C.S. Lewis - Shaw Festival Theatre

C.S. LEWIS (1898-1963) is one of the most influential 20th-century writers on Christian faith. Born in Belfast, Lewis studied English and philo­sophy at Oxford, fought and was injured in World War I. Though he had been raised as a Christian, Lewis was agnostic – possibly even an atheist – until returning to Oxford to teach. There he experienced a religious conversion, partly influenced by friends who were thoughtful believers, such as J.R.R. Tolkien.

Author of more than 70 titles, including works of science fiction, fantasy, poetry, letters, autobiography and Christian apologetics, Lewis’s book sales are reported to be more than $2 million annually. His acknowledged classic The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of 7 fantasy novels written between 1949 and 1954, (which includes The Magician’s Nephew), was partly inspired by 3 evacuee children who came to stay in his home, providing him an invigorating new perspective on the joys of childhood. To date they have sold over 100 million copies.

Late in life, his romantic friendship and clandestine marriage with an Ameri­can, Helen Joy Davidman was dramatized in the play (and film) Shadowlands. Lewis died on November 22, 1963, the same date as the assassination of John F. Kennedy. On the 50th anniversary of his death, he was commemorated with a memorial in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.