C. S. Lewis and His Circle: Essays and Memoirs from the Oxford C.S. Lewis Society

Marc Notes: Includes index.; An edited volume of the best essays and memoirs culled from archives of over 200 recordings presented at the Oxford University C. S. Lewis Society in the past three decades. Biographical Note: Roger White is curator of the Inklings Special Collection for the University Libraries as well as Professor of Ministry for the Seminary at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. Judith Wolfe is Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Theology and the Arts at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. She has published widely on C. S. Lewis and is the founding general editor of the Journal of Inklings Studies. Brendan N. Wolfe is a Germanic philologist at Oxford, editor of the Journal of Inklings Studies, and past president and secretary of the C. S. Lewis Society of Oxford University. Table of Contents: ForewordSuzanne and Gregory Wolfe (Founders of the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society) PrefaceRoger White, Judith Wolfe, and Brendan N. Wolfe Author Biographies Part I: EssaysPhilosophy and Theology1. C. S. Lewis, Defender of the FaithAlister Mcgrath (Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford)2. C. S. Lewis's Rewrite of Chapter III of MiraclesElizabeth Anscombe (Leading twentieth-century philosopher)3. C. S. Lewis and the Limits of ReasonStephen Logan (Musician, poet; Principal Supervisor in English, Clare College, Cambridge)4. Sacramentalism in C. S. Lewis and Charles WilliamsKallistos Ware (Metropolitan Bishop of Diocleia; Spalding Lecturer in Eastern Orthodox Studies (Emeritus), University of Oxford)5. Charles Williams and the Problem of EvilPaul Fiddes (Professor of Systematic Theology, Oxford University) Literature6. That Hideous Strength A ReassessmentRowan Williams (Baron Williams of Oystermouth, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, previously 104th Archbishop of Canterbury)7. Yearning for a Far-Off CountryMalcolm Guite (Poet, singer-songwriter; Chaplain at Girton College, Cambridge)8. W. H. Auden and the InklingsMichael Piret (Dean of Divinity, Magdalen College, Oxford)9. The Lewis Diaries: C. S. Lewis and the English Faculty in the 1920sTom Shippey (Walter J. Ong Chair of Humanities (Emeritus), Saint Louis University)10. It All Began with a Picture: The Making of C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of NarniaWalter Hooper (Editor and biographer of C. S. Lewis; literary advisor to the C. S. Lewis Estate) Part II: MemoirsMemories of C. S. Lewis by His Family and Friends11. The Lewis FamilyJoan Murphy (A Lewis Family Cousin)12. Recollections of C. S. LewisGeorge Sayer (Former student, friend, and biographer of C. S. Lewis)13. C. S. Lewis as a ParishionerRonald Head (Formerly Vicar of Holy Trinity Church Headington Quarry, where C. S. Lewis attended)14. Marrying C. S. LewisPeter Bide (Friend and priest of C. S. Lewis, officiate of Lewis's marriage to Joy Davidman)15. Memories of the Socratic ClubStella Aldwinckle (Founder of the Oxford Socratic Club) Memories of The Inklings16. The InklingsWalter Hooper (Editor and biographer of C. S. Lewis; literary advisor to the C. S. Lewis Estate)17. Lewis and/or BarfieldOwen Barfield (Friend of C. S. Lewis, Inklings member, solicitor, philosopher, poet)18. Brothers and Friends: The Diaries of W. H. LewisJohn Wain (Friend of C. S. Lewis, Inklings member, poet, novelist)19. Nevill Coghill and C. S. Lewis: Two Irishmen at OxfordJohn Wain (Friend of C. S. Lewis, Inklings member, poet, novelist) Afterword: A Brief History of the Oxford C. S. Lewis SocietyMichael Ward (Senior Member of the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society) IndexReview Quotes:"This book is a treat. Just when you might have thought there wasn't much more to say about Lewis, Tolkien, and their friends, we have a rich and diverse collection of reflections, reminiscences, expositions, and engagements from angles both expected and unexpected. By retaining the spoken style of the original contributions to the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society (not quite a new Inklings, not quite a new Socratic Club, but sharing the heritage of both), the editors give us the sense that we are there in Oxford, thinking through issues old and new, always being challenged to fresh visions of literature, faith, and a hundred other topics. There is here much to ponder, much to praise." --Rt. Revd. Prof. N. T. Wright, St. Mary's College, St. Andrews "Among the many worthwhile studies of C. S. Lewis which have been published in recent years, this will prove to be among the most important. It gives us authentic and candid insights into his personal as well as his literary and scholastic life, adds significantly to our understanding of why his reputation continues to expand worldwide, and deepens his influence." --Aidan Mackey, Senior Fellow, G. K. Chesterton Institute "The Oxford C. S. Lewis Society has always been a beacon for students of C. S. Lewis, his friends, and their shared vision. In this splendid collection, the editors share with us the choicest fruits of thirty years of scholarship and conversation. The result is an illuminating tribute to Lewis and an intellectual feast worthy of the liveliest of Inklings gatherings." --Carol Zaleski, co-author (with Philip Zaleski) of The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings: J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, Charles Williams Publisher Marketing: For over thirty years, the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society has met weekly in the medieval colleges of the University of Oxford. During that time, it has hosted as speakers nearly all those still living who were associated with the Inklings-the Oxford literary circle led by C. S. Lewis--as well as authors and thinkers of a prominence that nears Lewis's own. C. S. Lewis and His Circle offers the reader a chance to join this unique group. Roger White has worked with Society past presidents Brendan and Judith Wolfe to select the most important talks, which are here made available to the wider public for the first time. They exemplify the best of traditional academic essays, thoughtful memoirs, and informal reminiscences about C. S. Lewis and his circle. The reader will reimagine Lewis's Cosmic Trilogy with former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, read philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe's final word on Lewis's arguments for Christianity, hear the Reverend Peter Bide's memories of marrying Lewis and Joy Davidman in an Oxford hospital, and learn about Lewis's Narnia Chronicles from his former secretary. Representing the finest of both personal and scholarly engagement with C. S. Lewis and the Inklings, the talks collected here set a new tone for engagement with this iconic Oxford literary circle--a tone close to Lewis's own Oxford--bred sharpness and wryness, seasoned with good humor and genuine affection for C. S. Lewis and his circle. Review Citations:

Library Journal 05/01/2015 pg. 70 (EAN 9780190214340, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:  White, Roger Roger White is Honorary Research Professor in the Department of Geography at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Contributor Bio:  Wolfe, Judith Dr Judith Wolfe is a Fellow in Theology at St John'sCollege in the University of Oxford. She has written widely on the interfacesbetween theology, philosophy and literature. She is General Editor of the Journal of InklingsStudies. Contributor Bio:  Wolfe, Brendan Brendan Wolfe is a past president and secretary of the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society and Executive Editor of the Journal of Inklings Studies. A DPhil candidate in church history at the University of Oxford, he is a regular contributor to the Bryn Mawr Classical Review and is coeditor of C. S. Lewis and the Church.