The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume 3: Narnia, Cambridge, and Joy, 1950 - 1963

Author : C. S. Lewis Number of Pages : 1840 Release Date : 2007-01-09 Publisher : HarperOne List Price : $42.95 Amazon Price : $26.51 Used Price : $25.89

Product Description

This collection, carefully chosen and arranged by Walter Hooper, is the most extensive ever published. Included here are the letters Lewis wrote to such luminaries as J.R.R. Tolkien, Owen Barfield, Arthur C. Clarke, Sheldon Vanauken, and Dom Bede Griffiths. To some particular friends, such as Dorothy L. Sayers, Lewis wrote fifty letters alone. The letters deal with all of Lewis's interests—theology, literary criticism, poetry, fantasy, children's stories—as well as his relationships with family members and friends.

The third and final volume begins with Lewis, already a household name from his BBC radio broadcasts and popular spiritual books, on the cusp of publishing his most famous and enduring book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which would ensure his immortality in the literary world. It covers his relationship with and marriage to Joy Davidman Gresham, subject of the film Shadowlands, and includes letters right up to his death on November 22, 1963, the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

This volume also includes both a special section of newly found letters from earlier time periods covered in volumes one and two and mini-biographies of Lewis's regular correspondents.

Customer reviews

Not Coming Out in Paperback by .. K. Howe (Scuttling across the floors of silent seas)
All three of the volumes of Lewis's letters are spectacular, of course, but it's unfortunate that HarperCollins decided (after plenty of us had bought vols. 1 and 2 in paperback) that they were only going to release this volume in hardcover. I suppose I should have guessed since they put the first two paperback volumes in a slipcover (which never made sense to me before--who would buy that knowing the third volume was imminent?), and the IMMENSE size of this volume probably wouldn't have done well in paperback. All the same, it would have been nice to know ahead of time. Now I have to buy the first two volumes AGAIN, this time in hardcover, in order for my set to match. A more cynical man would find a conspiracy there.

At any rate, I can't be the only one checking back here periodically to see if/when they'll issue Vol 3 in paperback, so I hope this note (not really a review, I'm afraid) is helpful to others.

Cleaning out the attic. by .. David Marshall (Seattle area)
On a windy day last fall I had the chance to visit the Kilns, the home of Jack and Warren Lewis, uphill from Oxford. One thing that caught my eye was how ad hoc and miscellaneous the house seemed. One could see how someone who lived in that house could write so ramshackle a novel as That Hideous Strength, and where the attic between houses in The Magician's Nephew came from, and (moving up the hill past the pond) why Dryads and Naiads bend in the wind, as they turn into maples and oaks. Like Ransom's St. Annes, or the Professor's in Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe this was a house with a personality, one that collects people, animals, and stories.

It is fitting that the final volume of Lewis' correspondence is also miscellaneous and ad hoc. Yes, there are more letters to T. S. Elliot -- studiously polite in the early years, more friendly (it seems to me) later on -- Tolkien (a few), Sayers, Roger Green, Griffiths. (The Washington Post reviewer gets a lot right, but I think misses Lewis' true tone here -- it seems to me he's worried about Griffiths move away from orthodoxy.) Half or more of the correspondents are writers. Others are children (Lewis seems to put his heart into answers to children) or pests to whom Lewis is trying to be polite, one guesses.

Not all the letters are equally interesting, of course. Some seem a bit pro forma. What struck me about Volume 2 was the enormous amount of fun Lewis had. I didn't laugh quite as often reading this volume. I think the reason is, Lewis is famous now, and writes often here from duty, rather than pleasure. On the plus side, we're past WWII, and the numerous "thank you" letters for ham from the States that take up so much space in volume two.

What would bring this volume to life would be more letters to and from Joy, her boys, Tolkien, and maybe with Warren to and from Irish pubs. Oh, well, there's still quite a bit of good stuff in here -- I found it more interesting than volume 1, less than volume 2, overall.

Walter Hooper does a magnificent job of collecting, collating, and explaining, without getting in the way. He always seems to provide a note just when you want one, and answer the right questions.

author, The Truth Behind the New Atheism: Responding to the Emerging Challenges to God and Christianity

The great author as a character. by .. Thundering Legion (Navarre, FL)
It was absolutely fascinating to crawl around inside the head of this brilliant man as he entered the most tumultuous period of his life. I cannot help but think of Till We Have Faces, as Lewis stuggles through the same difficult lessons of learning to let someone you love go into the arms of God and away from your own. Utterly real, this book is worth the 1700 page read.

Easily the deepest and most thought provoking of the collections by .. L. Marie (The World!)
Given the fact that this letters collection deals mainly with the latter stages of Lewis's life, I really think this is the best of the three collections.

The main reason is that we get a clearer picture into the mind of the man who created Narnia, wrote the painfully honest and cathartic "A Grief Observed" after the loss of his wife, Joy and we start to see a man who takes faith to a new level in his life, from an intellectual and notionalistic approach to a real, raw encounter with God.

It is very easy to see how Lewis has influenced so many writers today, even the new gneration, who are just beginning to write. His legacy continues on in the minds and pens of Christian thinkers and writers who desperately want to help individuals grow closer to God and examine their faith to keep it vital.

And Lewis is relevant, as J.G. Marking, author of "A Voice Is Calling," so clearly stated, "I believe to some degree every Christian author is likened to C.S. Lewis because he is the intellectual and literary bar that we are all measured against. And thus, in some way, his voice will resonate in all of ours, maybe forever."

This collection reveals more of the soul of Lewis than the mind, which is an even more intriguing glance.

Talk Radio for Authors: Getting Interviews Across the U.S. and Canada

Author : Francine Silverman Edition : New title Number of Pages : 338 Release Date : 2007-02-16 Publisher : Infinity Publishing List Price : $17.95 Amazon Price : $11.31 Used Price : $12.50

Customer reviews

Dog-earred and Beloved Book by .. Yvonne Perry (Nashville, TN)
You should see my copy of this book. I have marked, highlighted, dog-earred, and put post-it notes on more than two dozen pages. This valuable resource for authors came in so handy for me when I was launching my book promotion campaign for RIGHT TO RECOVER: Winning the Political and Religious Wars Over Stem Cell Research in America.

Fran's "how-to" book led me to multiple shows where I was interviewed. The contact info, theme, guest profile, comments from other guests who have been on the show were enlightening and gave me exactly what I needed to write my query letter. It is the most used directory in my library. I highly recommend this book.

Yvonne Perry
Author of More Than Meets The Eye

Great Reference Book by .. Judith W. Colombo (Deposit, NY United States)
Francine Silverman's "Talk Radio for Authors" is a fine example of what a "how to book" should be. It is well written and organized in such a way that the reader need not wade through every chapter to get the information he or she needs.

The talk radio shows, both internet and terrestrial, are grouped in sections according to their themes, including programs dealing with authors and their craft, to ones on antiques and collectables, or others serving health enthusiast, animal lovers, hikers, or technophiles. Each show, its theme, its objective, and the type of guests it courts was described clearly and precisely.

However, the section I found most enlightening was the one discussing the hosts' opinions of the best and worst kind of guests. This section is a must for anyone who is about to be interviewed on a radio show. It could make the difference between selling yourself and your book or exposing yourself to the audience in an unfavorable light.

The appendixes that followed the main part of the book were almost as extensive and just as informative as the chapters that preceded them. The first was a concise list of radio show directories. The second listed authors who had appeared on radio shows and gave a brief description of their experiences and works. The third appendix contained the varied biographies of numerous radio hosts.

I also found the articles at the end of the book very useful, especially Laura Ramirez's Let the Guest Beware and Alex Carroll's Making Radio Interviews Really Pay.

This is a great reference book, and I will be referring to it often.

A good directory of various internet and terrestrial "radio" talk shows by .. Dusty White (Currently visiting your planet on a tourist visa)
The cover of the book gives the appearance of a "how to manual." It is not (just in case you think it may have ANY "how-to" in it). This is a directory (think "phone book") of "radio" talk shows, assuming that radio now means any ongoing recording or broadcast over the internet, terrestrial, and/or satellite. It is a personal collection of several shows the author has cultivated relationships with, but is by no means complete, nor anywhere near being so. Is it worth the investment? Yes. But I say that as an avid collector of knowledge, and not as a casual book buyer. If you are looking for a "how-to get on the radio" book, pick up Joe Sabah's "How to Get on Radio Talk Shows All Across America." THAT is a complete, step-by-step manual (which also comes with a database of over 900 terrestrial radio talk shows) on "how-to-do-it." THIS BOOK has the personal opinions of several hosts, all saying the same thing ("be fun, interesting, cheerfully answer ANY question we throw at you..."), and is a breakdown of "radio stations" (mostly internet radio)by categories. If this were 500 pages thicker, I would give it 5 stars. As it is, it is more of an overview than a required reference. I still recommend you buy it if you are at all serious about doing radio interviews. But do not buy it thinking that you will learn HOW to research, contact, pitch show ideas, or give good interviews. This is ONLY a listing of different places you may be interviewed, based on your target demographic. Use it as a springboard for more research, not as your "go to guide."

The Inspirational Writings of C.S. Lewis

Author : C. S. Lewis Number of Pages : 544 Publisher : World Publishing List Price : $14.99 Amazon Price : $65.92 Used Price : $19.97

Product Description

C.S. Lewis, one of the world's most celebrated authors, writes candidly, clearly, and from the heart about the deepest human concerns of faith, joy, and love in this outstanding collection of four of his best loved works.

Surprised by Joy is a moving chronicle of a modern man who loses and regains his Christian faith; Reflections on the Psalms explores their relevance to contemporary life; The Four Loves sheds light on human affection, friendship, erotic love, and the love of God; and The Business of Heaven is a collection of meditations for every day of the year.

As Lewis wrote, "Joy is the serious business of heaven," and that business, and that goes into making it successful, is celebrated in the writings contained in this special collection.

Customer reviews

One of the better deals as far as C. S. Lewis books go by .. Mike London (Oxford, UK)
Over the years, there's been a lot of varying editions of Lewis's books. This is one of the better bargains as it collects three unabridged works that were published during his life time, and then a daily devotional. The actual book quality is very good, with highquality binding and paper. What's also good is the first three books were all written around the same time period (the mid 1950s), so there is a continunity to the work that is not shared with his principal apologetic works of the previous decade (the 1940s).

As a previous review said, this is a four-fer, and has some of Lewis's better work.

"Surprised By Joy" is C. S. Lewis's spiritual autobiography[, from which the movie "Shadowlands" was drawn]. It tells of his conversion to Christianity. Surprsingly enough, not about Joy Davidman.

REFLECTIONS ON THE PSALMS, in Lewis's own words, is him "comparing notes" with fellow Christians. The book, first published in the mid 1950s, is notable as this was one of his first non-fiction books dealing with matters of Christianity since the MIRACLES book of the mid 1940s. While Lewis's works from that era are all based on logical arguments and apologetics, etc, REFLECTIONS is notable as they are exactly what they say they are: just reflections. There are no main arguments, etc, which is rather refreshing, and very much more of a devotional work.

THE FOUR LOVES, a work also lacking in an overall driving argument that provides the impetue to most of Lewis's apologetic works from the 1940s, is his essay on the four loves. These are the four with the greek terminology Lewis uses to describe them. The first is Affection (storge), Friendship (philia), Eros (sexual love), and Charity (Agape). Bok is quite an interesting erad.

The Last is THE BUSINESS OF HEAVEN. Good devotional, I suppose, but I'm inherently suspicious of all the endless repackaging that has been going on with Lewis's work. Most of it is unnecessary and gratuitous, and I come away from the whole affair with little more than the feeling Lewis's estate (I blame you, Walter Hooper!) are trying to make a quick buck off his name, piggyback style. I can't help but suspect colleagues of Screwtape are behind all this repackaging.

Overall, a good volume if you're looking to pick up some of his later day works. The actual book and publication itself is very high quality as well. Personally, I'd like to see them come out with a box set of his 1950s work (the first three, Till We Have Faces, Experiment in Criticism, Letters to Malcolm, Grief Observed, etc), like they did with his 1940s work, but hey I'll settle for this. If you're new to Lewis this is a good choice, or if you're looking to pick up these four books for a cheap price also a good choice. Overall, good choice. =)

Very thought provoking! by .. joan_smiths (Pittsburgh, PA)
C.S. Lewis never fails to inspire one to think on a higher level. He can take a simple subject and write an entire book which keeps your attention throughout. The fact that these books were written before our modern era gives us a unique perspective on these still-pertinent topics.

Lewis is a great author, but... by .. L. J. Ong ()
The four works included are thought-provoking but not my favorite writings of C. S. Lewis. The editing is rather poor, though. The book is still a good deal considering it usually goes for just a little more than one volume alone, but it leaves some guess work as to what Lewis really meant.

Omni-mind from four directions!/Buy Bulk! by .. Kendal B. Hunter (Provo, UT United States)
Personally, I don't know how Inspirational Press stays in business! They have all of these high-quality books for bargain-barrel prices. And the printing aspects are high-quality-the bindingholds up to my vicious attacks with the pen and constant pondering and page-turning and re-page-turning!

This is a "four-fer," containing some of C. S. Lewis's best work.

"Surprised by Joy" is his spiritual autobiography and the basis for the film "Shadowlands." If you love Lewis or love biographies, get this and enjoy! It ranks with St. Paul, St. Augustine, and St. Martin Luther in power and depth of conversion.

"Reflections on the Psalms" is Lewis "comparing notes" on the psalms, student to another student. He is very perceptive and has a strong background in literary criticism, so his comments
are insightful.

"Four Loves" is an essay on the most favorite of all emotions. He compares the different types or dimensions to love that we do not normally considers. God is love, but what, pray tell, is love? Lewis discusses this question and comes up with answers.

"Business of Heaven" is a daily devotional a la Oswald Chambers, and includes special readings for special days and movable feats. IT works well for Protestants and Catholics. There is even a reading for Leap Day, avoiding a common mistake devotionals make.

If you have thought about getting one of these books, get this "four-fer" and save your mony by buying in bulk.

Loved it! Lewis stimulates the thinking process. by .. alllen@juno.com (Fort Worth, Texas)
C.S. Lewis offers an inspirational and thought-provoking collection of works here. "Surprised by Joy" tells a powerful story of a man converted by God's marvelous power. Lewis explores the essence of salvation when he confesses that he came into the Kingdom of God fighting every inch of the way. He reveals that the natural man has no desire to be saved but that God's will ultimately wins out over our own.

"Reflection on the Psalms" is inspirational, devotional, and thought-provoking. It is a must read for every C.S. Lewis buff.

"The Four Loves" ought to be read by everyone, Christian or non-Christian. It explores Love in in its simplest forms with reverent intellectual integrity and in its highest forms with awe-inspiring depth. Any reader will go away from this one with a deeper understanding of this basic human need and God's powerful force of Love. If you read anything at all "The Four Loves" must be on the list.

"The Business of Heaven" is rich with Lewis' imagination, classic style, and terrific philosophical questioning. He takes us right into paradise!

Contemporary Authors: Biography - Albin, Peter S(teigman) (1934-)

Format : HTML Number of Pages : 2 Release Date : 2005-03-08 Publisher : Thomson Gale List Price : $1.50 Amazon Price : $1.50

Product Description

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author\'s last corrections, prefaces & notes.

Author : Scott, Walter, Sir Number of Pages : 630 Release Date : 2006-11-30 Publisher : Scholarly Publishing Office, University of Michigan Library List Price : $34.99 Amazon Price : $27.75 Used Price : $34.06

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