A repackaged edition of the revered author’s retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche—what he and many others regard as his best novel.C. S. Lewis—the great British writer, scholar, lay theologian, broadcaster, Christian apologist, and bestselling author of Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Chronicles of Narnia, and many other beloved classics—brilliantly … classics—brilliantly reimagines the story of Cupid and Psyche. Told from the viewpoint of Psyche’s sister, Orual, Till We Have Faces is a brilliant examination of envy, betrayal, loss, blame, grief, guilt, and conversion. In this, his final—and most mature and masterful—novel, Lewis reminds us of our own fallibility and the role of a higher power in our lives.
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What a gem! I loved this retelling of a Greek myth by C.S. Lewis. Characters are so multi-faceted and sharply drawn, the prose is a joy to savor, and the story is both haunting and illuminating. One cannot read it and not reflect on one’s own motivations and perspective.
As a homeschooling father, I have been called upon to teach a literature class from time to time. I always assign Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis to my students, not only because of the value it provides to them but also because it gives me a chance to read it one more time.
I read it recently for the fifth time, and it blew me away again. In some ways the story feels quirky and cumbersome, discomforting and awkward, but as the reader becomes immersed in the story those feelings become natural. Why? Because our main character, Orual, is all of these things. Her brutal mistreatment at the hands of her father, the king, is normal for her, as is her understanding of her own ugliness.
The ignorant ways of her family and people are realized by the reader through Orual’s Greek teacher, “the Fox,” but to Orual such revelation becomes no more than another addition to a confusing mix of competing ideas–the natural versus the supernatural, philosophy versus superstition.
Mr. Lewis brilliantly clashes ideas of faith, through Psyche (Orual’s half-sister), intellectualism (through the Fox), and superstition and cultural prejudice (through Bardia and Orual’s father). The reader is led down heady roads that incite pondering of the real world. What are we to think when we see supernatural works in this life that perhaps conflict with previous understanding? When does love turn into obsession? Why do people brush away evidence that doesn’t conform to preconceived notions?
The reader comes face to face with these and dozens of other questions as Mr. Lewis weaves this powerful story. Parents, younger readers, even teenagers, might not appreciate this book. The reader should be accustomed to and enjoy mining great questions and pondering them thoughtfully. Otherwise, with the lack of frequent intense action, he or she might find the book boring.
For example, when my homeschool class gathered, I asked how they enjoyed the book. They all gave me a “ho-hum” kind of response. But as I unwrapped the book during our discussion time, I could see the lights come on in their minds. They began to get into the discussion, frequently adding their insights as the story elements brought up question after question. By the end of our session it was clear that the students appreciated the book on a much deeper level.
I highly recommend Till We Have Faces for all adults as well as mature teenagers. Read it, soak it in, ponder, and wonder. I’m glad I picked it up for the fifth time, and I’m sure a sixth read lies somewhere in the future.
I think this is C.S. Lewis’s best work of fiction. I realize that lovers of Narnia and his space trilogy will beg to differ, but it’s in Till We Have Faces that I think Lewis really realizes his potential as a novelist.
Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C. S. Lewis is a whimsical and eye-opening retelling of the Greek Myth about Cupid and Psyche. This version follows one of the older sisters and her personal interpretation of the events as they unravel. This is a great story for those who love Greek or any sort of myths and legends.
Of all the books I’ve read by CS Lewis, it’s possible that this is his best.
C.S. Lewis’ final, and greatest work of fiction: a retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth from the point of view of the beautiful Psyche’s ugly sister, who loves her possessively. The only one of his books told from the point of view of a female character, co-plotted with his wife. If you like “Wicked,” and I love “Wicked”, but want to read something deeper and better written, you should read this. I have twice.