What does the "C. S." stand for?

His full name is Clive Staples Lewis.

What were the major milestones of his life?

C. S. Lewis was born in Belfast (1898), served in the trenches of WWI, became a renowned Oxford scholar, and moved from atheism to become one of the most influential Christian writers of the 20th century. He published The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1950 and passed away in Oxford in 1963. You can find a detailed timeline on the bio page, and other aspects of his life are addressed further down this page.

What did C. S. Lewis write?

Perhaps his most famous writings are The Chronicles of Narnia (which are comprised of seven books), The Space Trilogy, Mere Christianity, and The Screwtape Letters. Complete lists of his works can be found on this site.

What did C. S. Lewis look like?

In Letters to Children, he described himself as "...tall, fat, rather bald, red-faced, double-chinned, black-haired, hav[ing] a deep voice, and wear[ing] glasses for reading." Here's a gallery of photos.

What did C. S. Lewis sound like?

Being born in Northern Ireland, then moving to England at 10 years old and being educated at public school and Oxford, Lewis had a rather unique accent. Hear it for yourself:

Why was C. S. Lewis known as Jack?

As a child, Lewis had a dog called "Jacksie" whom he really loved. When he was four years old, the poor dog got run down by one of the first cars in Ireland. He then said that from that point on he'll be known by the name of his dog (although he also didn't like his birth names). Eventually, the name evolved from "Jacksie" to Jack. From that point on, all his friends and teachers called him that, except for one of his tutors.

Is it true that C. S. Lewis was an atheist at one point in his life?

Yes. Lewis was raised in a Christian home (Church of Ireland), and became an atheist when he was 15. He converted back to Christianity (Church of England) when he was 33 with the help of his friend, J. R. R. Tolkien.

Who was Joy Davidman?

Helen Joy Davidman was an American poet and writer who married C. S. Lewis in a civil ceremony in 1956 to ensure her residency in the UK. Though initially a marriage of convenience, it developed into a deep, genuine love that Lewis later described as a "strange sort of happiness." After her cancer diagnosis, they were married by a priest in 1957. Their story, marked by a brief remission and her death on July 13, 1960, was later immortalized in the book A Grief Observed and the film Shadowlands.

Who was Janie Moore?

Janie King Moore was the mother of Lewis's WWI comrade, Paddy Moore. The two men pledged that if either died, the survivor would care for the other’s parent. Following Paddy's death, Lewis honored this commitment for over thirty years, supporting Mrs. Moore financially and living with her until her death in 1951. Despite varying interpretations of their relationship by biographers, Lewis remained faithfully devoted to her care, even through her long period of declining health in a nursing home.

Did C. S. Lewis win any awards or honors?

Yes, though he was often more interested in his work than in accolades. His major honors include:

• The Carnegie Medal (1956): Considered the "gold standard" for UK children's literature, awarded for The Last Battle.
• The Gollancz Memorial Prize (1937): Awarded for his scholarly work The Allegory of Love.
• The Lewis Carroll Shelf Award (1962): Awarded to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
• Honorary Doctorates: He received honorary degrees from the University of St. Andrews (1946), Laval University (1952), and the University of Manchester (1959).

In 1951, Winston Churchill offered to recommend Lewis for a CBE (Commander of the British Empire). Lewis declined the honor, writing that he wished to avoid any appearance of political "entanglement" that might undermine his religious works.

Was C. S. Lewis wealthy?

Although his books generated significant income, and he had his academic salary from Oxford and Cambridge, C. S. Lewis did not accumulate personal wealth and lived a modest lifestyle. He established the Agape Fund, a private charitable trust used to anonymously distribute approximately two-thirds of his royalties to various individuals and philanthropic causes.

How can I contact C. S. Lewis?

Unfortunately, you can't. He died on November 22, 1963. That's the same day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Aldous Huxley also died that day.

Where can I download the text of C. S. Lewis' books?

Most of Lewis' work is still under copyright, and will be for some time. However, if you do some digging around the web, you probably can find what you're looking for (but no, I won't tell you where). Of course, you can purchase eBooks, or find the hard copies at a bookstore or your local library.

Are there any tours of C. S. Lewis sites in Ireland or England? Are the Kilns open to the public?

Yes, there are! If you're interested in learning about the sites and how to make reservations, I recommend getting Touring C. S. Lewis' Ireland and England by Perry Bramlett and Ronald Higdon.

You can also contact The C. S. Lewis Foundation for information on how to make a reservation to visit The Kilns, where Lewis lived for much of his life.

Are there any other C. S. Lewis related sites that are open to the public?

• Magdalen College, Oxford is often open to public visits in the vacations.
• Holy Trinity Churchyard Headington Quarry, Oxford (the site of Jack's grave) is open.
• The Eagle and Child (the Bird and Baby) where many of the Inklings meetings were held is open during normal pub opening hours.
• Wheaton College in the far western suburbs of Chicago, houses an extensive collection relating not only to C. S. Lewis, but also to G. K. Chesterton and Dorothy Sayers. Among its treasures is the original wardrobe that C. S. Lewis supposedly had in mind when he wrote the Narnia books.

What is the correct order for reading The Chronicles of Narnia? What order do you recommend?

Simply put, I don't believe there is a correct order. But depending upon who you ask, there is a preferred order.

The books were originally published without numbers, since Lewis didn't know how many Narnia books he was going to write. When the American publisher Macmillan decided to put numbers on their editions they chose to use the order in which the books were originally published.

1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
2. Prince Caspian (1951)
3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
4. The Silver Chair (1953)
5. The Horse and His Boy (1954)
6. The Magician's Nephew (1955)
7. The Last Battle (1956)

When HarperCollins took over the global publication of the books, they decided to keep numbering the books, but on the recommendation of Lewis' stepson, Douglas Gresham, they adopted the order that follows Narnian chronology:

1. The Magician's Nephew
2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
3. The Horse and His Boy
4. Prince Caspian
5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
6. The Silver Chair
7. The Last Battle

This decision was influenced by a 1957 letter Lewis wrote to a young fan, Laurence Krieger, in which he stated: "I think I agree with your order for reading the books more than with my mother's [publisher's]. The series was not planned beforehand... so when I wrote The Lion I did not know I was going to write any others."

This chronological order is now followed by virtually all modern editions of the series worldwide.

As for my recommendation, I always suggest that first-time readers begin with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and follow the original publication order. Once you have experienced the world for the first time, you can read them again (and again) in any order you wish.

My reasoning is based on three things:

• The magic of discovery: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was written for a reader who knows nothing of Narnia. When you read it first, you discover the lamp post, the White Witch, and Aslan alongside the Pevensie children. The Magician’s Nephew is a prequel, and it is far more satisfying to have the questions answered than to be given the answers before you’ve even thought to ask the questions.
• The surprise moments: Reading chronologically robs the series of its best surprises. For instance, the ending of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe reveals that the eccentric old Professor has a much deeper connection to Narnia than we ever imagined. That wonderful "Aha!" moment is completely lost if you have already read his entire origin story as a boy in London.
• Better engagement: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is arguably the more captivating story for a beginner. It was the world’s first glimpse through the wardrobe, and it remains the most powerful way to enter Lewis' world for the first time.

Is it true that there are differences in the British and American editions of the Narnia books?

Historically, yes. When the books were first published in the U.S. by Macmillan, C. S. Lewis made several small revisions to the text. The most famous of these was the name of the White Witch’s Secret Police captain: he was Maugrim in the UK, but was renamed Fenris Ulf (a nod to Norse mythology) for the original American editions. Other variations included the description of the "Deep Magic" in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: the British text placed the writing on "fire-stones on the Secret Hill," while the American version placed it on the "trunk of the World Ash Tree."

However, in 1994, the publisher HarperCollins standardized the text worldwide. They chose to revert almost all changes to the original British versions. Consequently, if you buy a new copy of the books in the United States today, you will find the name Maugrim, just as Lewis originally wrote it in 1950.

Where did C. S. Lewis come up with the word "Narnia"?

It is widely believed to be derived from the ancient Umbrian city of Narnia (modern-day Narni, Italy). As a scholar of the classics at Oxford, Lewis likely encountered the name in Latin literature. References to the city appear in works by Livy, Tacitus, and Pliny the Elder, as well as a letter from Pliny the Younger which Lewis specifically mentioned in his own correspondence.

Do you have a recipe for Turkish Delight?

Most recipes for authentic Turkish Delight (known as Lokum) involve a slow-simmered mixture of sugar syrup and cornstarch, traditionally flavored with rosewater or lemon. Because 1950s Britain was still under sugar rationing, this exotic, "sweet and light" treat was the ultimate luxury (which explains why Edmund was so easily tempted).

If you are looking to try it yourself, I recommend this Turkish Delight recipe. For the most authentic experience, try the traditional rosewater flavor, though I personally find the lemon or pomegranate versions more palatable.