The Riddle of the Sphinx: Essays on the Evolution of Consciousness

The Riddle of the Sphinx, a new collection of essays, illuminates an aspect of Owen Barfield rarely before seen. He writes as directly as he ever did about the nature of humanity's spiritual need in our time. Our capacities of imagination and inspiration are shown in their true dimensions.

At the same time, scholarly and wise, Barfield enables readers to appreciate these insights. He writes about how poetry begins, about language as an archive of consciousness, and about philosophy as a path to understanding how different ways of perceiving are possible.

Barfield guides us on an episodic trip through history - from ancient Israel and Greece to early Christian times, onward to medieval England, and the eras of the Renaissance and Romanticism, right up to the present day. He does not just demonstrate that there has been an evolution of consciousness; he reveals how thrilling it is when recognized.

The Sphinx's deepest riddle, Barfield knew, was: What, after all, is the human being? The evolution of consciousness, Barfield's great subject, has given many answers to that question. In the essays collected here, Owen Barfield challenges us, beyond the ready-made responses given to us, to answer the question anew, for ourselves.

Owen Barfield is one of the twentieth century's most significant writers and philosophers. Widely renowned for his insight and literary artistry, Barfield addresses key concerns of the sciences, humanities, social sciences, and arts in our time. His fellow Inklings, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, are among the leading figures influenced by Barfield's work.

Owen Barfield (1898-1997) was one of the twentieth century's most insightful writers and philosophers. His ideas informed the thinking and writing of influential authors such as C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien who were fellow members of the Inklings, an Oxford group of scholars.As a leading Anthroposophist in the English-speaking world, Barfield was especially interested in the evolution of human consciousness, exploring its development through the history of language.Thinkers and writers central to Barfield's work include Goethe, Coleridge, and Rudolf Steiner. Although best known for his non-fiction, such as 'Poetic Diction' and 'Saving the Appearances', Barfield also wrote poetry, fiction, and plays.T. S. Eliot, W. H. Auden, Howard Nemerov, and Saul Bellow are among those who have praised Barfield's writing, and Barfield is often described as having a prophetic, powerful mind.

Rory O'Connor is a writer who has assisted the Owen Barfield Literary Estate for a decade and is now General Editor for the Barfield Press.