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More than fifty years have passed since the death of c.s. Lewis. On November 22, 1963, the Christian author and scholar passed away peacefully in his home, his absence going unnoticed by the rest of the world. However, Lewis’s writings continued to inspire generations of Christians and challenged the world with new notions about faith and God. today I would like to commemorate his work with a list of five books by c.s. lewis that everyone should read. But first, let’s take a look at his life and what inspired his great literary works.
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the life of c.s. louis
born in belfast ireland on nov. On January 29, 1898, Clive Staples Lewis (nicknamed Jack) grew up with a deep love of reading books. Some of his favorites were the Beatrix Potter stories; he had a fascination for writing and illustrating his own animal stories.
losing his mother at a young age had a profound impact on lewis’s spiritual life. without his wisdom and godly influence, under an agnostic upbringing and later an atheist as a teenager, he eventually turned away from his faith and became an atheist.
Through the years, he faced hardship and pain after being wounded in the first world war and continued his search for meaning in life. Lewis finally turned to God at age 32, greatly influenced by the inspiring writings of George McDonald and other colleagues and friends, such as J. r. r. tolkien and g. k chesterton.
As Lewis’s faith grew stronger over time, his writings and work deeply touched the lives of millions of people during World War II and beyond. it was then that some of his best work was published. It was also when, in his later years, Lewis unexpectedly met the love of his life: the American writer, Joy Davidman. The two got married, but just 4 years later, he lost his beloved wife to cancer. she was only 45 years old. Her love story was told through the award-winning movie Shadowlands.
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books of c.s. lewis everyone should read
mere Christianity
“If I find in myself desires that nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was created for another world.”
Mere Christianity is one of Lewis’s most insightful books, as well as one of his most difficult. A candid discussion of Christian beliefs, Mere Christianity prompts the reader to ask tough questions while examining the Bible from new perspectives. At times, some may find the material difficult to digest, but Lewis’ determined narratives help slow the reader down. Even 70 years after it was written, this book continues to inspire Christians in the midst of their walk with God.
the great divorce
“all natural love shall rise and live forever in this country: but none shall rise until they are buried.”
inspired by the works of st. Augustine, Lewis Carroll, and George Macdonald, The Great Divorce takes its readers on a journey to the slopes of heaven and hell. Lewis imagines a bleak, joyless city known as “the gray city,” filled with inhabitants looking for a better place. When the story’s narrator joins a bus tour on an excursion to another location, he makes some startling discoveries about himself and what awaits him at the end of the road. Filled with vivid imagery and some poignant discussions of joy and redemption, The Great Divorce asks us to consider each soul’s ultimate destiny.
the tape letters
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“It’s funny how mortals always imagine us putting things on their minds: actually, our best work is done keeping things off.”
wickedly charming and brilliantly clever, duct tape letters are lewis at its finest. The book is made up of thirty-one letters written by the mad demon to his nephew, Wormwood, a younger and less experienced tempter. together, the two outline ways to lead a human male towards “our father below” (satan) while he fears the strength of the “enemy” (god). The unorthodox perspective, combined with Lewis’s understated handwriting, makes The Duct-Taped Letters a fascinating story not to be overlooked.
an observed duel
“no one ever told me that pain was so much like fear.”
Probably the most poignant and heartbreaking addition to Lewis’s writings, An Observed Sorrow chronicles the author’s mourning after the death of his wife. The diary very candidly describes Lewis’s anger at God and his struggle to find faith in the midst of his pain. Between venting his frustrations and exploring his pain, Lewis finds a new understanding of God’s place in his life. the story is very personal, very raw and will resonate with anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one.
the lion, the witch and the wardrobe
“and for a while it seemed that all the adventures were coming to an end; but that could not be.”
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will forever remain Lewis’s most beloved written works. It is here that readers were first introduced to the magical kingdom of Narnia and Aslan’s immortal character, the lion. It is here that the wonder and beauty of Jesus’ death were captured in a dazzling metaphor. And hear where Lewis began the seven-book saga that would capture the imaginations of children everywhere. the lion, the witch and the wardrobe has been read and reread, and will no doubt reopen in the years to come.
cover photo credit: pexels/pixabay
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