experience of Narnia, the Space Trilogy, and Till We Have Faces. The medieval feel of Narnia with its kings and queens and swords and nobles comes from Lewis’s academic background. I suspect the sense of wonder those stories convey to the reader belonged to Lewis first and derived, in part, from steeping his thoughts in the medieval view of the world for so many years. Reading his thoughts on that worldview might just re-enchant our own, and we in 2020 certainly need a bit of that.
Neal and Root also point out the cross-pollination between Lewis’s Christian faith and his approach to medieval literature. The academic works do not preach or overtly share gospel truth the way Mere Christianity, for example, does, but Lewis’s faith is frequently in evidence in how he handles literature. He exemplifies integration of faith and “secular” work.
I hope that for many, the excerpts and guidance provided in The Neglected C. S. Lewis spark curiosity to attend to these overlooked books and explore the full range of Lewis’s thought. My favorite chapters were the ones on An Experiment in Criticism and The Discarded Image. I was most pleasantly surprised by the chapter on The Allegory of Love, which I confess I did not fully appreciate when I read it alone and unaided 20+ years ago.
Things to Consider
Sometimes the authors stray into the weeds of literary jargon a bit, dropping names and genres that may be unfamiliar to educated readers whose education didn’t happen to focus on literature. It is also not a book for those brand-new to Lewis, as it assumes a moderate amount of knowledge of his better known works and some basic biographical information.
My only real quibble is that the discussion of Selected Literary Essays which concluded the book commentary lost momentum from what preceded. I might have moved that earlier in the order or discussed different essays from the book. Neal and Root still stuck the landing with the summary chapter that followed.
Suggested Audience
Book nerds like me, English major types whose eyes light up at the idea of reading Lewis’s books, books about books, and books that point to new books for the TBR list (e.g., Faerie Queene, Michael Drayton’s poetry, and Lewis’s works here that I didn’t read in college);
People who know that TBR list is to-be-read list (and who have one, probably much longer than the average child’s Christmas wish list);
Lewis fans who have never explored this substantial area of his life & writing and would like to enjoy the more familiar works even more than they already do;
English literature students and teachers curious about how Lewis might help with coursework; and
Readers who enjoyed Karen Swallow Prior’s book On Reading Well.
Bottom Line
Neal and Root have done a great service to the reading world in drawing attention to these “neglected” works of C. S. Lewis. They write clearly and choose their quotes well so that the reader engages with the works discussed and not only their commentary on them. This is not a “light summer beach read” kind of book, but it amply rewards the slow attention it demands. If you love Lewis and the books introduced here are new to you, I strongly commend this volume. If you have already read the works discussed here, I still commend this volume and expect you will grow in understanding and appreciation through the years of study Neal and Root have gathered here. In my book, it’s 4.5 stars. I’ll let the authors conclude in their own words:
“There is a tremendously rich and varied past that is vital for us to know. Again, Lewis would have us beware of chronological snobbery, of thinking that our own age is somehow better than others. This is our starting point. Additionally, we somehow need to be able to step away from our habits of mind in order to access the past more fully. And we will be up against it in the effort. Deep habits of the contemporary mind include, among others, constant distraction, the inability to focus or be quiet, the loss of the historical continuum, and constant stimulation. Most people will not see the need and even if they do, won’t do anything about it. Unfortunately, it will only be for the few who are willing to undergo its rigors. And those rigors will not be inconsequential. Finally, we should see the past as an interpreter of the present. In whatever way we can and to whatever degree, we need to study the past” (Kindle location 2830).
May 31, 2020
The Neglected C. S. Lewis: Exploring the Riches of His Most Overlooked
Books by Mark Edward Neal and Gerald Richard Root: Paraclete Press
While living near the Brandywine Museum of Art I came to appreciate the paintings of Andrew Wyeth and gave me a connection to the book The Neglected C.S. Lewis. I read that before Andrew Wyeth painted a tree, he sketched the whole tree from the top down to what he imagined the root system to be like. He wanted a sense of the whole tree even if he was only going to paint what was visible.
In the book by Mark Edward Neal and Gerald Richard Root we see the whole tree for the works of C S. Lewis. As Neal and Root. David Downing states in the Forward many people are only familiar with one part of his work. Many English professors are only familiar with his literary history and criticism while many Christians are familiar only with his fiction and apologetics.
Many of the writings Lewis are neglected by one group or the other. The book being reviewed here attempts to expose those who know only the fiction works of C. S. Lewis to the other works. Reading this book exposed the root system from which his books grew.
For example, those of us who recognize the Marshwiggle, Puddleglum, are probably surprised to learn that a poet in the Sixteenth century used the word puddle glum to describe the River Styx. The authors have exposed roots that go back hundreds of years and from which the more familiar works have grown.
The authors begin with the questions Why Neglected? They give several reasons one of which is that many of the works of Lewis and the books he critiqued were hard to find. With the age of the world wide web this is not necessarily true. Many of the texts read and written by Lewis are now accessible with the click of a mouse.
However, another reason given by the authors is “A lack of interest in the content of these works might be another reason why they are neglected. Because they primarily describe specific literary historical periods and their associated works of literature, it’s less an issue of them not being comprehensible as it is of them not being valued as worthy of study”. p. 3
This lack of interest extends to much of our culture where we want things quick, easy and able to be put to use. What concerns me, especially, is this lack of interest so characterizes too many Christians. Of all people Christians should be deep thinkers. I could preach that but I will just let that statement stand.
As I read the book, I realized how prophetic C. S. Lewis was. I saw this especially in the chapter entitled, Unlocking the Doors of Language, an overview of Studies in Words. This book published in 1960 began as a lecture series at Cambridge University. He wanted to encourage accurate reading of old books. In doing so he acknowledged that words change over time so to understand a book one must understand the words in their context.
As a person who teaches the Bible I encourage students to get as close to the original meaning as possible. The text of the Bible goes back two thousand years and obviously cultures and meanings have changed. Lewis points out that meanings have changed in the English language over the course of 300 years.
What I find prophetic are the reasons Lewis gives for how language changes. I will highlight just two of the principles. The fourth principle centers around the distinction between what a word means and what a speaker (or writer) means by a word.
Fifth are what Lewis terms tactical definitions. This occurs when a group or party attempts to define a potent word for one side and to deny it to the other.
I see this going on right now, often in them political arena, but also in religious circles. For example, the word progressive is often used to describe those who want to change the structure and/or views of a denomination. How can those views that contradict 2000 years of church teaching be progressive? In my opinion “progressive” as used in this sense illustrates principles 4 and 5.
The word means what the speaker means not what the definition says it means and it becomes a tactical use of the word. People would be less likely to pursue a “progressive" view if it were in fact seen as a departure from the norm (biblical orthodoxy).
Lewis adds that the principles he describes lead to what is called “verbicide” the authors describe this as “the murder of a word”. One way to murder a word . The authors go on picture the murder weapons. “One was inflation or deification; the other, appropriating a word for its selling quality”.
The eight chapters of this book give us an extended overview of the books of C.S. Lewis that many of us have neglected. Fans of C.S. Lewis should be eager to read this book because it exposes the root system of everything Lewis wrote. It should also be read because it contains a chapter on what Lewis considered both an albatross and the work of his life. The authors state plainly and accurately, “Those who really want to know Lewis and his world
must read English Literature in the Sixteenth Century.”
I received a proof of The Neglected C.S. Lewis with the understanding I would read it and write a review. The copy I received bears witness to the reading but more importantly to the importance of this book for me, modern culture and the future of the church. I heartily recommend it (and I rarely speak like that).
Books by Mark Edward Neal and Gerald Richard Root: Paraclete Press
While living near the Brandywine Museum of Art I came to appreciate the paintings of Andrew Wyeth and gave me a connection to the book The Neglected C.S. Lewis. I read that before Andrew Wyeth painted a tree, he sketched the whole tree from the top down to what he imagined the root system to be like. He wanted a sense of the whole tree even if he was only going to paint what was visible.
In the book by Mark Edward Neal and Gerald Richard Root we see the whole tree for the works of C S. Lewis. As Neal and Root. David Downing states in the Forward many people are only familiar with one part of his work. Many English professors are only familiar with his literary history and criticism while many Christians are familiar only with his fiction and apologetics.
Many of the writings Lewis are neglected by one group or the other. The book being reviewed here attempts to expose those who know only the fiction works of C. S. Lewis to the other works. Reading this book exposed the root system from which his books grew.
For example, those of us who recognize the Marshwiggle, Puddleglum, are probably surprised to learn that a poet in the Sixteenth century used the word puddle glum to describe the River Styx. The authors have exposed roots that go back hundreds of years and from which the more familiar works have grown.
The authors begin with the questions Why Neglected? They give several reasons one of which is that many of the works of Lewis and the books he critiqued were hard to find. With the age of the world wide web this is not necessarily true. Many of the texts read and written by Lewis are now accessible with the click of a mouse.
However, another reason given by the authors is “A lack of interest in the content of these works might be another reason why they are neglected. Because they primarily describe specific literary historical periods and their associated works of literature, it’s less an issue of them not being comprehensible as it is of them not being valued as worthy of study”. p. 3
This lack of interest extends to much of our culture where we want things quick, easy and able to be put to use. What concerns me, especially, is this lack of interest so characterizes too many Christians. Of all people Christians should be deep thinkers. I could preach that but I will just let that statement stand.
As I read the book, I realized how prophetic C. S. Lewis was. I saw this especially in the chapter entitled, Unlocking the Doors of Language, an overview of Studies in Words. This book published in 1960 began as a lecture series at Cambridge University. He wanted to encourage accurate reading of old books. In doing so he acknowledged that words change over time so to understand a book one must understand the words in their context.
As a person who teaches the Bible I encourage students to get as close to the original meaning as possible. The text of the Bible goes back two thousand years and obviously cultures and meanings have changed. Lewis points out that meanings have changed in the English language over the course of 300 years.
What I find prophetic are the reasons Lewis gives for how language changes. I will highlight just two of the principles. The fourth principle centers around the distinction between what a word means and what a speaker (or writer) means by a word.
Fifth are what Lewis terms tactical definitions. This occurs when a group or party attempts to define a potent word for one side and to deny it to the other.
I see this going on right now, often in them political arena, but also in religious circles. For example, the word progressive is often used to describe those who want to change the structure and/or views of a denomination. How can those views that contradict 2000 years of church teaching be progressive? In my opinion “progressive” as used in this sense illustrates principles 4 and 5.
The word means what the speaker means not what the definition says it means and it becomes a tactical use of the word. People would be less likely to pursue a “progressive" view if it were in fact seen as a departure from the norm (biblical orthodoxy).
Lewis adds that the principles he describes lead to what is called “verbicide” the authors describe this as “the murder of a word”. One way to murder a word . The authors go on picture the murder weapons. “One was inflation or deification; the other, appropriating a word for its selling quality”.
The eight chapters of this book give us an extended overview of the books of C.S. Lewis that many of us have neglected. Fans of C.S. Lewis should be eager to read this book because it exposes the root system of everything Lewis wrote. It should also be read because it contains a chapter on what Lewis considered both an albatross and the work of his life. The authors state plainly and accurately, “Those who really want to know Lewis and his world
must read English Literature in the Sixteenth Century.”
I received a proof of The Neglected C.S. Lewis with the understanding I would read it and write a review. The copy I received bears witness to the reading but more importantly to the importance of this book for me, modern culture and the future of the church. I heartily recommend it (and I rarely speak like that).
June 21, 2020
Mark Neal and Jerry Root have taken a lifetime of research on the works of C.S. Lewis and somehow melded that into a thoughtful and comprehensive (yet concise and approachable) literary work. This is sui generis work in that it is an approachable digest and commentary of a treasure trove of other literary analysis and commentaries.
Though the critical works referenced are not likely to be familiar to the read (hence the purpose in the book in the first place) they are likely to be instantly recognizable, especially when the authors make the connections between the analytical works of Lewis, and the profound impact these sources made upon him, and inspiring the other books that millions of readers likely have found, and treasured over the years.
There are eight chapters, each diving into a different area of Lewis’s research. Chapter 2: Civil Debate in the an Age of Polarity: The Personal Heresy provides a digest of Lewis’ correspondence with Tillyard regarding Milton’s Paradise Lost.
“As we’ve said, Tillyard wrote that Paradise Lost was about the state of Milton’s mind at the time he wrote the poem. Lewis said that Milton’s work was actually about the content of the story Milton wanted to tell. It was a story about creation, the nature and the fall of man, and the story of redemption….Such criticism of the author’s mind, which is not present, removes the discussion away from the text, which is present. Attention is diverted from the objective and directed to the hypothetical.” - page 33
Having taken Prof Root’s course on the theology of C.S. Lewis (full disclosure I received an advanced copy of the Neglected Lewis for review) this immediately recalled to mind on open lecture on Lewis and objectivism. Stating what is is, and what is not, is not. This is an exercise that one could see strengthened Lewis’ view. Being an objectivist would go on to affect how he viewed all things, natural and supernatural. It may be no coincidence that Milton’s Paradise Lost would be referenced in Screwtape Letters, nor that Lewis includes a preface clarifying the objective, that this is not a set of “how to” instructions, but rather should be taken as warnings for “how to be on guard against”.
The authors guide the reader through these various "neglected" literary analytical works. One of them no less than the culmination of reading every book translated into English in the sixteenth century! This book connects the dots for the reader, to show how the rigor and lessons therein would inform the astounding fictional and theological output that Lewis would become world renowned for.
If you would like to be lead on a journey into the literary works that lead to Narnia and Screwtape, by all means, open the door to this neglected wardrobe cabinet.
Though the critical works referenced are not likely to be familiar to the read (hence the purpose in the book in the first place) they are likely to be instantly recognizable, especially when the authors make the connections between the analytical works of Lewis, and the profound impact these sources made upon him, and inspiring the other books that millions of readers likely have found, and treasured over the years.
There are eight chapters, each diving into a different area of Lewis’s research. Chapter 2: Civil Debate in the an Age of Polarity: The Personal Heresy provides a digest of Lewis’ correspondence with Tillyard regarding Milton’s Paradise Lost.
“As we’ve said, Tillyard wrote that Paradise Lost was about the state of Milton’s mind at the time he wrote the poem. Lewis said that Milton’s work was actually about the content of the story Milton wanted to tell. It was a story about creation, the nature and the fall of man, and the story of redemption….Such criticism of the author’s mind, which is not present, removes the discussion away from the text, which is present. Attention is diverted from the objective and directed to the hypothetical.” - page 33
Having taken Prof Root’s course on the theology of C.S. Lewis (full disclosure I received an advanced copy of the Neglected Lewis for review) this immediately recalled to mind on open lecture on Lewis and objectivism. Stating what is is, and what is not, is not. This is an exercise that one could see strengthened Lewis’ view. Being an objectivist would go on to affect how he viewed all things, natural and supernatural. It may be no coincidence that Milton’s Paradise Lost would be referenced in Screwtape Letters, nor that Lewis includes a preface clarifying the objective, that this is not a set of “how to” instructions, but rather should be taken as warnings for “how to be on guard against”.
The authors guide the reader through these various "neglected" literary analytical works. One of them no less than the culmination of reading every book translated into English in the sixteenth century! This book connects the dots for the reader, to show how the rigor and lessons therein would inform the astounding fictional and theological output that Lewis would become world renowned for.
If you would like to be lead on a journey into the literary works that lead to Narnia and Screwtape, by all means, open the door to this neglected wardrobe cabinet.
June 19, 2020
The Neglected C.S. Lewis
By Mark Neal and Jerry Root
Foreword by Dr. David C. Downing
Exploring the Riches of His Most Overlooked Books this statement quite aptly describes this book. People are always dreaming of finding treasure. Well, this book is a treasure that will delight and educate readers who want to truly know the works of C.S. Lewis.
This work examines eight of his scholarly works. Describing them as scholarly should in no way scare off potential readers. Nothing worth knowing is without effort and once one gets into this book it is no effort at all, rather, it is enjoyable getting to see a side of Lewis that one knows so little about.
There is much in this book to examine and in my opinion, this is most definitely a book one will want to read more than once and have on hand if one should explore any of the titles mentioned within.
There is much spiritual food for thought and much that the reader can take away for one's day-to-day life as he examines the literary works of the past through the eye of a reader. The works he examines were of importance to his life both professionally and spiritually - he opens the door for us and invites us to enter. He encourages readers to respect the past while accurately judging through the truth of reality.
The Neglected C.S. Lewis will open the reader's eyes to the wealth of insight and thought that Lewis put into his books both the more well-known and the lesser-known scholarly works that are presented all too briefly here. Scholarly does not mean boring, dull, or tedious if the author truly fulfills his (or her) role of being the window through which the reader sees. This is not a book to rush through as there is much that one will ponder and contemplate while working through the all too brief look taken at these eight works.
Several of the gems I discovered include:
* Truth is not reality; truth is what one thinks about reality when thinking accurately about it.
* Challenges must be validated objectively
* Sin is man playing God in his own life. It estranges humankind from God and from one another. It fractures lives, making the community unstable and eventually atrophying one's humanity.
* We are to serve people - to give of ourselves. This is our God-given purpose.
I have to thank the authors for introducing me to a new C.S. Lewis, though my checking account may be less than thrilled with the results. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
By Mark Neal and Jerry Root
Foreword by Dr. David C. Downing
Exploring the Riches of His Most Overlooked Books this statement quite aptly describes this book. People are always dreaming of finding treasure. Well, this book is a treasure that will delight and educate readers who want to truly know the works of C.S. Lewis.
This work examines eight of his scholarly works. Describing them as scholarly should in no way scare off potential readers. Nothing worth knowing is without effort and once one gets into this book it is no effort at all, rather, it is enjoyable getting to see a side of Lewis that one knows so little about.
There is much in this book to examine and in my opinion, this is most definitely a book one will want to read more than once and have on hand if one should explore any of the titles mentioned within.
There is much spiritual food for thought and much that the reader can take away for one's day-to-day life as he examines the literary works of the past through the eye of a reader. The works he examines were of importance to his life both professionally and spiritually - he opens the door for us and invites us to enter. He encourages readers to respect the past while accurately judging through the truth of reality.
The Neglected C.S. Lewis will open the reader's eyes to the wealth of insight and thought that Lewis put into his books both the more well-known and the lesser-known scholarly works that are presented all too briefly here. Scholarly does not mean boring, dull, or tedious if the author truly fulfills his (or her) role of being the window through which the reader sees. This is not a book to rush through as there is much that one will ponder and contemplate while working through the all too brief look taken at these eight works.
Several of the gems I discovered include:
* Truth is not reality; truth is what one thinks about reality when thinking accurately about it.
* Challenges must be validated objectively
* Sin is man playing God in his own life. It estranges humankind from God and from one another. It fractures lives, making the community unstable and eventually atrophying one's humanity.
* We are to serve people - to give of ourselves. This is our God-given purpose.
I have to thank the authors for introducing me to a new C.S. Lewis, though my checking account may be less than thrilled with the results. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
August 13, 2020
Learn more about C.S. Lewis's love of books...
This is one book that will take some for me to digest. There was just so much information and I'll confess that it has taken me longer to read The Neglected C.S. Lewis than it should have. I found myself reading a bit, putting it aside, thinking about what I had read, and then picking it back up for a little bit more.
I picked up Mark Neal's and Jerry Root's book because I have long been curious about the genius of C.S. Lewis. My second confession is that out of his works I've only read The Chronicles Of Narnia, though I've read all but one of them multiple times, so they're the only ones I feel truly familiar with. However, while reading a biography of his friend and fellow Inkling, J.R.R. Tolkein, I learned a bit more about his vast knowledge and wide range of interests, which, of course, interested me. So, I wanted to know more and The Neglected C.S. Lewis admirably fit the bill.
As I said before, I'm still digesting the contents of the book, even though it is more of an easier to understand guide to some of Lewis's lesser known, and mostly scholarly, works. But, there were a few things that really stood out to me. The one that I feel is most important, at least for me personally, was Lewis's strong belief that we do a disservice to ourselves and the original authors when we try to view historical works through a modern viewpoint. It just doesn't work and we can never truly understand, or even enjoy, those older books if we do so. Other points include: not assuming that newer is better, not looking condescendingly at historical authors just because morals have changed or new information has been discovered, that we should not place authors or books or even historical eras into neat little labled boxes, that language is fluid so it's important to know where we've come from, and that we should take books as they are written without assuming that we know better than the author what was originally meant. There is so much, much more in the book that I can't go into here or this review will be a book in itself! Suffice to say, Mark Neal and Jerry Root have done an excellent job introducing readers to more of C.S. Lewis's work.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
This is one book that will take some for me to digest. There was just so much information and I'll confess that it has taken me longer to read The Neglected C.S. Lewis than it should have. I found myself reading a bit, putting it aside, thinking about what I had read, and then picking it back up for a little bit more.
I picked up Mark Neal's and Jerry Root's book because I have long been curious about the genius of C.S. Lewis. My second confession is that out of his works I've only read The Chronicles Of Narnia, though I've read all but one of them multiple times, so they're the only ones I feel truly familiar with. However, while reading a biography of his friend and fellow Inkling, J.R.R. Tolkein, I learned a bit more about his vast knowledge and wide range of interests, which, of course, interested me. So, I wanted to know more and The Neglected C.S. Lewis admirably fit the bill.
As I said before, I'm still digesting the contents of the book, even though it is more of an easier to understand guide to some of Lewis's lesser known, and mostly scholarly, works. But, there were a few things that really stood out to me. The one that I feel is most important, at least for me personally, was Lewis's strong belief that we do a disservice to ourselves and the original authors when we try to view historical works through a modern viewpoint. It just doesn't work and we can never truly understand, or even enjoy, those older books if we do so. Other points include: not assuming that newer is better, not looking condescendingly at historical authors just because morals have changed or new information has been discovered, that we should not place authors or books or even historical eras into neat little labled boxes, that language is fluid so it's important to know where we've come from, and that we should take books as they are written without assuming that we know better than the author what was originally meant. There is so much, much more in the book that I can't go into here or this review will be a book in itself! Suffice to say, Mark Neal and Jerry Root have done an excellent job introducing readers to more of C.S. Lewis's work.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
April 30, 2020
When most people think of C. S. Lewis, they think of his fiction works like The Chronicles of Narnia or his space trilogy. They might also think of his theological or apologetic writings such as Mere Christianity. But chances are good that very few people would consider his works of literary criticism.
In their book, The Neglected C. S. Lewis, authors Mark Neal and Jerry Root, examine eight of Lewis’s works of literary criticism. Their goal in this volume is to help readers gain a greater understanding of C. S. Lewis as a person. They also want to introduce the reader to books that will in turn lead to other authors of which one might not be aware. The eight books they examine also reveal the development of many of Lewis’s most important ideas. As the authors explain, “In these books that make up The Neglected C. S. Lewis one encounters an open door into a body of literature that leads out of the self and into a wider world.”
While well written, the book is not easily digested. It reads like a college textbook and will require pondering and consideration. You will discover new dimensions of Lewis that you were not aware previously.
I received an ebook edition of this book for free from the author in exchange for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
In their book, The Neglected C. S. Lewis, authors Mark Neal and Jerry Root, examine eight of Lewis’s works of literary criticism. Their goal in this volume is to help readers gain a greater understanding of C. S. Lewis as a person. They also want to introduce the reader to books that will in turn lead to other authors of which one might not be aware. The eight books they examine also reveal the development of many of Lewis’s most important ideas. As the authors explain, “In these books that make up The Neglected C. S. Lewis one encounters an open door into a body of literature that leads out of the self and into a wider world.”
While well written, the book is not easily digested. It reads like a college textbook and will require pondering and consideration. You will discover new dimensions of Lewis that you were not aware previously.
I received an ebook edition of this book for free from the author in exchange for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
April 20, 2020
This is a lovely book, that was challenging and uplifting. The purpose of the books was to interest the reader in the writings of C. S. Lewis that are mostly unknown and thus neglected and provide various good reasons why this would be valuable. The authors achieve this purpose in this volume, as they not only show their own love of this material, but also ably portray why the reader should as well. The books itself is also beautifully written as both authors seek (as much as possible) to write in the style of Lewis. I found myself drawn into their writing and filled with the desire to investigate Lewis more. The pre-publication version I read is mostly well edited except for the introduction, which needs help. There is at least one paragraph on pages 2 and 5 that is an exact copy. This unnecessarily damages the introduction to the otherwise excellent book.
May 13, 2020
This book really opens up a new side of CS Lewis and stirs up the longing to read his other works as well as all the works that Lewis is referring to! The book was not necessarily an easy read but very worth it. One of my favorite parts of the books might have been concerning Lewis' views on why engaging with history (historical literature) is important for us to avoid "chronological snobbery". But Mark and Jerry also did a great job explaining why Lewis thinks historical imagination is important. I really learned a lot !Also if you like words this book will be a great delight to you because of all the big beautiful words used such as iconoclastic and apotheosis.
June 16, 2020
C.S. Lewis is well-known for certain books – The Chronicles of Narnia, A Grief Observed and Mere Christianity. However, his list of books is very long and includes several studies of other works. Lewis enjoyed looking at themes in medieval literature and seeing what themes authors presented. In The Neglected C.S. Lewis, the author looks at several of Lewis’ less well-known books and writings. I was part of the lauch team for The Neglected C.S. Lewis and was given a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. I had high hopes for this book as I really like C.S. Lewis, but it ended up being very academic. The author looks at both what Lewis wrote and what the author Lewis is examining wrote. I think it would be a good book for someone taking a class or writing a paper on Lewis.
October 21, 2020
Great book. Encouraging to delve into the scholarly aspect of Lewis.
December 15, 2023
I appreciated the shift in perspective when exploring these neglected stories.
October 2, 2020
The Neglected C.S Lewis gave this reader a deeper look into the life of C.S Lewis. It was refreshing to read something other than his fiction. Lewis has many other facets that are not seen if one only reads his fiction. For anyone who wants to know more about the inimitable C.S. Lewis this is the book to read.
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