The Inklings of Oxford: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Their Friends

by Harry Lee Poe, James Ray Veneman (Photographer)

Oxford's fabled streets echo with the names of such key figures in English history as Edmund Halley, John Wycliffe, and John and Charles Wesley. Of more recent times are those of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the other members of the renowned literary circle to which they belonged, the Inklings. What would it be like to walk this medieval city's narrow lanes in the company of such giants of Christian literature, to visit Magdalen College, where Lewis and Tolkien read aloud their works-in-progress to their friends, or the Eagle and Child pub, the Inklings' favorite gathering place? The lavish photography of this book will introduce you to the fascinating world of the Inklings, matching their words to the places where these friends discussed--and argued over--theology, philosophy, ancient Norse myth, and Old Icelandic, while writing stories that were to become classics of the faith. The Inklings of Oxford will deepen your knowledge of and appreciation for this unique set of personalities. The book also features a helpful map section for taking walking tours of Oxford University and its environs.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Christianity, Literary Criticism, Friendship

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2009

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your fantasies lean in a literary direction—particularly along the lines of mid-twentieth century Christian dons debating in pubs—then I have just the book for you. My sister surprised me with The Inklings of Oxford for my birthday this year. Of course I couldn’t wait to accept the invitation, eager to travel back in time with this most famous literary circle, so dearly beloved by many. The photography is excellent and there are many fine photos throughout. It was fun taking a trip down memory lane ... I visited Oxford once back in 1983 and recognized some of the places—wish I’d gotten to see more. Although The Inklings of Oxford isn’t the last word on the history of the Inklings, it’s a good overview of the group including the who, why, where and when the people, books and major events happened.

Most highly recommended! Now, my sister wants to borrow it. The best part about gifts is sharing them. ☺

[Amanda Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read of these literary men and their early days. Book has full colour illustrations of the buildings and interiors

[Kenneth McIntosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text was enjoyable, though nothing that you won't find in other works on these authors: the focus was on the Lewis household and (except for Tolkien) touched only briefly on the other inklings. I could learn as much about Charles Williams from a book jacket, for one example. However the pictures are incredible: artistic and profuse, documenting visually every inch of Oxford where the Inklings walked, lived, ate, drank or worshiped. The text accompanying the pictures is also superb, in fact I think I learned as much from the captions as from the main text. Overall, it did give me a wonderful sense of everyday life at Oxford in this circle of literary friends. I should also note that I've spent just one day in Oxford and after reading this book and enjoying the pictures I have a much deeper appreciation for the town. I've fallen in love with the place via this book. I must return there and I intend to use the 'walking tour' at the end of the book as my guide.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been intrigued by C.S Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien's friendship every since I heard about it. But never went out my way to read more about it. But found this audiobook while browsing and thought it was a perfect opportunity. Well told and good narrator, highly recommend if your interested in the friendship

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. THIS is the book on Inklings Oxford. (Having read about 3 others.)

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely beautifully-photographed book I bought for my mom (you know, one of those gifts that you're actually buying for yourself ;) and it is also a succinct little bio of the Inklings' aasociations with this beautiful city of Oxford ~ truly a city of Dreams for me, which I am dying to visit as soon as humanly possible. This book made the desire even more urgent! And at the end, there are a few Inklings walks mapped out for those who want to see the specific places related to Lewis, Tolkien, Williams, and Company.

[Jimmie Kepler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading The Inklings of Oxford by Harry Lee Poe felt a bit like strolling down a cobblestone lane with a pocketful of time, knowing C. S. Lewis or J. R. R. Tolkien might come ambling up beside you. Poe doesn’t just hand you dry dates and facts; he invites you into the smoky warmth of The Eagle and Child pub, lets you hear the scrape of a chair as Lewis leans in to read a chapter from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and you can almost hear Tolkien mutter good-natured corrections over his pint.

The book’s part travel guide, part history, and part fireside conversation. Poe paints Oxford in such a way that you smell the damp air along Addison’s Walk and feel the crunch of autumn leaves underfoot as the Inklings debate myth and meaning. He also manages to weave in personal reflections, making you feel like you’ve been handed a back-door key to a world most of us only dreamed of visiting.

What I loved most was how Poe doesn’t put these literary giants on unreachable pedestals. Instead, he shows them as friends with their warts, quirks, and all. You find them laughing, disagreeing, encouraging, and sharpening one another. By the last page, I didn’t just know more about Lewis, Tolkien, and their companions. I felt like I’d been introduced to their world in a way that makes me want to dust off my old copy of The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, and pour a cup of tea, and step right back into their stories.

If you’ve ever wished you could walk where they walked, or just want to sit a spell in the company of old friends who loved words and truth, this book’s worth your time.

[Sarah Bowling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has lovely pictures. It is rather dry, textbooky reading though. I also felt it focused more on C. S. Lewis than any of the other Inklings (including Tolkein). It had interesting bits, but overall I didn't love it.

[Pastoralmusings · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Inklings of Oxford: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Their Friends (Paperback)
by Harry Lee Poe
http://astore.amazon.com/pastomusin-2...
ISBN-10: 0310285038
ISBN-13: 978-0310285038
It has been a while since I have read anything of C.S. Lewis'. I am, however, listening to an audio course that carries one through the life and works of C.S. Lewis. Lewis was a very interesting man, and his writings are the same. One can learn much by reading the writings of Lewis. It is for this reason that I'm glad to have been offered this opportunity to review The Inklings of Oxford.
First of all, I must say that this book is in the form of a coffee table book. It is well bound and in a durable cover.
The photography is excellent. All the while that I read the book I was wishing I could be in Oxford seeing all of the places that are pictured in the book.
Each photo has a caption that tells of the relationship between the place photographed and the Inklings.
The text is very well written and engages the reader enough to bring them into the lives of the Inklings and help them know and understand both them and their background.
I am not sure how one would classify this book. It is to some extent biographical, but it is not the biography of any particular person; it is about the Inklings. It is to some extent historical, but it is not the history of a nation or a city; it is about the Inklings. It is not photography only; again, it is about the Inklings. Perhaps we should give it a genre of its own and simply call it the genre of the Inklings?
I do know this, however, whether one already knows all there is to know about Lewis, Tolkien, and the other Inklings, or whether they are new to the subject, this book is a wonderful read and an excellent overview of this group.
I heartily recommend it to lovers of Lewis and Tolkien.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book once I got into it. The photographs are extraordinary and learning more about the Inklings proved to be insightful. I would recommend this book to anyone who has loved Tolkien and Lewis' writings. Altogether a very enjoyable book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I didn't realize how many different writers came and went from the Inklings over the decades. I just read a biography of Jane Austen by David Cecil and would never have known he was an Inkling. Having just visited Oxford, I loved all the pictures, many very similar to photos I took myself last month. I especially liked reading about any interactions between Lewis and Tolkien and their discussions about the books they were writing (especially The Hobbit, The New Hobbit (LOTR before it had a name), Lewis' space trilogy, and the Narnia series and its inspirations). I guess now I need to read proper biographies of Lewis and Tolkien since I liked the picture-book version so much!

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one caught my eye in a thrift store with its pictures of Oxford and the prominent names C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien on the front. I’m happy I found it.

It combines biography on Lewis and some about those around him, details about the Inklings, and in-depth description of Oxford. It’s aided with big beautiful prints of architecture, people, and pubs. It also gives background on what was going on in Lewis’ life during the writing of several of his works.

At times it could have been more engaging but overall I enjoyed it and will treasure this as a “coffee table” book to flip through. Also, I may have added some of the locations mentioned to my bucket list when I study in Oxford for myself.

[JJ Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting enough book about the Inklings, but as someone who’s already spent some time reading about Lewis and Tolkien, I was a little disappointed by how little time it spends on the rest of the group. It has a strong focus on Lewis, spends some time on Tolkien, and devotes very little time to the other members. This is a perfectly understandable thing to do, considering the fact that they’re the most prominent members, but I read this book hoping to learn more about the others. If this book had been called “Lewis and the Oxford Inklings,” I don’t think I would have been as disappointed.

All of that said, it’s written in a way that makes it more interesting than the average biography, and the pictures, while not particularly interesting to me, were a nice touch.

[Lindeisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light read with many photos about the Inklings, a writers’/ literature group that included Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Some interesting insights on the events in their lives and how they developed their books while meeting in pubs or one of their homes. Not an enthralling read, but more of a peak into the lives of these Oxford gentlemen, men of great faith and imagination.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable book, combining lots of wonderful photographs with a biography of all the Inklings. Recommended.

[Michael Heath-Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picturesque book of picturesque Oxford focusing on C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and the elegant, much patina-ed Oxford environment that they lived in.

[Natalie Lonsdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lovely tour guide on my first visit to Oxford in 2012. A great way to explore the historical sites of Oxford and walk in the steps of the great writers C.S. Lewis, Tolkien & others.

[Kenneth Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the information contained within is not entirely accurate, but the photos alone are well worth your time.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and if you are a fan of Lewis's or Tolkien you'll probably enjoy seeing Oxford too.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast, fascinating, and fun read. I have never been across the pond, and so I appreciated the many, fine, color photographs throughout. Were I more blessed with discretionary cash, I think that particularly after reading this book I would jump the first plane and positively wallow in Oxford's environs for awhile. I would just have to make Blackwell's bookshop my forwarding address.

I enjoyed the bird's-eye view of the Inklings as given by Poe. It was engrossing to read how time and circumstances changed the dynamics of their relationships. I would have eagerly devoured many more details, however, and the brevity is the only reason I gave it four, rather than five, stars.

I had never read accounts of how these friends inspired elements of each others' works; I was excited to read these insights. I will read their works with a new set of lenses as a result of this book. As an insignificant dabbler in writing, I was even given some "inklings" as to how elements of common life can inspire great elements in one's own tales. I am grateful for this.

If you've any interest at all in these men (and the women who had more than enough mettle to forge their way into the midst), the history of Britain, higher education, poetry, writing, friendship, etc., you will find this book a satisfying experience. It can be read thoughtfully in just a couple of days, and there are many avenues provided for further exploration.

[Ye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is heavily focused on C.S. Lewis than Tolkien and other Inklings.

The photos remind me so much of my own visit to Oxford. I visited the Christ Church, Balliol and St. Magdalen, so lucky they were open to public that day. Being a big fan of both Lord Peter and Sir Humphrey, Bailey was definitely on my list of must-go-visit. Didn't have time to look up all the pubs of Inklings gathered on a day trip, but did stop by Lamb and Flag. A nice old gentleman at the Botanic Garden draw a map for me... I was so happy to be able to squeeze in a little Tolkien/Inklings-related activity on that first trip to Oxford.

Always love the name "inkling".

[Garrett Cash · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this isn't the most detailed or informative Inklings book you can buy, it serves its own special purpose exceedingly well. The point of the book is allow readers (aimed at Americans, seems like), who don't know Oxford, England to really see the places associated with the Inklings while also reading a brief overview of their history. If you've never been to Oxford and have read works on the Inklings and wondered what Magdalen College or Merton College or the Kilns or the Eagle and Child looks like, than this is a great book for that. It's also a superb guide for a visitor to Oxford wanting to see the Inklings related sites, which is precisely what I used it for. There are handy walking guides in the back with maps that allow one to see many of the sites in the book. Thankfully, much of the sites are all quite close together and are within walking distance, which allows you to see a good bit more than you may think you can. Still, I didn't get to see everything and look forward to going back with this book in tow again to acquire new insight into the world of arguably the most influential group of Christian writers of all time!

[Peter Holford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this book four stars because of the beautiful photographs and the walking tours included in the back of the book (which look good, although I haven't tried them yet). The text is ordinary - an unremarkable account which cannot replace the text of the classic title, 'The Inklings' by Humphrey Carpenter, which I have read (although a long time ago). The text was also disadvantaged in my estimation given that I was reading a new biography of Lewis at the same time (which I thought was excellent and a fresh take on the life of this great writer). On the other hand, many people would find this coffee-table book a more accessible way to learn of the Inklings than the book by Carpenter, so perhaps I am being a little unfair. Disappointing, however, is the number of editorial errors in the captioning of the text which reflects poorly on a usually-reliable publisher, Zondervan.

[Deborah Finnamore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a dust-gathering coffee table book. It is exactly as Harry Lee Poe describes it in the opening lines of chapter one. "This book is not an ordinary book. It is both a picture book and a storybook. It tells all about a place and the friends who lived there."

I bought this book and read it in one sitting. In 171 pages Poe invites you into the intimate friendships between C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and the other Inklings. You meet not the stalwart historical figures but the men who come to dinner.

The photographer knows how to go beyond mere documentation. It's like you are there as opposed to looking at photographs. Stunning work!

Includes many references to the works published by the Inklings, some of which I had never heard. Excellent work for further research.

The appendix is a cool surprise, making the book even more useful...as if it needed it.

[A.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This "coffee table book" is beautiful. Plain and simple. Jim Veneman's photographs of Oxford and its environs are enchanting. The accompanying text by Harry Poe is a concise telling of the Inklings' story, from the group's beginning to its members' deaths. I have not read much about the Inklings, so most of the information was fresh for me. I imagine an Inklings aficionado might not be as impressed with the text, but the point of the book is to look at the photographs. This large-format picture book is an artful, elegant look at a beautiful city, Oxford, combined with the near-mythical story of the Inklings.

(Disclaimer: I have the pleasure of working for Zondervan, the publisher of this book. Honestly, this does not affect my review. But I thought it right to mention it.)

[J. Wootton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a coffeetable book - half photos of Inklings-related sites in and around Oxford, half biographical, with a few maps in the back of suggested walking tours of Oxford for Inklings enthusiasts.

Not bad, but the photo quality is just okay for a book that was published as recently as 2009, for a photographer as experienced as Veneman. Hardly "lavish" as the description claims.

After the first chapter or so, the text is similarly uninspiring. Its title purports to be about the Inklings, but the text is heavily biased towards Lewis and very light on the rest of the bunch.

The maps of suggested walking tours are probably the most useful bit of the book. The rest is a quick dip into Inklings territory, not bad, but nothing to get really excited about.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read this book word-for-word (except for the first couple chapters) but I still really enjoyed looking at all of the pictures, reading the captions ("The great oak tree in the cloister quad of New College where Professor Moody turned Dracy Malfoy into a ferret"), and skimming the story of the Inklings. The book is part tour guide, part Inkling Biography, part beautiful-pictures-of-Oxford.

This is a book I would be happy to buy for myself and revisit. A must read for any Lewis/Tolkien lover who is planning a pilgrimage to Oxford. Also includes 3 walking tours in the back of the book with maps and turn-by-turn directions. I made copies of these pages.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is essentially a travelog book, a sort-of pictorial history of the lives of Lewis and Tolkien (and friends) while at Oxford. The photographs are lovely, though the kindle version often separated the caption from the photo in odd ways. It might well be valuable to have while touring Oxford, but the biographical material does not seem to me to be 100% accurate (and I am only an amateur when it comes to Inkling biography). But it would make an interesting pictorial companion to any other biography of an Inkling.

[Karen Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite what I was expecting, but a quick read. I am kind of a little obsessed with Oxford.. as a gorgeous city to visit, as a college I wished I'd attended, and as the setting for films, tv shows and of course books that I love.... and this definitely gave me my fix pictorially. But the text was a little lack luster for me. Lots of info, but no flair. Great as a travelogue, and possible a walking tour guide, but I was hoping for a little more magic in the text, to mirror the authors it discussed.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book, the photos are wonderful.
The second paragraph of the introduction gives a look into the book.
"Everyone needs a special place all their own, even if they do not own it. Everyone needs friends who are always there, even if they are not there with us. What makes a place special for a person does not depend upon the place, but upon the person. What makes a person special is not so much the person, but the people who think they are special: their friends."