The late Professor Lewis' fame began flickering over the wartime roofs of Oxford and Cambridge with the publication of The Screwtape Letters, a witty defense of Christianity in a "satanic" age, meaning the 20th century. But the prolific don had other bits of glitter: The Allegory of Love, a study of medieval tradition; Till We Have Faces, a novel based on the Psyche legend; and a series of fantasies, notably Perelandra, a time-travel conceit concerning a visit to Venus where the temptation of Eve is re-enacted with somersaulting results. One totes out this brief inventory, to which many other credits could be added, since in the posthumous collection of odds and ends here lamentably little of Lewis' formidable literary talents and exuberant intellect is on view. The publisher describes it as a "mixed bag of Lewisiana" bound to "be treasured by his devotees," an assessment more in the tradition of optimistic blurb than statement of fact. The essays have a mild, after-dinner charm, whimsically relaying cultured opinions on the delights of juvenile romances, the follies of highbrow criticism, a formal and informal discussion of science fiction, and some intelligent quibbling with Professor Haldane on ethics and government. The few tales seem tired and coy, though the slight extracts from a projected novel supposedly revamping the Helen in Egypt ploy and the troubles of a victorious, if cuckolded, Menelaus, have a wry, squinting gaiety.
Pub Date: June 15, 1966
ISBN: 0156027674
Page Count: 172
Publisher: Harcourt, Brace & World
Review Posted Online: Oct. 17, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1966
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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