Tolkien himself seems to have valued friendship very highly, and there are certain elements which he seems to have emphasised as important factors in such relationships throughout his life. Though tolkien later called lewis his closest friend from about 1927 to 1940, by the early 1950s, their friendship had soured. Both were christians and heavily influenced by christian ideology. Lewis are literary superstars, known around the world as the creators of middleearth and narnia. Both tolkien and lewis were central figures in the informal oxford literary circle, the inklings. Lewis, a legendary friendship a new book reveals how these two famous friends conspired to. Tolkien, friendship and the four loves council of elrond. Tolkien get published, but tolkien admitted he didnt even like lewis work, especially the lion, the witch and the wardrobe, which he thought was terrible. Jrr tolkien and cs lewis friendship will be the subject of a new film. He is best known for his works of fiction, especially the screwtape letters, the chronicles of narnia, and the space trilogy, and. A legendary friendship a new book reveals how these two famous friends conspired to bring myth and legendand truthto modern readers. In addition, although lewis felt his suggestions went unheeded you might as well try to influence.
In fact, their friendship likely contributed to the mythologies the two went on to create. Whether you like or loathe elves and talking lions, j. Without question the best book yet written about the works of c. Welcome,you are looking at books for reading, the tolkien and cs lewis the gift of a friendship, you will able to read or download in pdf or epub books and notice some of author may have lock the live reading for some of country. The gift of friendship, isbn 1587680262 glyer, diana 2007, the company they keep. Both lewis and tolkien had published successful childrens books, but they wanted to reach an adult audience. Clive staples lewis 29 november 1898 22 november 1963 was a british writer and lay theologian. Cs lewis, jrr tolkien, and a friendship that spurred exceptional. The friendship of tolkien and lewis it was several years after i had first read the lord of the rings that i realised that its author, j. Robin brooks pays playful tribute to the long friendship between cs lewis and jrr tolkien, and how it impacted on their achievements. Lewis of the chronicles of narnia will reportedly be the subject of a film according to. Tolkien and c s lewis the gift of friendship abebooks.
The two were members of an informal oxford group of writers and teachers known as the inklings. Attractive describes the movie as a drama fantasy set in war torn britain in 1941 revealing the faith, friendship, and rivalry between j. But few of their readers and fans know about the important and complex friendship between tolkien and his fellow oxford academic c. The theologian and author of childrens books was also friends with jrr tolkien. Jan 17 friendship and conversion tolkien and lewis september 19, 1931 the date of the famed night talk between c. Lewis and tolkien, though, spent the time discussing the morte darthur rather than lewis becoming a catholic. Cs lewis, jrr tolkien, charles williams and their friends, isbn 0395276284. Lewis each created compelling fictional worlds whose influence has become global. By 1950, when the first book in his chronicles of narnia series, the lion, the witch and the wardrobe, appeared, lewis fame had easily eclipsed tolkiens. After lewis died, tolkien wrote a response to a letter which reveals some of what had happened to draw the friendship apart. Lewis lasted over forty years and was for each the most important creative collaboration in their lives. Friendship with lewis compensates for much, and besides giving constant pleasure and comfort has done me much good from the contact with a man at once honest, brave, intellectual a scholar, a poet, and a philosopher and a lover, at last after a long pilgrimage, of our lord. Tolkien helped return lewis to the christianity of his youth, whereas lewis encouraged tolkien to expand his fictional writing.
These literary meetings also helped cure their dissatisfaction with literature. Few literary relationships have been as mutually inspiring as that between j. The inklings were an informal literary discussion group associated with the university of oxford for nearly two decades between the early 1930s and late 1949. The inklings is an engrossing group biography, complete with trips to the eagle and child to share a pint and evenings spent reading worksinprogress aloud to each other, as well as all the drama and personal complications that came with working in such close proximity with friends. In coming years, tolkien would return, friendship with lewis compensates for much commenting on their weekly pub chats and philosophical banter on everything from theology and politics to middle.
Why lewis and tolkien argued over christian theology. Cs lewis charmed the world with chronicles of narnia. It reminded me of the end of the lord of the rings. Lewis on faith and fantasy i first read the chronicles of narnia, the hobbit, and the lord of the rings as a teenager, not realizing at the time that c. Cs lewis and jrr tolkien as writers in community, isbn 0873388909. The gift of friendship is an excellent addition to my library of books analyzing lewis and tolkien as people of their time and place, as well as being highly successful authors. Tolkien will soon be documented in a new film slated for easter 2015 release. Moreover, tolkien wrote in his diary in october in 1933 that honesty was one of the things he valued the most in his friend c. The inklings were literary enthusiasts who praised the value of narrative in fiction and encouraged the writing of fantasy. A literary friendship and rivalry by ethan gilsdorf, when jrr tolkien bet cs lewis. This book explores their lives, unfolding the extraordinary story of. It was the night that perhaps allowed him to make the final step toward giving up his long resistance to the christian faith.
The wager that gave birth to the lord of the rings by john. Tolkiens other close group of friends was the inklings, a wellknown and welldocumented group of mainly oxford academics during the 1930s. Biopic will reportedly center on the friendship between. Tolkien, was a close friend of one of my other favourite authors, c. Although lewis was very proud of his first narnia book, the lion, the witch and the wardrobe, and it would spawn a massively successful series of childrens books, tolkien didnt think very highly of it. Tolkien, author of the hobbit, lord of the rings, the silmarillion, and fellow. Tolkien also believed that lewis romance with american widow joy gresham came between lewis and all his friends. As colin duriez notes in his book about tolkien and lewiss friendship, tolkien and lewis were alike in welcoming a sense of othernessor otherworldliness. Lewis, the british authors of iconic books including the lord of the rings trilogy and the chronicles of narnia. Lewis fellow and tutor of english literature at magdalen college, oxford, 39yearold j. Lewis after his mothers death, remembers meeting j. Likewise, all of lewiss fiction, after the two met in 1926.
The gift of friendship is an excellent addition to my library of books analyzing lewis and tolkien as people of their time and place, as well as being highly successful authors, whose works continue to stand the test of time. The camaraderie between jack and the man he called tollers inspired the chapter on friendship in lewis book the four loves. Finally, tolkien seems to agree with his old friend c. And while tolkien struggled over the lord of the rings manuscripts for years, lewis narnia books were bestsellers. About four years into their friendship, tolkien and lewis explored their love for ancient tales of gods and heroes through a literary society at oxford called the inklings, which met informally in. The friendship between lewis and tolkien, despite any ups and downs, exhibited friendship at its finest as a spiritual reality. Sep 20, 2016 on an early sunday morning, september 20, 1931, three 30something english professors took a stroll together on addisons walk in the grounds of magdalen college at the university of oxford. Lewis are literary superstars, known around the world as the creators of middle earth and narnia. Jul 17, 2014 the famous friendship between fantasy authors j.
May 08, 2019 in the church circles ive been in, pastors and lay people alike love to talk about the friendship between j. Lewis rediscovered faith, friendship, and heroism in the cataclysm of 191418 nelson books, june, joseph loconte focuses on. But did you know that the two maintained a deep friendship. May 20, 2016 lewis and tolkien, though, spent the time discussing the morte darthur rather than lewis becoming a catholic. Clive staple lewis and john ronald reuel tolkien first met on may 11, 1926 at a meeting of the english department at the university where lewis was a professor. Lewis, that in a friendship no one cares twopence about. For decades lewis spent most of his time in the company of other men who shared his interests, tolkien being one of them. Tolkien, charles williams and their friends by humphrey carpenter. Tolkien outside the hospital when lewis was severely ill and inviting him to stay with him should anything untoward happen to jack.
Thus by comparing tolkiens own views regarding friendship to the relationships in the books these factors are revealed. In coming years, tolkien would return, friendship with lewis compensates for much commenting on their weekly pub chats and philosophical banter on everything from theology and politics to middleearth, narnia and the next terms undergraduate syllabi. Therefore it need a free signup process to obtain the book. Colin duriez imaginatively presents us with an intriguing opportunity to view this fascinating meeting of minds. Jun 24, 2015 in a hobbit, a wardrobe, and a great war. On an early sunday morning, september 20, 1931, three 30something english professors took a stroll together on addisons walk in the grounds of magdalen college at the university of oxford. Of all the members of the group, tolkien formed a particularly close friendship with cs lewis, a relationship that was documented in detail by. Timing and causes of the breakdown of tolkien and lewiss. Aug 20, 2012 tolkien and lewis very close friends and collaborators from the mid1930s to mid1940s by 1948 lewis had published his allegory of love, his mere christianity books, screwtape and other things which tolkien disliked but this did not dent the friendship. Lewis first impression of tolkien was of a smooth, pale, fluent little chap with no harm in him.
The first filmed indepth look at the friendship between authors j. Cs lewis, jrr tolkien, and a friendship that spurred. Without the persistent encouragement of lewis, tolkien would never have completed lord of the rings. Lewis who among us didnt grow up on the lord of the rings and the chronicles of narnia. When lewis left his job at oxford in 1954 to accept the chair of medieval and renaissance literature at cambridge, their fellowship had finally broken. September 19, 1931 the date of the famed night talk between c. Out of the silent planet, perelandra, and that hideous strength. Without the persistent encouragement of his friend, tolkien would never have completed the lord of the rings. Lewis seems to have had the more forceful personality of the.
Tolkien and cs lewis the gift of a friendship download pdf. The gift of friendship by duriez, colin and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Tolkien and lewis very close friends and collaborators from the mid1930s to mid1940s by 1948 lewis had published his allegory of love, his mere christianity books, screwtape and other things which tolkien disliked but this did not dent the friendship. I would willingly do all in my power to secure for tolkiens great book the. I first read the chronicles of narnia, the hobbit, and the lord of the rings as a teenager, not realizing at the time that c. He held academic positions in english literature at both oxford university magdalen college, 19251954 and cambridge university magdalene college, 19541963. First, he thought that the christian themes and messages were far too stronghe didnt approve of the way lewis seemed to beat the reader over the head with such obvious symbols. Lewis rediscovered faith, friendship, and heroism in the cataclysm of 1914. Of all the members of the group, tolkien formed a particularly close friendship with cs lewis, a relationship that was documented in detail by lewis in his book the four loves. It seems almost too perfect that the authors of these two classic fantasy series were pals in real life. Oct 01, 2006 though tolkien later called lewis his closest friend from about 1927 to 1940, by the early 1950s, their friendship had soured.
From such beginnings an invigorating friendship took seed. But few of their readers and fans know about the important and complex friendship between these two oxford dons. They were both survivors of the first world war, both academics and, as children, their lives were both dominated by imagination. I am sorry that i have not answered your letters sooner. The lives, thought and writings of cs lewis, jrr tolkien, charles williams, owen barfield, and their friends, isbn 19026949. For tolkien, the value of lewiss friendship was the sheer encouragement lewis provided that helped tolkien get his books finished and published. In the church circles ive been in, pastors and lay people alike love to talk about the friendship between j. Jul 20, 2009 the friendship between lewis and tolkien, despite any ups and downs, exhibited friendship at its finest as a spiritual reality. Cs lewis, jrr tolkien, and a friendship that spurred exceptional literature us toll free. Lewis will be shown in petoskey to help kick off the c. Tolkien, the author of the lord of the rings and the hobbit, and c. Sep 10, 2016 difficult as things may have been in their friendship, douglas gresham, son of joy david gresham, who was taken care of by c. Tolkien were close friends who had a great deal in common.