Famous CS Lewis Quote!

C.S. Lewis: A Life of Imagination and Faith

Clive Staples Lewis, better known as C.S. Lewis, was one of the most influential Christian writers and literary scholars of the 20th century. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1898, Lewis grew up with a vivid imagination and a love of books. After serving in World War I, he returned to study and teach at Oxford University, where he would spend much of his life as a professor of English literature. Later in life, he also served as Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University.

Lewis is perhaps best known for his beloved children’s series, The Chronicles of Narnia, beginning with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1950. This seven-book fantasy series is a powerful blend of imagination and Christian allegory, where children from our world enter a magical land filled with talking animals, battles between good and evil, and the noble lion Aslan, a Christ-like figure. The books have inspired generations of readers and continue to be among the most cherished works of children's literature.

But Lewis also explored other genres. His Space Trilogy—Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength—combined science fiction with theology and philosophy, tackling topics like sin, redemption, and the nature of evil in imaginative interplanetary settings. In nonfiction, Lewis is renowned for books like Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, and The Screwtape Letters, which reflect his conversion from atheism to Christianity and his thoughtful defense of the Christian faith.

A central figure in the literary group known as The Inklings, Lewis formed a deep and lasting friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings. The two shared a love for myth, language, and faith, and it was Tolkien who helped lead Lewis back to belief in God. Their conversations at Oxford’s pubs and Inklings meetings helped shape both men’s greatest works.

C.S. Lewis passed away in 1963, the same day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Though gone, Lewis’s legacy lives on through his books, which continue to spark wonder and deepen faith for readers around the world.