The Most Reluctant Convert: C. S. Lewis's Journey to Faith. - Softcover

DOWNING, DAVID C.:

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0851119840 ISBN 13: 9780851119847

Publisher: Inter-Varsity Press, 2002

Synopsis

His books have sold millions, including classics like Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Yet C. S. Lewis was not always a literary giant of Christian faith. How did he evolve from staunch atheism to become one of the most beloved and renowned Christian authors of our time? Unlike most biographies of Lewis, which tend to focus on his childhood and dramatic conversion to Christianity, this book discusses the largely overlooked period of his life between his childhood and his early thirties, during which he experienced a tumultuous journey of spiritual and intellectual exploration that ultimately led to his conversion. Professor David C. Downing, author of the critically acclaimed Planets in Peril (a study of Lewis' Ransom trilogy), weaves the people, places, and events of Lewis' life together with excerpts from Lewis' own writing to show how Lewis' spiritual quest can also light the path for other seekers. For C. S. Lewis enthusiasts and students alike, this book offers a unique look at Lewis' personal journey to faith and the profound influence it had on his life as a writer.

About this title

About the Author

David C. Downing is a professor of English at Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. He has written numerous articles on C. S. Lewis as well as Planets in Peril: A Critical Study of C. S. Lewis' Ransom Trilogy. His book on C. S. Lewis' journey to faith, The Most Reluctant Convert, was named one of Booklist's Best Religion Books of 2002.

From AudioFile

A C.S. Lewis scholar and professor of English, Downing offers a thoughtful examination of the great man's journey from disbelief to eloquent proponent of Christianity. The cultural and religious climate in his native Northern Ireland, his childhood and boarding school experiences, and the loss of his mother at age 9 all affected Lewis emotionally and complicated his ability to settle into a religious faith. Filled with interesting detail about the intellectual and spiritual communities that surrounded Lewis, the analysis is impressive without sounding academic or intellectual. A degree of suspense pervades the narrative as Lewis bobs and weaves around his conflicts, eventually finding his life's passion and purpose. T.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Edition details

• Publisher: Inter-Varsity Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0851119840
• ISBN 13: 9780851119847
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 180