C. S. Lewis, the renowned British writer, is celebrated as a pioneer of children’s fantasy novels and is widely recognized as the ‘Father of Modern Fantasy.’ With a remarkable versatility, Lewis delved into various genres, including poetry, science fiction, literary criticism, non-fiction Christian religious books, and fantasy stories. His most famous work, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia,’ captivated readers and was even adapted into a highly successful movie. Additionally, Lewis’s profound writings on Christian faith, such as ‘The Case for Christianity’ and ‘Mere Christianity,’ have had a profound impact on believers worldwide. Holding esteemed positions at both Oxford and Cambridge University, Lewis’s works have been translated into over 30 languages and have sold millions of copies.
Quick Facts
- Nick Name: Clive Hamilton, N. W. Clerk
- Also Known As: Clive Staples Lewis
- Died At Age: 64
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Joy Davidman Gresham (m. 1956–1960)
- Father: Albert James Lewis
- Mother: Florence Augusta Lewis
- Siblings: Warren Hamilton Lewis
- Children: David, Douglas Gresham
- Born Country: Ireland
- Died on: November 22, 1963
- Place of death: Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- Notable Alumni: University College, Oxford
- Cause of Death: Kidney Failure
- More Facts:
- Education: University College, Oxford
- Awards: Carnegie Medal
Childhood & Early Life
Clive Staples Lewis was born on November 29, 1898, in Belfast, Ireland, to Albert James Lewis, a solicitor, and Florence Augusta, the daughter of an Anglican priest. When he was seven years old, his family relocated to the East Belfast area. As a child, he loved reading fantasy stories and was intrigued by imaginary creatures and anthropomorphic animals.
In 1908, he attended ‘Wynyard School,’ located in Watford, before which he was privately tutored at home. He later attended ‘Campbell College,’ but dropped out due to respiratory problems. Later, he went to a health-resort in Malvern town, where he attended the ‘Cherbourg House’ preparatory school. During his stay in Malvern, he became passionate about mythology.
In 1913, he got admitted to ‘Malvern College,’ but dropped out as he could not mingle with his fellow students. He was then privately tutored at home by William T. Kirkpatrick. In 1916, he was granted a scholarship to study at the ‘University College,’ Oxford. However, the following year, he took a hiatus from his education in order to join the British Army. In 1918, he was wounded in ‘World War I,’ following which he suffered from depression. After his health improved, he was assigned work in Andover, England. In December that year, he was discharged from the army and continued his education.
Career
In 1919, he came up with his first publication ‘Spirits in Bondage,’ a book of poems, which was published under his pen name ‘Clive Hamilton.’ In 1925, he was appointed as a lecturer of English literature at ‘Magdalen College,’ University of Oxford. He had also previously served as a philosophy tutor at the ‘University College of Oxford.’
In 1933, his fictional fantasy novel ‘The Pilgrim’s Regress,’ which was one of his earliest works of prose fiction, was published by ‘J.M. Dent and Sons’ in the United Kingdom. In 1936, his non-fictional book titled ‘The Allegory of Love: A Study in Medieval Tradition’ was published. The book was an account of how love was perceived in the Middle Ages and Renaissance period. On April 27, 1939, his work ‘The Personal Heresy,’ which was a collection of articles written by him and Eustace Tillyard, a British scholar, was published by the ‘Oxford University Press.’
In the 1940s, he published several non-fictional books like ‘The Problem of Pain,’ ‘The Case for Christianity,’ ‘A Preface to Paradise Lost,’ ‘Broadcast Talks,’ ‘The Abolition of Man,’ ‘Christian Behaviour,’ and ‘Beyond Personality.’ In 1945, he came up with the science fiction novel ‘That Hideous Strength.’ The same year, his religious work ‘The Great Divorce,’ which highlights the Christian concept of heaven and hell, was published. In 1950, his novel ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,’ the first of his children’s fantasy novel series ‘The Chronicles of Narnia,’ was published by the ‘Geoffrey Bles’ publishing house. During the 1950s, he came up with six novels from the ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ series. These novels are ‘The Magician’s Nephew,’ ‘The Horse and His Boy,’ ‘Prince Caspian,’ ‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,’ ‘The Silver Chair,’ and ‘The Last Battle.’
In 1956, his mythological novel ‘Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold’ was published. The novel was a re-telling of the Greek mythological figures Cupid and Psyche. In 1960, his non-fictional book titled ‘Miracles’ was published. The same year, he also came up with three other non-fictional books: ‘The Four Loves,’ ‘Studies in Words,’ and ‘The World’s Last Night and Other Essays. In 1961, his critical book ‘An Experiment in Criticism’ was published by the ‘Cambridge University Press.’ The same year, his work ‘A Grief Observed’ was published under the pen name ‘N.W. Clerk.’
Major Works
His ground-breaking children’s fantasy series ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ was adapted into three commercially successful films in 2005, 2008, and 2010. It became one of the highest-grossing film series of all time. The series has also been adapted for ‘BBC Radio 4.’
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1956, he married Joy Davidman, an American writer. She died in 1960 after suffering from cancer. He died on 22 November 1963, at the age of 64, due to renal failure. He was laid to rest at the churchyard of ‘Holy Trinity Church,’ Headington, Oxford. In 2005, a one-hour television biopic titled ‘C. S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia’ was made. His role was portrayed by English actor Anton Rodgers.