The Inklings discussion

I'm currently reading a biography about J.R.R. Tolkien. I'm wondering which biography of C.S. Lewis to read which is the most comprehensive.

I guess the bio by Alister McGrath may be the most comprehensive. The Narnian by Jacobs is very insightful. Maybe the best is just coming out. Harry Lee Poe and Crossway Books are doing a three volume bio. The first volume, Becoming C. S. Lewis is just out. The next two volumes over the next couple of years. I think Poe has put the most study into the young Lewis.

My favorite is the one by A. N. Wilson.

Lewis' step son, Doug Gresham, claims that their falsities that he can prove in Wilson's bio.

Douglas Gresham is also the person responsible for the travesty that is the reordering/renumbering of the Chronicles of Narnia, so I don't consider him infallible.

Are there any on Kindle?

Renumbering is a travesty, in my opinion. I did not know DG was responsible - I thought publishers were. At any rate, you are right he is not infallible. But my understanding is that there is a statement by Lewis, attributed to Gresham, which Gresham claimed was the exact opposite of what he said. And Gresham went to the radio station where it was broadcast, got the transcript, and proved Wilson had it exactly wrong. BUT I cannot remember where I read or heard that.

The new one called Becoming CS Lewis is on Kindle as of Nov 25. I think.

I highly recommend "Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Poet" by Alister McGrath. Not only is it an enjoyable, well-crafted biography, but I have great confidence in McGrath's scholarship and perspective.

Yes McGrath is a fine scholar. Devin Brown's Spiritual biography is also excellent.

Ok, I changed my mind and went with this one instead. C. S. Lewis: A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet

I saw on iTunes that Shadowlands is on there and Tolkien, so they will be viewed in the near future.

While it’s not a biography persay, if you’ve not read his autobiography “Surprised by Joy” yet, I strongly recommend it!

I've enjoyed "Fellowship of the Inklings" by Carol Zaleski and Philip Zaleski. It's about four of the Inklings, but I learned a good deal about Lewis from it.

Its an amazing book. For Lewis, Tolkien, Williams and Barfield it contains a minibiography, summary of writings and some critique...all in one book.