Abstract
The primary aim of C.S. Lewis at Poet’s Corner is to provide a ‘written record’ of the unveiling of a permanent memorial to Lewis in the hallowed Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey in late 2013 and other events during this time that also commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of Lewis’s death. Editors Michael Ward and Peter S. Williams―both Lewis scholars in their own right―divide the book into five parts: (1) Symposium at St. Margaret’s Westminster; (2) Memorial Service at Westminster Abbey; (3) Reflections on the Westminster Commemorations; (4) Cambridge Conference; and (5) Oxford Addresses.
The diverse material in this book is a testament to what makes Lewis so impressive: that the mind that wrote Miracles—’possibly his most serious work of apologetics’ (p. 31)—is the same mind that gave life to a charming faun named Tumnus and a discerning Marshwiggle named Puddleglum. In part one, Lewis the apologist is discussed. Alister McGrath’s presentation is a gem, focusing on Lewis’s emphasis upon the reasonableness of Christianity while touching on the experiential and invitational nature of his apologetic. The section concludes with a panel of five distinguished individuals discussing a rich array of topics such as why Lewis has been so popular in the United States and the ‘extraordinary prodigious nature of his work’ (p. 41) in relation to the concept of vocation.
Part two details the proceedings of the service when Lewis’s memorial was officially dedicated. Part three consists of five reflections on the Westminster Commemorations from the blogosphere. From Paul Mealor’s account of his near-death experience and subsequent introduction to Lewis’s writings, to Sarah Clarkson’s suggestion that we like to read Lewis in part because he ‘lived a great story’ (p. 104), this section calls attention to what so many have experienced: that reading Lewis can change one’s life.
Part four contains six presentations that were given at a conference held at Cambridge titled, ‘Lewis as Critic.’ This section of the book is by far the most dense, and those who are not familiar with literary criticism or have not read Lewis’s critical works may struggle at points. Some of the topics addressed at the conference are: Lewis’s defense of rhetoric and its significance, his conviction that Medieval literature still holds relevance for the modern person, the value of allegory, and how the death of his mother at age nine might have subconsciously affected some of his writing.
The last section consists of two presentations given at Oxford University, the second of which is a warm and personal account of how Walter Hooper came to be Lewis’s private secretary. It is full of humorous anecdotes and keen insights into the private life of Lewis and is reason enough to purchase the book.
Overall, I see the value of this book being fourfold: (1) provides valuable insight into the Lewis the man; (2) is a useful resource for any person preparing to read Lewis for the first time; (3) is a testimony to the fact that reading Lewis can be transformational; and (4) is a valuable asset to any student of Lewis who will appreciate having a written record of arguably the greatest tribute paid to his legacy since his death.