by Leslie » September 17th, 2004, 2:17 am
Hi - I've read that Tolkien didn't like the fact that Lewis wrote popular theology as an amateur - he apparently thought that it was better left to professionals. This may have been part of his dislike of Letters to Malcolm.
Colin Duriez, in The Gift of Friendship, makes quite a plausible case for Williams causing a rift between Tolkien and Lewis. Tolkien did not altogether like Williams' work, or his interest in the occult, and apparently disapproved of Lewis being under Williams' "spell" too much - he may even have been jealous of Lewis's fascination with Williams, although Tolkien considered himself a friend of Williams.
It seems that Lewis and Tolkien's friendship had cooled before Joy Gresham moved to England, so his marriage may not have been a major factor in the rift.
The more I read about him, the more I get the impression that Tolkien may have been a difficult man to get along with.
I will certainly ask about these matters, if Prof. Wood doesn't address it in his main talk.
"What are you laughing at?"
"At myself. My little puny self," said Phillipa.
--Rumer Godden, In This House of Brede