Synopses & Reviews
A unique account of one of history's most intriguing literary groups, which will find itself on the reading list of every serious Tolkien, Lewis, or Inkling fanThe Inklings were an influential group, along the lines of the Lake Poets or the Bloomsbury Group. Acclaimed author Colin Duriez explores their lives, their writings, their ideas, and, crucially, the influence they had on each other. Examining the clear purpose behind the group while celebrating its diversity and lack of formality, Duriez explains how this eclectic group of friends, without formal membership, agenda, and minutes, could have a program that shaped the publication and ideas of the leading participants. The Inklings met weekly for many years in Oxford, to discuss and read their writings—conversation was as important to them as writing—and so the city of Oxford, and its pubs where conversations were borne out, feature, as does the Christian faith of the defining members, which influenced them greatly. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were at the group's center, but who else was involved, and why do Owen Barfield and Charles Williams matter so much? The Oxford Inklings explores the complex and fascinating interactions of the group, including the women on the fringes, such as Dorothy L. Sayers and Lewis's wife, Joy Davidman.
Review
"In a graceful, sympathetic, and appealing dual biography, Duriez stresses their influences on one another and the depths of their friendship." —Booklist on Tolkien and C.S. Lewis
Synopsis
An Oxford student of C.S. Lewis's said he found his new tutor interesting, and was told by J.R.R. Tolkien, 'Interesting? Yes, he's certainly that. You'll never get to the bottom of him.'
You can learn a great deal about people by their friends and nowhere is this more true than in the case of C.S. Lewis, the remarkable academic, author, populariser of faith - and creator of Narnia. He lost his mother early in life, and became estranged from his father, much to his regret. Throughout his life, key relationships mattered deeply to him, from his early days in the north of Ireland and his schooldays in England, as still a teenager in the trenches of World War One, and then later in Oxford. The friendships he cultivated throughout his life proved to be vital, influencing his thoughts, his beliefs and his writings.
What did Arthur Greeves, a life-long friend from his adolescence, bring to him? How did J.R.R. Tolkien, and the other members of the now famous Inklings, shape him? Why, in his early twenties, did he move in with a single mother twice his age, Janie Moore, and live with her for so many years until her death? And why did he choose to marry so late? What of the relationship with his alcoholic and gifted brother, who eventually joined his unusual household? In this sparkling new biography, which draws on material not previously published, Colin Duriez brings C.S. Lewis and his friendships to life.
Synopsis
Discover the real C. S. Lewis—the man behind the remarkable enigmaExplore this sparkling new biography that brings out the significance of C. S. Lewis' key friendships, revealing their impact on his thoughts and writings. C. S. Lewis was one of the most high profile academics of his time. He saw the world as story-shaped and believed his imagination to be the center of his being. He was a man who was at home with ideas and debate and yet he valued friendship above all else, and not just with fellow intellectuals. Among his most important friendships were the other members of the Inklings. Drawing on the latest scholarship and previously unpublished material, this book delves into his remarkable life through these key people—those that knew him best.
About the Author
Colin Duriez is a widely respected authority on Tolkien and a regular speaker at Tolkien conferences. He is the author of The C. S. Lewis Encyclopedia, A Field Guide to Narnia, The Inklings Handbook, Tolkien and C. S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship, and Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings, among others.