So on this rainy and blustery evening i cozied up on my couch to read this gem of a book and really enjoyed myself. The inklings were a group of writers living in oxford who would meet on a weekly basis to read and discuss each others work. The inklings were an informal literary circle in oxford that began meeting in the early 1930s and continued until the late 1940s. Diana glyer explores lewiss friendship with the inklings in her new book the company they keep. It has associations with the inklings writers group which included j. Charles williams, though lesser known, was a prolific writer. Diana glyer explores lewis s friendship with the inklings in her new book the company they keep. This didnt sit well with tolkien, who was a catholic. From this group came two of the 20th centurys most famous english writers.
Years ago i saw one of christopher tolkien s books on middle earth at a flea market and wondered about buying it but it was several numbers down in the series and i didnt know if i would need the others in the series in order to make sense of that. However, like carpenters biography of this literary circle, it quickly becomes apparent that this is a joint biography of lewis and tolkien, with some gobbets of information about williams and barfield thrown in for good measure. Thou i enjoyed the bios on the lesser known members of the group much of the info on lewis and tolkien was not new and there was somewhat of an over balance on the side of lewis. Jul 26, 2016 joseph loconte is a professor of history at the kings college in manhattan whose recent book a hobbit, a wardrobe, and a great war has been good food for my soul. Tolkien and their friends were a regular feature of the oxford scenery in the years during and after the second world war. Tolkien, who noted that lewis took particular pleasure in listening to others read their works aloud. Devin brown is a professor of english at asbury university and the author of the christian world of the hobbit published by abingdon press. Tolkien, charles williams and their friends is a book by humphrey carpenter, originally published in 1978. Jun 25, 2019 cs lewis and jrr tolkien were close friends who also had serious disagreements over theology, apologetics, and the quality of lewis narnia books. How lewis and tolkien brewed classic tales in a pub acclaimed writers cs lewis and jrr tolkien and friends used to have weekly meetings about their works in progress in a pub in oxford. Although occasional visitors were invited to attend meetings of the inklings, the core membership remained stable. The most important literary contributions made by cs lewis were his theological and fantasy works read by millions and viewed in major motion picture adaptations. Lewis, dominated the worlds imagination with their original works, which have been translated into more than 39 languages.
In the inklings handbook the authors allude to and celebrate the wider, if more varied friendships between the various members of the inklings and one more friendship. One of them was a group of british scholars called the inklings. See the pubs where the inklings met to discuss their works of fantasy fiction, now famous the world over the hobbit, lord of the rings trilogy and the chronicles of narnia. Mar 09, 2012 the inklings of oxford is the first fullcolor introduction to the inklings, a group of influential english writers that included c. Lewis novelist, critic, poet, and christian apologist would be a difficult enough task. Later, he became good friends with arthur greeves, a neighbor, and they shared boyhood secrets and favorite books. How lewis and tolkien brewed classic tales in a pub the. Tolkien taught at oxford university, in the city of oxford in southcentral england.
They drank beer on tuesdays at the bird and baby, and on thursday nights they met in lewis magdalen college rooms to read aloud from the books they were writing. The eagle and child, nicknamed the bird and baby, is a pub in st giles street, oxford, england, owned by st. Dec 12, 2005 lewis and tolkien, narnia and lord of the rings the chronicles of narnia, based on the hugely popular childrens book by c. This has been the best biography ive found on this group of writers, and indeed carries more detail about c. Lewis and tolkien at the greatest length, but also charles williams, an anglican poet, novelist, and occultist, and owen barfield, an. The fellowship focuses on four members of the group. Apr 01, 2012 in his book the inklings, humphrey carpenter tells the story of an afterdinner walk lewis took in september of 1931 with his friends j. He was then the merton professor of english language and literature at merton college, oxford, from 1945 until his retirement in 1959. But to tolkiens dismay, jack chose to join the anglican church. Besides lewis and tolkien, the third most prominent member of the inklings was. Lewis, and charles williams, founded in 1967 and incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1971. The pub was a popular mecca for those who admired j. This is not a book for most folks, but for lewis or tolkien fans the other inklings are not covered as in depth as csl and jrrt this book is a must have. He was the author of the classic high fantasy works the hobbit and the lord of the rings he served as the rawlinson and bosworth professor of anglosaxon and fellow of pembroke college, oxford, from 1925 to 1945 and merton professor of.
When she isnt sitting by the fire and talking with the members of her own writing group, the ninos, she teaches english at azusa pacific university. It begins with potted biographies of cs lewis, and charles williams. Jan 20, 2020 christopher tolkien, who has died aged 95, edited and published a huge body of writings left by his father, jrr tolkien, extending the world of middleearth created in the hobbit 1937 and the. Christopher wasnt even close to being a literary giant nor was he a tourist, but he enjoyed writing and liked to feign himself one of the professors who might have basked in the lively readings and debates of the. Jan 04, 2020 several years ago we published an article about famous mastermind groups from history.
Its apropos then to reflect on a selection from mere christianity about the christs salvific work to make us new creatures, not simply nicer people. He told the brother about oxford, himself, and tolkien. Tolkien, charles williams and their friends by humphrey carpenter. The importance of facetoface conversation the art of. Lewis and tolkien were members of an informal literary discussion group known as the inklings. Anyone who has enjoyed the books of cs lewis or jrr tolkien should read this book. Official cs lewis and jrr tolkien walking tour of oxford for all fans of cs lewis and jrr tolkien this is the tour to take, with an expert oxford literary guide see the pubs where the inklings met to discuss their works of fantasy fiction, now famous the world over the hobbit, lord of the rings trilogy and the chronicles of narnia. Famous for its associations with the inkings writers group, the pub today is one of the most visited places in oxford. Lewis society at the university of oxford meets at pusey house during term time to discuss papers on the life and works of lewis and the other inklings, and generally appreciate all things lewisian.
Tolkien and cs lewis spiritual and literary fellowship. It was to the inklings that lewis first read his the lion the witch and the wardrobe, and tolkien his lord of the rings which the group simply called the hobbit book. He decided to write the book when he learned that not just lewis, but tolkien had served in that. Both tolkien and lewis were central figures in the informal oxford literary circle, the inklings. Tolkien both of whom taught at oxford university as well as charles williams and hugo dyson. Jrr tolkien wrote, perhaps, the greatest mythological series of the 20 th century in the hobbit and the lord of the rings trilogy. Details are given that possibly not told in any other one source. The literary lives of the inklings gives readers an indepth look at the four men generally considered the most influential and successful of the writers group known as the inklings. Brady on october 29, 1944, talking about how an author and his work are revealing and also not ever the complete picture. The fellowship the literary lives of the inklings by philip zaleski and.
Lewis credits tolkien and their friendship as a primary reason for his christian conversion. Colin duriezs latest book is about the friendship between lewis and tolkien. Lewis wrote of the inklings, what i owe to them all is incalculable, and tolkien noted that only by lewis s support and friendship did i ever struggle to the end of the lord of the rings. Cs lewis, jrr tolkien, and a friendship that spurred. The mythopoeic society is a literary organization devoted to the study of mythopoeic literature, particularly the works of j. The inklings of oxford is the first fullcolor introduction to the inklings, a group of influential english writers that included c. The book was an attempt to show the different personalities and diversity of thought in the group that made up the inklings. Lewis was a funny person, and how they respected each other. Lewis who are considered to be the best authors of highfantasy works such as the lord of the rings and the chronicles of narnia. Cs lewis, jrr tolkien, charles williams and their friends, isbn 0395276284.
Oct 01, 2006 tolkiens logic was enough to persuade lewis to become a christian. 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. Chesterton, george macdonald, and inklings owen barfield, c. R tolkien, and the inklings mastermind group several years ago we published an article about famous mastermind groups from history. Tolkien, and charles williams remarkable friends, writers, and scholars met regularly to discuss philosophy and literature and to read aloud from their own works in progress.
Diana pavlac glyer has written about the community shared by the inklings and the influence it had on the lives and works of individual members c. It is an account of the group of friends who gathered around these two for many years in oxford. Tolkien and hugo dyson on the grounds of magdallen college, a part of oxford. The group is also famous for sometimes meeting in a pub called the eagle and child and mixing highend literary discussion with pints of beer.
The group is also famous for sometimes meeting in a pub called the eagle and child and. Why lewis and tolkien argued over christian theology. Critically acclaimed, awardwinning biography of cs lewis, jrr tolkien and the brilliant group of writers to come out of oxford during the second world war. The lives, thought and writings of cs lewis, jrr tolkien, charles williams, owen barfield, and their friends, isbn 19026949. Tolkien, charles williams, and their friends 9781455158195. Lewis chronicle, the journal has been publishing some of the best scholarship in the field, as well as original material by its subject authors. Hes one of the leading experts on the inklings and has written many books on them, alongside his books on the literary figures who influenced them. That night in 1931 was a long one, lasting until four in the morning. Lewis life posted on march 25, 2015 by brenton dickieson this actually happened three times, though we dont have most of the letters that j. Both lewis and tolkien reference each other and the meetings of the inklings as providing support and inspiration for their work. Tolkien, lewis, and christian mythology the imaginative. Tolkien, and the inklings mount tabor books clyde s. Tolkien on this more intellectually paced walking tour aimed at adults.
Downings latest book is looking for the king, a historical novel featuring c. It is also a biography of three historical agents of change. The book bills itself as a joint biography of 4 of the oxford inklings. Lewis than many biographies dedicated solely to him have. His books influenced the writings of the wheaton seven, including c. Christianity played a major role in the lives and works of the inklings, the oxford literary circle centred on c. Tolkien had helped lewis see the light, but jacks fame and celebrity, which arrived soon after, was at odds with tolkiens quiet and devout ways. George macdonald, father of the inklings, is the victorian novelist and seer c. Other regular members included robert havard, lewis physician, and adam fox, a poet and priest. Humphrey carpenters the inklings charts the lives of the inklings, and the lifetime of the group itself. This book details a period of time in the lives of lewis and tolkien particularly but others as well. The inklings included two of the 20th centurys most popular writers of fiction j. 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. Most were taken by james ray veneman, a published author in his own right.
He told him funny quips about times him and tolkien met, when he would play jokes on j. The journal of inklings studies is a leading academic journal on the oxford literary circle known as the inklings, and on their intellectual and literary debts and legacies. 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. Tolkien and their circle of friends in that he became personally acquainted not only with lewis and tolkien. Lewis took him to his office at magdalin and they sat for the rest of the evening drinking tea. Lewis jacks brother gave the seventeenthcentury pub where the inklings, their literary club, met from 1939 to 1962 on tuesday mornings to discuss their writing. Tolkien first introduced the screwtape letters and the lord of the rings to an audience in this. The eagle and child is a pub in oxford which is best known. Lewis, and their entire literary giants they called inklings. The photographs are exceptional, and tell a story all by themselves. Tolkien s life is alluded to throughout the book, but he doesnt get this level of attention, apparently because carpenter wrote a more detailed biography of him. Lewis moved to cambridge university in 1954, and tolkien retired in 1959.
A legendary friendship a new book reveals how these two famous friends conspired to bring myth and legendand truthto modern readers. The literary lives of the inklings, philip and carol. 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. Thats the name tolkien, lewis, and their cronies charles williams, nevill coghill, owen barfield, and w. This book explores their lives, unfolding the extraordinary story of their complex friendship that lasted, with its ups and downs, until lewiss death in 1963. The pub had been part of an endowment belonging to university college since the 17th century. Tolkien was the rawlinson and bosworth professor of anglosaxon at pembroke college, oxford, from 1925 to 1945. Tolkien, longterm members included lewis brother warren, charles williams and owen barfield. Sep 20, 2016 if lewiss chronology of his own conversion is accepted, lewis had come to believe in god at the time of his fathers death. Jan 11, 2020 tolkien s the lord of the rings, lewis s out of the silent planet, and williamss all hallows eve were among the novels first read to the inklings. For all fans of cs lewis and jrr tolkien this is the tour to take, with an expert oxford literary guide. Both the writer and photographer teach at my college and i know and am close friends with most of the other photographers as well. Inklings readings and discussions were usually held on thursday evenings in c. The inklings were an informal literary discussion group associated with the university of oxford.
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