Short History Of... C.S. Lewis
Dr Michael Ward, Oxford theologian and author of Planet Narnia, guides listeners through C.S. Lewis’s life and imagination. Short scenes explore Lewis’s Belfast childhood, wartime experiences, the Inklings friendship with Tolkien, the birth of Narnia from childhood play and wartime households, and his complex faith and relationships.
54:52
Wardrobe Childhood That Became Narnia
- C.S. Lewis as a child hid inside an ornate wardrobe in his attic den, imagining animals and stories that fed his later fiction.
- That very wardrobe, built by his grandfather, later inspired the wardrobe entrance to Narnia and is now at Wheaton College.
War Injury That Shaped His Empathy
- At 19, Lewis was wounded by shell splinters near Arras that killed Sergeant Ayres and left Lewis carrying shrapnel for life.
- The trauma and survivor guilt shaped his postwar life, academic focus, and sympathy in writings about suffering.
Friendship That Fueled Conversion
- Tolkien's friendship nudged Lewis from atheism back toward Christian belief, sparking a deep conversion that redirected his life's work.
- Lewis moved from theism to a full Christian worldview and then became a prolific apologist and writer on faith.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app 1 chevron_right 2 chevron_right 3 chevron_right 4 chevron_right 5 chevron_right 6 chevron_right 7 chevron_right 8 chevron_right 9 chevron_right 10 chevron_right 11 chevron_right 12 chevron_right 13 chevron_right 14 chevron_right 15 chevron_right 16 chevron_right 17 chevron_right 18 chevron_right
Intro
00:00 • 6min
Belfast Childhood and Family Loss
06:05 • 2min
The Wardrobe and Early Imaginations
08:17 • 1min
Boarding School, Atheism, and Tutoring
09:40 • 3min
Oxford, War Service, and Wounding
12:52 • 2min
Return to Oxford and Caring for Janie Moore
15:05 • 8min
Academic Rise and Magdalen Fellowship
22:36 • 2min
Friendship with Tolkien and the Inklings
25:02 • 2min
Conversion to Christianity
26:32 • 4min
Early Books and Wartime Broadcasting
31:00 • 4min
Ad break
35:13 • 60sec
Writing Narnia and Wartime Evacuees
36:13 • 3min
Narnia's Themes and Reception
39:17 • 1min
Joy Gresham: Correspondence and Marriage
40:39 • 6min
Ad break
46:56 • 1min
Joy's Illness, Grief, and A Grief Observed
48:12 • 1min
Death, Legacy, and Memorials
49:36 • 1min
Outro
51:04 • 4min
#13486
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Allegory of Love
C.S. Lewis
#782
• Mentioned in 44 episodes
The Problem of Pain
C.S. Lewis
In 'The Problem of Pain', C.S.
Lewis addresses the age-old question of how a good and all-powerful God can permit pain and suffering.
Lewis argues that human suffering is a consequence of the existence of evil and free will, and that God uses suffering as a tool to draw us nearer to Him. He categorizes pain as both physical and emotional, serving as a warning signal that alerts us to potential harm and compels us to make necessary changes.
Lewis also discusses the Fall of Man and how it led to chaos and disaster, emphasizing that God's goodness is not negated by suffering but rather evidenced through His merciful intervention.
The book concludes by reassuring that God's wisdom is infinitely superior to ours and that pain eventually leads us back to a loving relationship with our Creator.
#391
• Mentioned in 73 episodes
The Lion, The witch and the Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a portal fantasy novel that follows the story of four English siblings - Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy - who are evacuated to the countryside during World War II. While exploring the large, old house of Professor Kirke, Lucy discovers a wardrobe that serves as a portal to the land of Narnia.
In Narnia, they encounter various magical creatures and the evil White Witch, who has cast a spell to keep Narnia in perpetual winter.
The siblings soon learn that they are part of an ancient prophecy to save Narnia, aided by the lion Aslan.
The story is an allegory of Christianity, with Aslan's sacrifice and resurrection mirroring the story of Jesus Christ.
The novel also incorporates elements from Germanic, classical Greek and Roman, and Celtic mythology.
#36
• Mentioned in 282 episodes
Mere Christianity
C.S. Lewis
In 'Mere Christianity', C.S.
Lewis argues for the existence of God and defends Christian theology.
The book is divided into four parts: the first argues for the existence of God based on the 'law of human nature'; the second defends Christian theology, including the 'Liar, lunatic, or Lord' trilemma regarding Jesus Christ; the third explores Christian ethics, including the cardinal and theological virtues; and the fourth discusses the Christian conception of God, particularly the Holy Trinity.
Lewis also addresses topics such as free will, morality, sexual ethics, and the institution of marriage.
The book is known for its clear and logical presentation of Christian apologetics and has been praised for its straightforward and humorous writing style.
#1792
• Mentioned in 24 episodes
A Grief Observed
C.S. Lewis
A Grief Observed is a collection of C.S.
Lewis's reflections on his experience of bereavement after the death of his wife, Joy Davidman, in 1960.
The book explores the processes undergone by the human brain and mind during grief, questioning the nature of grief, faith, and theodicy.
Lewis writes candidly about his anger and bewilderment towards God, his struggle to maintain his faith, and the gradual reacceptance of his theories on suffering.
The book is compiled from four notebooks Lewis used to vent and explore his grief, offering profound insights into the human experience of loss and the search for meaning in the midst of suffering.
#111
• Mentioned in 161 episodes
The Screwtape Letters
C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters is a Christian apologetic novel written in a satirical, epistolary style.
It consists of 31 letters from Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to 'Our Father Below' (the Devil), to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon tasked with securing the damnation of an ordinary young man.
The letters provide advice on various methods of undermining God's influence and promoting abandonment of God, while offering insights into human nature and the Bible.
The book is a profound and striking narrative on spiritual warfare and the power of the devil, highlighting the subtle forms of sin such as vanity, pride, and distraction that can lead humans away from God.
#31635
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Spirits in Bondage
C.S. Lewis
C. S.
Lewis's "Spirits in Bondage" is a collection of poems written during his early years as an atheist.
The poems reflect his struggles with faith, his experiences during World War I, and his exploration of philosophical and spiritual questions.
The collection is a significant part of Lewis's literary development, showcasing his poetic talent and his intellectual journey.
The poems offer a glimpse into the mind of a young man grappling with profound questions of meaning and purpose.
The collection's exploration of doubt and the search for truth provides a valuable context for understanding Lewis's later works.
#4499
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
A Pilgrim's Regress
An Allegory
C.S. Lewis
A Pilgrim's Regress is an allegorical novel by C.S. Lewis, published in 1933.
It follows the journey of John, a young man who encounters various philosophical and religious viewpoints.
The novel uses allegory to explore the nature of faith, reason, and the Christian worldview.
It's considered an important work in Lewis's development as a writer and thinker, though less widely read than his later works.
The book's exploration of spiritual and intellectual journeys resonates with readers interested in apologetics and Christian thought.
#5182
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
Planet narnia
Michael Ward
Michael Ward's "Planet Narnia" explores the allegorical structure of C.S.
Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, arguing that the series reflects the imagery of the seven heavens.
The book delves into the literary and theological depth of Narnia, revealing its profound Christian symbolism.
Ward meticulously examines each book in the series, demonstrating how Lewis subtly incorporated theological concepts and celestial imagery.
This analysis challenges the perception of Narnia as mere children's literature, showcasing its rich intellectual and spiritual significance.
The book is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Lewis's masterpiece.
One of the most famous writers of the 20th century, C. S. Lewis was a scholar of medieval literature, an influential Christian thinker and a supremely gifted storyteller. A professor at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Lewis is perhaps best known for his Chronicles of Narnia – stories which captured the imagination of millions with their blend of spiritual depth and swashbuckling adventure.
But how were the seeds of the magical world of Narnia first planted? How did Lewis’ unconventional personal life, and the writers and scholars with whom he spent his days, influence his work? And what part did his complex relationship with faith play in the stories that still enchant adults and children around the world?
This is a Short History Of C.S. Lewis.
A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Dr Michael Ward from the Faculty of Theology at the University of Oxford, and author of Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis.
Written by Nicola Rayner | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Anisha Deva | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact check: Sean Coleman
Unlock the next two episodes of Short History Of… right now by subscribing to Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network, including Real Survival Stories and Sherlock Holmes Short Stories. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed, or head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions to get started.
A Short History of Ancient Rome - the debut book from the Noiser Network is out now! Discover the epic rise and fall of Rome like never before. Pick up your copy now at your local bookstore or visit noiser.com/books to learn more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices