Maureen J St Germain

Clive Staples Lewis was a British author, literary scholar, and Anglican theologian who held academic posts at Oxford and Cambridge. He is widely recognized for his fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia, as well as other fictional works like The Screwtape Letters and The Space Trilogy. Lewis also authored significant non-fiction works on Christian apologetics, including Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain. His writings have been translated into numerous languages and have achieved substantial sales worldwide.

Lewis's personal faith journey significantly influenced his literary output. After a period of atheism during his adolescence, he returned to Anglicanism in his early thirties, a transformation partly attributed to his close friendships, notably with J.R.R. Tolkien. His wartime radio addresses concerning Christianity garnered considerable attention. Lewis's literary output, exceeding thirty books, continues to be studied and appreciated by Christian scholars across various denominations.

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Clive Staples Lewis initially embraced his mother's faith but later renounced Christianity during his youth, identifying as an atheist. This period was marked by an intense fascination with European mythology, the occult, and the ancient literature of Scandinavia, often referred to as 'Northernness.' He developed a deep appreciation for nature, finding its beauty resonated with these mythological themes. Lewis also developed an early interest in anthropomorphic animal stories, creating his own tales and contributing to a fantasy world known as Boxen with his brother. His education involved private tutors before attending schools in England and Wales, where he continued his studies and developed his literary and reasoning skills.

Lewis's intellectual development was significantly shaped by his studies, including Greek literature, and his engagement with figures like W.B. Yeats. He expressed a strong connection to Irish mythology and literature, finding kinship with Yeats's work and considering aligning himself with the 'Irish school' of writing. Despite living in England, Lewis maintained a connection to his Irish roots, occasionally expressing a playful critique of English culture and seeking out the company of fellow Irish expatriates. His experiences in Belfast, marked by sectarian conflict, are suggested by some critics to have influenced his later embrace of a more ecumenical Christian perspective.

Lewis pursued higher education at Oxford University, where he studied English literature and later held academic positions. His military service during World War I preceded his academic career. A pivotal aspect of his life was his return to Christianity, which profoundly impacted his writing. He became known for his clear articulation of Christian beliefs, particularly through his non-fiction works that served as apologetics, aiming to explain and defend the Christian faith. These works, alongside his imaginative fiction, have reached a vast audience, solidifying his reputation as a prominent literary figure and Christian thinker.

“No Englishman will be able to understand my first impressions of England. The strange English accents with which I was surrounded seemed like the voices of demons. But what was worst was the English landscape ... I have made up the quarrel since; but at that moment I conceived a hatred for England which took many years to heal.”

“I have here discovered an author exactly after my own heart, whom I am sure you would delight in, W. B. Yeats. He writes plays and poems of rare spirit and beauty about our old Irish mythology.”

“I am often surprised to find how utterly ignored Yeats is among the men I have met: perhaps his appeal is purely Irish – if so, then thank the gods that I am Irish.”

“If I did ever send my stuff to a publisher, I think I shall try Maunsel, those Dublin people, and so tack myself definitely onto the Irish school.”

“Like all Irish people who meet in England, we ended by criticisms on the invincible flippancy and dullness of the Anglo-Saxon race. After all, there is no doubt, ami, that the Irish are the only people: with all their faults, I would not gladly live or die among another folk.”