C.S. Lewis: Memories and Reflections

As the centenary of the birth of C.S. Lewis approaches and the number of his surviving friends necessarily dwindles, a uniquely personal book by one of these privileged few offers an intimate portrait of Lewis the tutor, scholar, and friend, along with new insights into his towering literary and scholarly achievement. From his rare vantage point as Lewis's student, friend, and professional colleague, Lawlor recalls Lewis "in his habit as he lived." There is an unforgettable account of studying under Lewis and an enchanting depiction of undergraduate life at Oxford between the wars. To round out his picture, Lawlor draws on the recollections of other associated of Lewis, including a close comparison with J.R.R. Tolkien. These sketches are complemented by an exposition of Lewis's science fiction and the Chronicles of Narnia, There is also an assessment of Lewis's neglected notion of "happiness," noting its links with nineteenth-century English romanticism. After measuring Lewis's scholarly achievement, Lawlor concludes with his own understanding of this complex man, in whom "maddening obstinacies and sword-sharp disclaimers co-existed with an untroubled awareness of the highest order." The book is illustrated with previously unpublished personal correspondence, annotations from Lewis's personal library, and a hitherto unrecorded photograph of a young Lewis newly returned to Oxford from the First World War. Walter Hooper, Lewis's literary executor who has contributed the Foreword, calls Lawlor's memoir "a treasure...almost as good as another work from Lewis's pen."