C. S. Lewis's Oxford - by Simon Horobin (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The fantastical fictional land of Narnia, famously reached via a magical wardrobe, has many connections to the world in which its creator C.S. Lewis lived. The influence of Oxford can be seen not only in medieval buildings and towers but also in the literature which Lewis encountered there, through a lifetime's reading and teaching of classical, medieval, and Renaissance literature. This book examines the role Oxford--its colleges, libraries, chapels, clubs, common rooms, and pubs--played in fostering the work of one of the twentieth century's most influential writers and thinkers. It brings to light a number of new archival discoveries, including letters, tutorial reports, and even an unpublished poem, as well as offering new insights into Lewis's Oxford life, his transition to Cambridge, his Christian faith, and his global influence today. It also takes a fresh look at his involvement in Oxford's various clubs and societies, including Coalbiters, the Socratic Club, and, of course, the Inklings, whose distinguished members coalesced around him and his great friend J.R.R. Tolkien"--

Book Synopsis

A detailed portrait of C.S. Lewis and the influence Oxford had on his fantastical fiction, including newly discovered letters and an unpublished poem.

The fantastical fictional land of Narnia, famously reached via a magical wardrobe, has many connections to the world in which its creator C.S. Lewis lived. The influence of Oxford can be seen not only in medieval buildings and towers but also in the literature that Lewis encountered there, through a lifetime's reading and teaching of classical, medieval, and Renaissance literature.

This book examines the role Oxford, its colleges, libraries, chapels, clubs, common rooms, and pubs played in fostering the work of one of the twentieth century's most influential writers. It brings to light several new archival discoveries, including letters, tutorial reports, and even an unpublished poem, as well as offering new insights into Lewis's Oxford life, his transition to Cambridge, his Christian faith, and his contemporary global influence. It also takes a fresh look at his extensive involvement in Oxford's various clubs and societies, including the Coalbiters, the Socratic Club, and, of course, the Inklings, whose distinguished members coalesced around him and his great friend, J.R.R. Tolkien.

Written by an expert in medieval literature who teaches at Magdalen College where Lewis himself taught, C. S. Lewis's Oxford enables readers to understand this world-famous author as a student, scholar, and teacher in greater depth.

Review Quotes

"Simon Horobin's C.S. Lewis's Oxford not only gives a fresh perspective on Lewis's life and a reminder of just how unusual that life was, but also offers, however subtly, a vision for our own moral and imaginative flourishing."-- "Religion & Liberty"

"Horobin makes exemplary use of primary sources: letters, diaries, interviews, memoirs, and original literature. . . .C. S. Lewis's Oxford comprises nine chapters sprinkled with lively images and supplemented by yet another sumptuous photo gallery."-- "Law & Liberty"

"Drawing on previously unpublished diaries, letters, poems and tutorial reports, Simon shows us just how intimately Lewis and the city of dreaming spires were intertwined, and how this rather retiring and unassuming academic became a global superstar. We are also given fresh insights into Lewis's multi-faceted genius, his somewhat problematic personality, his enthusiastic conversion to Christianity and the lasting grief he suffered from the early death of his American wife. This book is an absolute must for all Lewis--and Oxford--devotees."-- "The Lady"

"Horobin's account of Lewis's Oxford is breezy and entertaining--a perfect book for C.S. Lewis aficionados to read before visiting Oxford itself. It is also entirely convincing that without Oxford, and the friendships it provided, there would have been no C.S. Lewis."-- "The Washington Free Beacon"

"To some, C. S. Lewis is simply the creator of the Narnia fantasies, to others a writer on theology and the nature of Christian belief who explained sometimes complex ideas to a broad audience. Less known, probably because it's less exciting, is the fact that he was a conscientious, immensely popular college tutor, a hall-filling lecturer and literary critic and historian. He spent the bulk of his career in Oxford...Prof. Horobin has presented a warm portrait of the academic city as it was in the middle of the 20th century."-- "Country Life"

About the Author

Simon Horobin is professor of English Language and Literature and a fellow and tutor in English at Magdalen College, Oxford.