Where to begin with C.S. Lewis? This is also a common question I’m asked after giving a talk about him, or when the subject of our podcast comes up.
When I’m asked this question, I typically say that there’s an embarrassment of riches when it comes to choosing a point of entry into the world of C.S. Lewis. I thought I’d take some time to ponder this question in the form of a blog post…
Preferred Genre?
I ask the person posing the question what is their favourite type of literature, their preferred literary form, because Lewis almost certainly has written something in that genre:
- Sci-Fi: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength
- Fairy Tales: The Chronicles of Narnia
- Apologetics: Mere Christianity, Miracles
- Fiction: The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters
- Philosophy: The Abolition of Man, The Four Loves, The Problem of Pain
- Literary Criticism: England (excluding drama), The Discarded Image
- Biography: Surprised By Joy
Specific Suggestions
All this is well and good, but I’m often pushed for a particular recommendation. To this, I have three suggestions…
1. Don’t easily dismiss Narnia
The first point I emphasize when I’m speaking to adults is to not quickly dismiss The Chronicles of Narnia as their entry into C.S. Lewis. I find that “grown-ups” all too often don’t even consider the Narnian adventures because they are “children’s books”.
The Chronicles of Narnia are fantastic and extremely rich. As Lewis himself pointed out in On Three Ways of Writing for Children, a children’s book which isn’t worth reading as an adult probably isn’t worth reading as a child. So trust me, these books are well-worth reading at any age…
2. Mere Christianity
When it comes to encountering Lewis, I think of few better introductions than Mere Christianity. It is definitely one of Lewis’ most popular and available books. I think gives you a nice sample of Lewis’ personality – rational arguments which are clearly communicated, augmented by imaginative analogies to convey something which Lewis deeply loved, namely the Christian faith.
3. Personal Favourites
I’ll usually round off my comments by recommending two of my favourite of Lewis’ fictional works, The Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce.
Other Opinions
Of course, these are only my own opinions. Here are some other suggestions…
