The Cambridge Companion to C.S. Lewis

A distinguished academic, influential Christian apologist, and best-selling author of children's literature, C. S. Lewis is a controversial and enigmatic figure who continues to fascinate, fifty years after his death. This 2010 Companion is a comprehensive single-volume study written by an international team of scholars to survey Lewis's career as a literary historian, popular theologian, and creative writer. Twenty-one expert voices from Oxford, Cambridge, Princeton, and Wheaton, among many other places of learning, analyze Lewis's work from theological, philosophical, and literary perspectives. Some chapters consider his professional contribution to fields such as critical theory and intellectual history, while others assess his views on issues including moral knowledge, gender, prayer, war, love, suffering, and Scripture. The final chapters investigate his work as a writer of fiction and poetry. Original in its approach and unique in its scope, this Companion shows that C. S. Lewis was much more than merely the man behind Narnia. 'This volume has much to offer the general reader who wants to move on from the more popular aspects of Lewis' work. ... challenges and provokes in a way which takes into consideration the complexity and sheer scale of the man and the work.' Christian Librarian '... a book full of hidden treasures - of particular interest is the section devoted to Lewis's literary scholarship ... It should also be of interest to those who are just curious about Lewis - or, for that matter, about literary criticism, theology, philosophy and creative writing.' Theology 'the editors have assembled a constellation of top Lewis scholars and distinguished academics to survey the full range of Lewis's talents and achievements. it is a welcome and overdue book.' Mythlore 'A truly wonderful collection ... Essential. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers.' M. E. DiPaolo, Choice 'The contributions, which are well written and often incisive, offer a variety of views and interpretations and in so doing illustrate the continuing appeal and importance of Lewis.' Contemporary Review1. Introduction Robert MacSwain; Part I. Scholar: 2. Literary critic John V. Fleming; 3. Literary theorist Stephen Logan; 4. Intellectual historian Dennis Danielson; 5. Classicist Mark Edwards; Part II. Thinker: 6. On Scripture Kevin J. Vanhoozer; 7. On theology Paul S. Fiddes; 8. On naturalism Charles Taliaferro; 9. On moral knowledge Gilbert Meilaender; 10. On discernment Joseph P. Cassidy; 11. On love Caroline J. Simon; 12. On gender Ann Loades; 13. On power Judith Wolfe; 14. On violence Stanley Hauerwas; 15. On suffering Michael Ward; Part III. Writer: 16. The Pilgrim's Regress and Surprised by Joy David Jasper; 17. The Ransom Trilogy T. A. Shippey; 18. The Great Divorce Jerry L. Walls; 19. The Chronicles of Narnia Alan Jacobs; 20. Till We Have Faces Peter J. Schakel; 21. Poet Malcolm Guite; Bibliography; Index.