www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton: is anybody interested in their work?

One of my favorite authors is C.S. Lewis. I also really enjoy Chesterton, but I have not read much of his work. If you haven't read " The Srewtape Letters", "The Problem of Pain," or "Mere Christianity", I would reccomend you pick up a copy, when you have some spare time.

If you can find a copy of Christopher Derrick, C. S. Lewis and the Church of Rome, published by Ignatius Press about 22 years ago, read it avidly. Unfortunately it's out of print.

Incognitus

There is a copy of Derreck's book for sale here. [dogbert.abebooks.com] Unfortunately is $64.00.

Here [amazon.com] is another copy in "like new" condition for $50.00.

Jason

A GK Chesterton scholar spoke at Annunciation this past week as I noted in another thread. His presentation renewed an interest in "The Apostle of Common Sense" for which I am most grateful.

Dan L

The Abolition of Man is also a good read of Lewis' and prophetically gets at the heart of the educational milleu we are now in.

Chesterton's Orthodoxy should also be on a Catholic's reading list.

Even more remarkable than either of these writers, in my opinion, as well as a friend and contemporary of both is Hillaire Belloc.

And his children's poetry is "hillarious":

AAARRRGGGHHH!

If they can get those prices for used copies of Christopher Derrick's book on Lewis, then why won't Ignatius Press reprint it? I've written to them, and they've never answered. Might I suggest that we should ALL write to them, urging an immediate reprint, and suggesting that if they're not willing to reprint a book which obviously sells, the least they can do is tell us why not? Better yet, will they authorize us to reprint it outselves?

Incognitus

By all means do not skip Lewis' fiction. The Space Trilogy literally converted me, and the Chronicles of Narnia , while a "children's" work, is very fine.
And don't forget the wonderful, short work The Great Divorce , which made purgatory sensible to me, while still a Protestant.
And dig into Chesterton, beginning with Orthodoxy and The Everlasting Man and then going onto his many works on economics and political philosophy.
I relly think he should be known as "St Gilbert the Great".
-Daniel

I am a follower of the Distributionist Economy and the Christian understanding that these great men teach. This economic doctrine is predominant among Third-Possitionists all around the world.

The Chronicles of Narnia are a great joy. As to the space trilogy, the first volume bored me, the second volume is OK, and the third volume is wonderful. I'm not sure how C. S. Lewis would respond to that set of comments.

I'm not sure about Third Positionists - but several decades ago a particular variety of wood-consuming insect was such a problem in the USA that it became necessary to pass a constitutional amendment against the bugs. They're called Third Termites.

Incognitus

Incognitus- The second volume, which you deem "okay", blew me away; I began it a sort of pantheistic hippie-Hindu and I ended it a convinced Christian.
Lewis transfixed the whole Fall and Redemption story to another planet and the truths therein appeared fresh and real to me; finally accessible and new.
I guess it all depends on where you were at: I Was There Then [a play on the New Age bestseller title "Be Here Now", for those of you who weren't There Then.]
-Daniel

Dear Daniel - glad you enjoyed the second volume and found it good - and even more glad that it helped to bring you to Christianity. I still think volume 3 is the best of them, but when it comes to literary criticism we live in a pluralistic society!

As regards *The Great Divorce*, I remember hearing an Anglican bishop remark that the line "Her name on earth was Sarah Smith and she lived at Golder's Green" can be sung to a well-known hymn tune, and that Lewis almost certainly wrote it that way on purpose.

Incognitus