The lion, the witch and the wardrobe, which was the first published and the most popular book. Its a myth retold of eros cupid and psyche from the perspective of psyches older sister. Lewis s answer to the question, what books did most to shape your vocational attitude and your philosophy of life. This is the story of how one of the worlds most famous atheists became one of its most famous christians.
Lewis was an english critic, scholar, and novelist, best known for his books dealing factually or imaginatively with religion. After finishing the narnia series, lewis continued to write on autobiographical and religious subjects, but less prolifically. The great tragedy of cs lewis s life was the loss of his wife, joy davidman, to cancer in 1960. Lewis, lets take a look at 8 of his greatest worksthose. He is one of the most famous critics in the world and considered an expert in many fields. Its never been a better time to become a fan of lewis, but with so many books and. The first three are loves which come naturally to the human race. Lewis still remain in print and are more popular than ever. Lewis own words, awardwinning actor max mclean brings the brilliant oxford don to life, taking us on his extraordinary trek from hardboiled atheist to the most reluctant convert in all england.
In human eyes, he was extremely successful, but what is most remarkable. This page provides lists of best selling individual books and book series to date and in any language. Lewis here offers wisdom and lessons that illuminate. Comics and textbooks are not included in this list.
Jul 11, 20 the beloved christian apologists best books range beyond the chronicles of narnia. Born on 29th november 1898, he was widely known for his fictional work especially books such as the chronicles of narnia, the space trilogy and many others. Lewis died of kidney failure on 22nd november 1963. He is best known for his fictional work, especially the screwtape letters and the chronicles of narnia.
Born clive staple lewis and known as jack to his near and dear ones, c. His novels generally have christian themes, and his best known work includes the the chronicles of narnia series including the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe and the space trilogy novels, a science fiction series. I have never helped to organize youth, and while young myself i successfully avoided being organized. What are some lesser known books by famous writers that are worth reading. Lewis by todays best lewis scholars one of whom is yes, you guessed it dr. A laymens exploration of difficult passages and problems in the most beloved book of the bible. Without a doubt, this set of seven fantasy novels is one the most popular of lewiss works, having sold well over 100 million copies in 47 different languagesthe series. As a lifelong narnia fan, i would recommend even to adults the chronicles of narnia, particularly the volumes the lion, the witch and the wardrobe an allegory of christs life.
Browse a complete collection of his books, sign up for a monthly enewsletter, find. You may also want to read some more informal personal reflections on the life, writings and thought of c. Mere christianity is one of lewis most insightful books as well as one of. Kennedy and aldous huxley author of brave new world also passed away on this day. Lewis 18981963 was born as clive staple lewis, but was often called jack by his family and close friends. Lewis wrote more than 30 books which have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold millions of copies. It is a fiction book with a very deep philosophical meaning on the. He was neither a clergyman nor a professional theologian. He was also the leading figure in an oxford literary group called the inklings. While lewis has written a commendable list of works, the chronicles of narnia remain the most popular. A biography by roger lancelyn green and walter hooper harpercollins entertainment green and hoopers reliable account is the first official biography and is in many ways the best.
He devoted his life afterwards to writing many christian inspired works, all of which are s. Browse a complete collection of his books, sign up for a monthly enewsletter, find additional resources, and more. The books that make up the chronicles of narnia have sold the most and have been popularised on stage, tv, radio, and cinema. Without a doubt, this set of seven fantasy novels is one the most popular of lewiss works, having sold well over 100 million copies in 47 different languagesthe. The cs lewis book with the most widely recognized title is the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe.
Lewiss famous work on the nature of love divides love into four. The series became extremely popular and wardrobe is one of lewiss most enduring and beloved books. The greatest books of all time written by the author c. In 20, on the 50th anniversary of his death, lewis joined some of britains greatest writers. Lewis, and its also important to read these books in this chronological order, not publishing order. His most famous series of novels was the chronicles of narnia. Probably his most famous series, lewis published 7 books in 6 years. She is buried in the yard of holy trinity church in headington quarry, oxford. I not only recommend this set to all my friends and family, i insist they get them. I just finished till we have faces by cs lewis and it is a phenomenal book. Lewis is known for his work on medieval literature, for his christian apologetics and for his fiction, especially the childrens series entitled the chronicles of narnia and his science fiction space trilogy. Still one of the finest and most widely read explanations and defenses of the faith. Both were published under the pen name clive hamilton.
Lewis responded with ten titles, ranging from virgils aeneid to james boswells the life of samuel johnson and from george herberts the temple to boethiuss the consolation of philosophy. Lewis was a prolific irish writer and scholar best known for his chronicles of narnia fantasy series and his prochristian texts. Its shrewd approach and luminous imagery retain much of their power to. The reason is that this is a better order because the story progresses through time. Lewis is a world renowned author, especially popular for his fantasyfiction book series, the chronicles of narnia.
Alice in wonderland wasnt written by cs lewis, it was written by lewis carroll. Lewis s space trilogy are the best, most believable science fictionfantasy books i have ever read, maybe the best books of any kind. Lewis was one of the most popular and influential modern defenders of the christian faith. His faithbased arguments as seen in texts like the great divorce1946 and. His series of narnia books for children retells the christian story in fairytale form. The revered teacher and bestselling author of such classic christian works as mere christianity and the screwtape letters, c. Lewis is famous for writing a series of books called the chronicles of narnia. Fantasy readers usually expect all their books to be epic.
Lewis s list brings together experts on each of the ten books to discuss their significance for lewis s life and work, illuminating his own writing through those he most admired. S lewis case for the christian faith by richard purtill. What part of the history of narnia do you most wish c. Will vaus offers a brief biography of each author with a helpful summary of their book. His philosophical writings are widely cited by christian apologists from many denominations. This delightful little book finds lewis comparing notes with, not presuming to. Lewis, including mere christianity, and the lion, the witch and the. It is subtitled reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of english in the upper forms of schools, and uses that as a st. Lewiss famous work on the nature of love divides love into four categories. Since the previous april, she had been confined to a nursing home in oxford. Each of these is central to the unfolding of the plot, and yet none are constant through all 7 of the books. Lewis societies exist around the world, including one which was founded in oxford in 1982. In 1950 lewis published what has become his most widely known book, the childrens fantasy the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe. Lewiss books have been translated into more than 40 languages and have sold millions of copies.
The beloved christian apologists best books range beyond the chronicles of narnia. Its shrewd approach and luminous imagery retain much of their. November 22nd, 1963 was an irish academic, novelist, and poet. Its shrewd approach and luminous imagery retain much of their power to excite and inform, even 60 years after it was written. C s lewis books biography and list of works author of. He went on to write six additional stories, and together the series came to be known as the chronicles of narnia. The narnia books have since sold more than 100 million copies and are among the most beloved books of classic childrens literature. Lewis books june 9, 2019 by joel runyon one of the most prolific writers of the 20th century clive staples lewis is most famous for his chronicles of narnia series. Only harry potter has outsold these wellloved books 85 million copies. Best selling refers to the estimated number of copies sold of each book, rather than the number of books printed or currently owned. One of the most popular and beloved introductions to the concept of faith ever. Clive stales lewis was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. I have read that this book was his personal favorite that he wrote. Tolkien, as they both served in an oxford literary group.
This is a series of seven fantasy novels for children that is by far the most popular of lewis s works. Lewis wrote many other books, including poetry, science fiction, and books about christianity. Lewis quotes on facebook, instagram and twitter, one might. The magicians nephew genesis and the last battle revelation.
Publishing order jumps back and forth in time too much. These books for children, written between 1949 and 1954, were written to present christian ideas in an accessible form. Mere christianity a book based on a series of bbc radio talks lewis gave during the second world war sells in vast quantities in the us and is regarded as almost a sort of summa. Lewis clive stales lewis was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. The books that make up the chronicles of narnia have sold the most and have been. The books have christian themes and describe the adventures of a group of children who visit a magical land called narnia. The seven books that make up the chronicles of narnia, first published more than 60 years ago, have sold the mostestimated at 150 million copiesand have been popularized on stage, tv, radio, and the movies. In 1930, he became the first writer from the united states and the first from the americas to receive the nobel prize in literature, which was awarded for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humor, new types of characters. Lewis world war ii has just begun and four children, peter, susan, edmund and lucy pevensie, are evacuated from london in 1940 to escape the blitz. He used to be an atheist but upon deep study of the matter, he realized he could not deny god any longer.
Dec 05, 2005 cs lewis s seven childrens books, the chronicles of narnia, will be with us now and for many christmases to come. Lewis society at the university of oxford meets at pusey house during term time to discuss papers on the life and works of lewis and the other inklings, and generally appreciate all things lewisian. Lewis was a professor at oxford university and cambridge university. Clive staples lewis 29 november 1898 22 november 1963 was a british writer and lay theologian. It is for priests to teach me, not for me to teach them.
Cs lewiss lost letters reveal how wifes death tested his. Her death tested the faith of the chronicles of narnia author, who was also a prominent christian. Without a doubt, this set of seven fantasy novels is one the most popular of. And though he wrote wisely and winsomely on a wide range of subjects related to the christian life, he devoted relatively little attention to ecclesiology, liturgy, music, and corporate worship. If you have read many of lewis works, you will observe that he set up several letters. Lewis is the spiritual homecoming story of clive staples lewis, a careful and thoughtful scholar who spent fifteen years journeying the long road from atheism to theism and, eventually, to christianity. But the famed chronicler of narnia had many contemporaries who were equally deft with words, wit and wisdom, and whose work would be a suitable addition to any reader looking to add to their collection of spiritual writings. With this handy threevolume series, readers can discover new authors and learn what lewis believed was most. Lewis, in full clive staples lewis, born november 29, 1898, belfast, ireland now in northern irelanddied november 22, 1963, oxford, oxfordshire, england, irishborn scholar, novelist, and author of about 40 books, many of them on christian apologetics, including the screwtape letters and mere christianity. Lewis top ten goes to the sources of the ideas and ideals reflected in lewis own books.
Its one of the most personal and subjective works in lewiss. Lewis was a prolific author of fiction and nonfiction who wrote dozens of books over the course of his career. Harry sinclair lewis february 7, 1885 january 10, 1951 was an american novelist, shortstory writer and playwright. He has written over twenty books and edited countless others. Popular nonfiction an apologetic examination of the problem of evil, suffering, and death.
Some of the books in the series have since been turned into very successful movies that have been loved by grownups and kids alike. Downing, elizabethtown college, usa introduction david werther, university of wisconsinextension, usa 1. Some of his greatest works include the chronicles of narnia which introduced the famous the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe, mere christianity, the great divorce, and the screwtape letters. He held academic positions in english literature at both oxford university magdalen college, 19251954 and cambridge university magdalene college, 19541963. Cs lewis is most famous for his series of books describing the magical land of narnia. An interpretation of the ten commandments 1953 introduction only. Buy a cheap copy of readings for meditation and reflection book by c. In 2010 he became a founding patron of ralston college, a new institution in savannah, georgia, that focuses on primary texts. Lewis has become the most beloved of all modern christian authors. Lewis was born in belfast, ireland, and was a wellknown novelist, poet, medievalist and christian apologist. Lewis may seem like an odd subject for study when it comes to the theology and practice of worship. Christian apologetics by cs lewis 1945 virtueonline.
Set in the magical realm of the same name, it tells the tale of mythical beasts, talking animals, and various children. Clive staples lewis 29 november 1898 22 november 1963 was a british writer and lay. The books are listed according to the highest sales estimate as reported in reliable, independent sources. He is best known for his works of fiction, especially the screwtape letters, the chronicles of narnia, and the space trilogy, and.
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