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A Love Observed
In this definitive biography of Joy Davidman, we read the real love story that the major motion picture, Shadowlands, could not tell. Lyle Dorsett reveals Davidman's profound influence on C.S. Lewis's life and writings.
- GenresBiography
168 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
40 people want to read
About the author
Lyle Wesley Dorsett
41 books26 followersLyle W. Dorsett received his B.A. in history (1960) and M.A. in history (1962) from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and his Ph.D. in history from the University of Missouri-Columbia (1965). He began his teaching career at the University of Missouri, moving briefly to the Univ. of Southern California and University of Colorado at Denver, before he joined the history department at the University of Denver.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 2, 2025
Sadly I can’t remember the last time I read a biography… I think reading this one has changed that for me.
I have for a long time been a big fan of C.S. Lewis but don’t know as much about his life as I wish I did. I’ve wanted to read a biography about him but have put it off for a long time.
I don’t know when or where I acquired this book about his wife, Joy Davidman but it’s been sitting on my shelf collecting dust. I was looking for a new book to begin and something about it called out to me, and I’m so glad I picked it up. I read the whole thing in 2 sittings.
I was so captivated by her life and testimony I couldn’t put it down. I am inspired by her boldness, intelligence and commitment to continually learn and grow. As well as her ability to persevere through so many challenges and not let it harden her.
I read “Till we have faces” by C.S. Lewis a few years ago and it has since been one of my all time favorites.. it brought tears to my eyes to learn about how heavily she influenced and helped with the writing of it.
Will be finding a biography about C.S Lewis ASAP
I have for a long time been a big fan of C.S. Lewis but don’t know as much about his life as I wish I did. I’ve wanted to read a biography about him but have put it off for a long time.
I don’t know when or where I acquired this book about his wife, Joy Davidman but it’s been sitting on my shelf collecting dust. I was looking for a new book to begin and something about it called out to me, and I’m so glad I picked it up. I read the whole thing in 2 sittings.
I was so captivated by her life and testimony I couldn’t put it down. I am inspired by her boldness, intelligence and commitment to continually learn and grow. As well as her ability to persevere through so many challenges and not let it harden her.
I read “Till we have faces” by C.S. Lewis a few years ago and it has since been one of my all time favorites.. it brought tears to my eyes to learn about how heavily she influenced and helped with the writing of it.
Will be finding a biography about C.S Lewis ASAP
July 2, 2022
I was intrigued to read this beautiful biography of the wife of C.S. Lewis (written by one of my favorite former professors at Wheaton College to boot) when I finished A Severe Mercy, by Sheldon Vanauken, another friend of Lewis. The first 50 or so pages dragged, but the story of her conversion to Christ and interactions with Lewis and their marriage were all a delight to read.
September 19, 2023
I discovered Joy and this book through the book by Patti Callahan, Becoming Mrs. Lewis. I had never heard of Joy Davidman, though I was very aware of CS Lewis. I had no preconceived notions going into the reading of the book, and I was pleasantly surprised by the story of this woman.
I know not everybody has a positive interpretation of events when it comes to Joy Davidman, but I for one was very much impressed by Patti Callahan’s ability to encapsulate the journey of a woman searching for truth, and ultimately her conversion to Christianity.
I also appreciated that she didn’t shy away from the tough subjects like the topics of Socialism and communism, and the very deep and radical discussions that she had with CS Lewis.
I think Protestant Christians have a tendency to put CS Lewis on a pedestal as this great theologian when he would’ve been the first to say that he was no theologian. He was a philosopher and as such, he loved to question things and raise questions and bring about those discussions all while searching for the greater truth with a capital T.
Jumping forward to reading Lyle Dorsett‘s book, A Love of Observed, which is listed as a very central influence on the story of Becoming Mrs. Lewis. From the opening paragraph, I recognized the story of Joy Davidman having her spiritual encounter that defined how she viewed spirituality. This was incorporated into the novel by Callahan and so it was very quickly apparent as I was reading how much of an influence the biography had on Callahan’s interpretation of Joy Davidman and her story.
All that to say that if you are a reader who prefers historical fiction, I highly recommend Becoming Mrs. Lewis, because it was very grounded in fact, and it’s clear that even if she did take some ideas from A Love Observed, she also flipped to the back and looked at the bibliography and went straight for the central sources, which is so key to good research.
If you prefer biography, this is the book for you. Dorsett clearly did his research, and tried to leave it up to the reader to form their own opinion.
That being said, I found it interesting and worth noting that the beginning of this book has a forward from the author, basically pointing out that Shadowlands, as good of a movie as it is, (actually, it was made twice) but as good as it is, he says, “Both movies relied heavily upon my research and writing, but in both films, the producers distorted the facts for dramatic affect, and to promote their own biases.” Dorsett makes it very clear that you shouldn’t believe everything you see in those movies. I appreciated that he said that and then he had a chance to put that in the front of this book because many readers might come to this book thinking they’re going to get Shadowlands and find that it’s not.
It’s much better.
Truth is stranger than fiction. Joy is the best flawed character, better than anything anyone could make up, because she’s Real.
I’m so thankful she finds Truth in Christ in the end. She searched for so long!
I know not everybody has a positive interpretation of events when it comes to Joy Davidman, but I for one was very much impressed by Patti Callahan’s ability to encapsulate the journey of a woman searching for truth, and ultimately her conversion to Christianity.
I also appreciated that she didn’t shy away from the tough subjects like the topics of Socialism and communism, and the very deep and radical discussions that she had with CS Lewis.
I think Protestant Christians have a tendency to put CS Lewis on a pedestal as this great theologian when he would’ve been the first to say that he was no theologian. He was a philosopher and as such, he loved to question things and raise questions and bring about those discussions all while searching for the greater truth with a capital T.
Jumping forward to reading Lyle Dorsett‘s book, A Love of Observed, which is listed as a very central influence on the story of Becoming Mrs. Lewis. From the opening paragraph, I recognized the story of Joy Davidman having her spiritual encounter that defined how she viewed spirituality. This was incorporated into the novel by Callahan and so it was very quickly apparent as I was reading how much of an influence the biography had on Callahan’s interpretation of Joy Davidman and her story.
All that to say that if you are a reader who prefers historical fiction, I highly recommend Becoming Mrs. Lewis, because it was very grounded in fact, and it’s clear that even if she did take some ideas from A Love Observed, she also flipped to the back and looked at the bibliography and went straight for the central sources, which is so key to good research.
If you prefer biography, this is the book for you. Dorsett clearly did his research, and tried to leave it up to the reader to form their own opinion.
That being said, I found it interesting and worth noting that the beginning of this book has a forward from the author, basically pointing out that Shadowlands, as good of a movie as it is, (actually, it was made twice) but as good as it is, he says, “Both movies relied heavily upon my research and writing, but in both films, the producers distorted the facts for dramatic affect, and to promote their own biases.” Dorsett makes it very clear that you shouldn’t believe everything you see in those movies. I appreciated that he said that and then he had a chance to put that in the front of this book because many readers might come to this book thinking they’re going to get Shadowlands and find that it’s not.
It’s much better.
Truth is stranger than fiction. Joy is the best flawed character, better than anything anyone could make up, because she’s Real.
I’m so thankful she finds Truth in Christ in the end. She searched for so long!
July 8, 2024
This book just goes to show everyone who isn't a CS Lewis fan why we love him and it also is a reminder to fans why we should love and learn about his wife, Joy. She was just as intellectually astute and was a poet and author in her own right. She lived an incredible life that was not without its share of challenges. The book was a wonderful reminder to me of why Joy has been a mentor in more ways than one in my life and why I admire her so much. This book gives a comprehensive account of her childhood and the motivations behind her unwise and, to an outsider, bad choices. I greatly respect her and come away from reading this book with a renewed appreciation for the woman that C.S. Lewis loved so much.
January 7, 2015
I am very enamored of C. S. Lewis. I am so happy that this wonderful, holy man found the love of his life at 50. It seldom happens, but what a gift when it does. This book details beautifully this important relationship in his life. Unlike the movies, this tells the true story of their relationship.
August 8, 2008
Insights abound in this pleasant bio of a complex woman.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews