C. S. Lewis: A Biography

While I certainly don't think a biography should whitewash the failures of the main character, I do think that the author should know somewhat of that which he speaks. Wilson paints the picture that Lewis was infantile/immature, misogynistic, incoherent in his internal beliefs and faith, had a penchant for masochistic sex, and a load of other Freudian-tinted issues. There were a few redeeming things about the book, i.e. his coverage of some of Lewis' academic works. Essentially all things relating to faith and personal life portrayed Lewis as a near idiot. It was also obvious that the author thought little of conservative, orthodox Christian doctrine and to the extent that Lewis believed it, he was made to look ridiculous.

Overall, this may balance out some of the works that make Lewis out to be a saint, but to me the author appears extremely biased and deprecates Lewis' character, thought, and abilities at every opportunity in a condescending manner. ( )

"An accomplished biography...Wilson is a very clever, fluent, and engaging writer, with many of the traits that he attributes to his subject: a 'constantly intelligent conversational quality,' 'a flair for the quick, sharp character sketch, and a 'bedrock of common sense.'"
THE NEW REPUBLIC
A.N. Wilson shows in this brilliant new biography, that C.S. Lewis, the man, was every bit as multifaceted as C.S. Lewis the writer. Gregerious friend, bullying debater, heavy drinker, and smoker. A man whose relationships with women boggled even those closest to him. C.S. Lewis was all of these things, and A.N. Wilson has succeeded, as no previous biographer has done, in bringing this generous, passionate, opinonated, deeply troubled, and marvelously gifted man to life.
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR

That this prejudiced, poorly written tome has become the more or less standard life of C. S. Lewis is a striking testimonial to the need for a first rate biography of the great literary scholar, fantasy writer and Christian apologist. My review is at http://stromata.tripod.com/id94.htm ( )