Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.71 You Save: $6.29 (45%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.58 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold
Book Review: A magnificent new twist on an old myth
Summary: 5 Stars
Lewis had been thinking about the story of Cupid and Psyche for decades, going so far as to try writing a new version of Lucius Apuleius Platonicus' METAMORPHOSES (circa 125 A.D.) in poetry. He abandoned the poetry in favor of a prose story, and I think TILL WE HAVE FACES the best of his novels. It is one of those works that fits the cliche "I couldn't put the book down." Highly recommended.Book Review: This is Lewis's masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
It is generally agreed among students of Lewis's works that, while _Perelandra_ is preferable on an emotional favorite (and Lewis's personal favorite), _Till We Have Faces_ is his masterpiece, and that the author himself thought so. There is a clear development in style, symbolism, and thought from _The Pilgrim's Regress_, Lewis's first book after his conversion, to _Till We Have Faces_, his last work of fiction (with the exception of a novel fragment and a few short stories). It demonstrates the deep influence of his wife, Joy Davidman, and the deep understanding of love which Lewis gained from their relationship. He always said that he wrote stories based on "pictures" he saw in his head, and books on Lewis report that he said the pictures stopped coming after Joy's death. The book is deeply psychological, and the three sisters in the story are representative of Plato's Tripartite Soul: Orual, the narrator, is the _Logos_ or the reason; Psyche is the _Thumos_, or the passions; and Redival is the _Bios_ or the animalistic passions. There is some historical reference to Henry VIII and Elizabeth I (Lewis's professional speciality was the Renaissance, and he wrote a text on _Sixteenth Century English Literature, Excluding Drama_). The book is based upon Apuleius' _Metamorphoses_, but adds a Christian level to the story. Like _The Space Trilogy_, it illustrates Lewis's belief, taken from St. Augustine's _City of God_, that the gods (small "g" is important) are not supreme beings, and are not incompatible with the God of monotheism. They are equivalent to angels and demons. So, in _Till We Have Faces_, the kingdom worships one major goddess, Aphrodite (standing for God the Father), her Son, Cupid (representing Christ), and a third figure embodied by the Wind (the Holy Spirit). The tree on which Psyche is sacrificed ("the Blessed must be the Accursed" -- the most holy person takes on the sins of the people). The other characters represent various influences: the King is the masculine stereotypeBook Review: A departure from Narnia and apologetics
Summary: 5 Stars
This truly is a "Myth Retold" as the subtitle indicates.
Lewis uses the greek myths addressed as a beginning and a
context for the story line of _Till We Have Faces_.
I found Lewis' early shortstories to be compelling, but
lacking the polish of his Christian allegories and apologetics.
In _Till We Have Faces_, he brings together the inventive
skill he shows in his shorter works and the refinement of his
best work.
The story is a wonderful look into identity and reality.
It is one of the few works of fiction I have read that have
crawled inside my head and changed the way I see the world.
Unlike most of his other works, this book only briefly
alludes to Jesus Christ. In fact many conservative or
traditional Christians might object to the slight mention
of it in a story about gods and goddesses, fate and the
eternal soul.