Poe, Harry Lee. Becoming C. S. Lewis: A Biography of Young Jack Lewis (1898-1918). Wheaton: Crossway, 2019. 309 Pages. Cloth. $22.99. https://www.crossway.org/books/becoming-c-s-lewis-hcj/Poe, Harry Lee. The Making of C. S. Lewis: From Atheist to Apologist (1918-1945). Wheaton: Crossway, 2021. 399 Pages. Cloth. $32.99. https://www.crossway.org/books/the-making-of-c-s-lewis-hcj/
Poe, Harry Lee. The Completion of C. S. Lewis: From War to Joy (1945-1963). Wheaton: Crossway, 2022. 413 Pages. Cloth. $34.99. https://www.crossway.org/books/the-completion-of-c-s-lewis-hcj/
The three-volume set of the Poe biographies is available for a Retail Price of $89.99. (Crossway+ members (free membership) receive 30% off books.) https://www.crossway.org/books/becoming-c-s-lewis-hcj-2/
Publishers and Readers, please accept my apologies for the
delay in publishing this review.
I understand that it is past due, compared to best practices.
While I am not a full-time book reviewer, my extensive experience and consistent record of high-quality reviews demonstrate my professionalism and expertise in this area.
I have experienced several significant challenges in recent years, including long-term medical emergencies involving my mother-in-law and mother, as well as the loss of several loved ones. These personal difficulties, compounded by professional losses, have unfortunately contributed to the delay.
Thank you for your understanding.
This review features a biography trilogy of C. S. Lewis.
3-Volume Set
By Harry Lee Poe
Experience C. S. Lewis’s Captivating Life with the Complete Biographical Trilogy
Becoming C. S. Lewis (3-Volume Set) by scholar Harry Lee Poe represents a landmark achievement in the study of one of the greatest Christian thinkers of the modern era. This groundbreaking trilogy provides an in-depth look into literary scholar, novelist, and apologist C. S. Lewis. Each book painstakingly unfolds Lewis’s life—his key relationships, his conversion to Christianity, his bestselling books, and more. Poe brings to light new information on Lewis and corrects many earlier misunderstandings about him to show how his experiences of education, war, loss, and friendship shaped him into one of the most important writers and scholars of the 20th century.
This set includes Becoming C. S. Lewis: A Biography of Young Jack Lewis (1898–1918), The Making of C. S. Lewis: From Atheist to Apologist (1918–1945), and The Completion of C. S. Lewis: From War to Joy (1945–1963).
Appeals to Fans and Scholars of Lewis: Filled with new details about every period of Lewis’s life
Provides a Background to Lewis’s Writings: Gives new background for themes that appear in Lewis’s writings, such as Lewis’s physical suffering throughout his life, the strife in his home and in his college, and his spiritual struggle
Harry Lee Poe (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as the Charles Colson Professor of Faith and Culture at Union University, where he has taught a course on C. S. Lewis for over twenty years. He is the author of twenty books, including The Inklings of Oxford and C. S. Lewis Remembered, as well as numerous articles on Lewis and the Inklings. Poe hosts the annual Inklings Weekend in Montreat, North Carolina, and is a regular speaker on Lewis at universities and other venues worldwide.
(Publisher's website)
Many see Lewis as a father in the faith, a lay theologian, a favorite author. I had just lost my father and had nearly two weeks in my hometown to prepare for the service, grieve, and reflect. I read this trilogy approximately one year ago. My notes on the experience are extensive.
Harry Lee Poe's biographical trilogy on C. S. Lewis, published by Crossway, provides an in-depth exploration of Lewis's life, career, and spiritual journey in three hardcover (or kindle) volumes:
Becoming C. S. Lewis: A Biography of Young Jack Lewis (1898–1918)
This volume covers Lewis's early life from his birth in Ireland to his experiences in World War I. It delves into his childhood interests, influences, key relationships, and the formation of his character and intellect.
Poe highlights how Lewis's adolescent years shaped his later writing, focusing on themes like his love for literature, significant relationships, personal struggles, and his pursuit of joy. He connects these early life experiences to themes that reappear in Lewis's later works, emphasizing the importance of his conversion to Christianity.
The Making of C. S. Lewis: From Atheist to Apologist (1918–1945)
This book follows Lewis from his return to Oxford after WWI, through his conversion from atheism to Christianity, to his emergence as a prominent Christian apologist and scholar.
Key Points: It explores the intellectual, social, and spiritual developments that led Lewis to become one of the most influential Christian writers. Poe discusses Lewis's key friendships, particularly with J.R.R. Tolkien and Dorothy L. Sayers, his academic career, and the writing of his early apologetic works like "The Problem of Pain" and "Mere Christianity." It also covers the personal challenges Lewis faced, including his relationship with Janie Moore.
I struggled the most with the latter relationship. It is rather ambiguous and confusing. Janie King Moore was the mother of C. S. Lewis's close friend from Oxford University, Paddy Moore, who died in World War I. Before Paddy's death, he and Lewis made a pact to look after each other's parent if one of them were killed. Following Paddy's death in 1918, Lewis took this promise seriously and lived with Janie Moore for over thirty years until her death in 1951.
Their relationship has been a subject of much speculation. Initially, it's believed to have possibly included a romantic or sexual element before Lewis's conversion to Christianity. After, their relationship was described as more maternal, with Lewis looking after her as if she were his own mother, especially as her health deteriorated. Lewis often referred to her as "mother" in his writings.
Living with Janie Moore had a profound effect on Lewis's life, including his personal development and his writing schedule. She was known to be demanding, and their cohabitation was not without its challenges, as noted in Lewis's correspondence and diaries. However, Lewis remained committed to her care, which is often interpreted as part of his Christian duty and "penance" after his conversion.
The Completion of C. S. Lewis: From War to Joy (1945–1963)
The third and final volume covers Lewis's later years, from post-World War II until his death in 1963, focusing on his life as a celebrated author, his marriage to Joy Davidman, and his continued influence in literature and theology. Poe examines the period when Lewis wrote some of his most famous works, including The Chronicles of Narnia and Till We Have Faces. It discusses the personal losses, including Joy's death, which influenced his later writings like A Grief Observed. This volume also looks at Lewis's international fame, his role in Christian apologetics, and his friendships, offering a comprehensive look at the completion of his life's work and personal journey.
Throughout the trilogy, Poe provides a detailed narrative enriched by personal anecdotes, letters, and scholarly analysis, connecting Lewis's life events to his literary and theological output. The series is celebrated for its comprehensive coverage, insightful analysis of Lewis's conversion and faith, and its portrayal of Lewis's development as both a man and a Christian thinker. Poe's work stands out for its depth, making it a significant contribution to the understanding of C. S. Lewis's life and legacy. Three volumes gave Poe more space to work with. If you want a better understanding of the man behind Narnia, consider reading this trilogy from Crossway.
Rev. Paul J Cain is Senior Pastor of Immanuel, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School and Immanuel Academy, a permanent member of the Board of Directors of the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education, First Vice-President of the Wyoming District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Chairman of its Board of Directors, Rhetoric Teacher for Wittenberg Academy, a founding regent for Luther Classical College, a Director for Steadfast Lutherans and Associate Editor of Curriculum for Steadfast Press, a Director for Views on Learning, and Editor of Lutheran Book Review. He has served as an LCMS Circuit Visitor, District Worship Chairman, District Evangelism Chairman, District Education Chairman/NLSA Commissioner, and District Secretary. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Rev. Cain is a contributor to Lutheran Service Book, Lutheranism 101, the LSB Hymnal Companion hymn and liturgy volumes and the LSB Devotional Edition, is the author of 5 Things You Can Do to Make Our Congregation a Caring Church and articles in Concordia Pulpit Resources and The Lutheran Witness. He is a regular presenter at conferences of the CCLE and is an occasional guest on KFUO radio. He has previously served Emmanuel, Green River, WY and Trinity, Morrill, NE. Rev. Cain is married to Ann and loves reading and listening to, composing, teaching, and making music.
