C. S LEWIS (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963)
C. S LEWIS was a British writer, wartime broadcaster, literary scholar, teacher, cultural critic and a Christian apologetic. During his lifetime he authored more than 30 books that have been translated into more than 30 languages selling millions of copies. Many of his books are still highly regarded till this day with some adapted into play and television. He was an acclaimed writer that gained recognition for his apologetic works such as “Mere Christians” and “Screw tape letters” and as a science fiction author, he was known for his medieval and renaissance works. He is perhaps well recognized for his fantasy classical children books especially “The chronicles of Narnia”
Born Clive Staples Lewis in Belfast Northern Ireland to an affluent family. He is the second of two boys born to Albert James a reputable solicitor and Flora Augusta daughter of Thomas Hamilton a priest of the church if Ireland whose own father was a bishop in the church of Ireland. Lewis was raised in a strict christian home and for much of his time, considered Christianity as a chore rather than a belief in the supernatural being-God. At four years, the family dog, Jacksie, died. This caused the young Lewis to take up the name Jacksie. He later agreed to be called Jack which remained with him throughout his life. Upon his mother’s passing from cancer, he was sent to boarding school in England by his father. The loss of his mother, the suffering from abuse and bullying he faced in England made him start losing his already frail belief in God whom he thought. After moving through different schools, he started studying under William T. Kirkpatrick, who was once his father’s tutor. He later addressed Kirkpatrick as “The great knock”. His time with the great knock, instilled in him a strong sense of reasoning, sharpening his debating skills and developed his love for Greek literature and mythology. After 30 years of being an atheist, he underwent a profound conversion to Christianity through and because of his literary work just like scholars like G.K Chesterton and Evelyn Waugh. He became a Christian in 1931 after converting from atheism to theism. He was at best, like a wardrobe to Narnia, a portal to another world: a dimension of viewing things.