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Jack at Home – C. S. Lewis and those who knew him best
Christian History Magazine Announces Issue #140
Christian History Magazine & Website – A Continuing Study Resource is Offered to the Home, Church Libraries, Homeschoolers, High Schools, Colleges & Universities
Worcester, PA – September 2021 – Christian History Institute (CHI), publisher of Christian History magazine (CH), announces issue, #140, titled: Jack at Home – C. S. Lewis and those who knew him best. In this issue, Christian History explores the personal life of one of the most important writers of the modern era. Indeed, he was a leading English Literature scholar and one of the most prominent Christian apologists and fantasy writers in history. In this new issue on Lewis, CH examines the man behind the fame: not just as an apologist, fantasy author, and scholar, but as a son, brother, friend, mentor, student, teacher, husband, and stepfather in the context of his ancestors, family, and many friends.
CH Issue, #140, explores the private life of C. S. Lewis (1898–1963), who was a man of mystery and paradox. He gained renown as the most effective Christian apologist of the twentieth century, but never studied theology. While popularly identified with England, he was an Irishman, born in Belfast during the reign of Queen Victoria. He enjoyed a prolific and varied writing career, yet without flamboyance to accompany fame. His 65 years were filled to the brim with family life and joyous friendships but also physical and financial difficulties and the travail of two world wars.
In his autobiography C. S. Lewis wrote that he was the product of “good parents, good food, and a garden.” His parents—police court solicitor Albert James Lewis (1863–1929) and mathematician-turned-housewife Florence (Flora) Hamilton Lewis (1862–1908)—were two intriguing individuals in their own right. Their artistic and spiritual influences, as well as those of their extended family, played a significant role in the development of both Jack and his brother, Warren (Warnie), who was Jack’s best friend and life-long companion.
C. S. Lewis had a gift of friendship. Over and over in his fiction and nonfiction writings and in his daily habits, Lewis communicated that people are diminished when we are alone; and somehow greater when together because our friendships do more than enrich our experiences; they change who we are.
The issue explores Jack’s enduring friendship among his students and colleagues as well as his marriage to Helen Joy Davidman (1915–1960), a successful writer in her own right and more accomplished and complicated than history remembers. As stepfather to Joy’s two son’s the character of C. S. Lewis reveals a man of great compassion and insight into young people, which are numbered as highly as adults among his loyal readers.
Editor’s note:
These articles are freely offered for attributed reprint, with permission.
The following full-length articles can be accessed on-line.
Jack at home: did you know? Encounters with C. S. Lewis around the hearth and along the byways
Jack at home: editor’s not Why the continued fascination with Lewis?
C. S. Lewis sought joy and found Christ by Harry Lee Poe – The surprising story of a master storyteller
Spending a pleasant hour with C. S. Lewis by Andrew Lazo – guide to Lewis’s writings for new readers
“To love at all is to be vulnerable” by J. W. Tait – An American bishop, a Swedish theologian, and a book
“A long line of bookish people” by Crystal Hurd – Lewis’s parents and extended family shaped his intellectual and artistic pursuits
“Like raindrops on a window” By Diana Pavlac Glyer – C. S. Lewis and his “First Friend” Arthur Greeves
The “Great Knock” by Paul E. Michelson – C. S. Lewis and his tutor W. T. Kirkpatrick
Jack’s journey Major events in the life of Lewis, family and friends—and some of his most famous works
Friends and brothers by Paul E. Michelson – C. S. Lewis’s lifelong ally was his brother, W. H. Lewis
“One huge and complex episode” by David C. Downing – Jack and Mrs. Moore
“Romantic and realistic” by Abigail Santamaria – The eventful life, marriage, and death of Joy Davidman Lewis
Songs, battle cries, and sonnets by Abigail Santamaria – Joy Davidman as an author
“At our level” By Joe Ricke – Lewis was a loving correspondent, godfather, and friend to the children in his life
“Jack took care of me” – An interview with Douglas Gresham
Questions for reflection: Jack at home – Questions to help you think more deeply about this issue.
Jack at home: recommended resources – compiled by our editors, contributors, and the Wade Center.
“Something profound had touched my mind and heart” by Jennifer A. Boardman – Some of Lewis’s scholarly colleagues and those who carried on his legacy
CH Issue, #140, contains 7 full-length features and 8 side-bar articles; a guide to reading Lewis for the first-time reader; an archive of rare artwork, illustrations & photos; a chronology timeline and an extensive reading list of related books & material, compiled by the CH editorial staff.
The entire CHM archive of Christian History magazine issues can be searched, along with related books, videos, and study-guides, using the website’s search engine feature. A magazine subscription, combined with its accompanying website, is offered at no-cost as a study resource for home & homeschoolers, church libraries, middle/high schools, as well as to colleges & universities. It is the mission of CHI donors and staff to make this resource as widely and freely available as possible (donations gratefully accepted). The archive of CH issues can be read on screen at: https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/issue/jack-at-home-ch-140
Why Christian History magazine?
“Christian history has been largely removed from the American public education curriculum that was inspired by Christian leaders and the nation’s founders,” said Michael Austin, a Christian commentator. “After years of subversion, our public schools no longer teach the Bible’s contribution to Western Civilization, routinely slandering the Bible in classrooms at every level.”
George Barna, speaking of data gathered in a recent survey, said, “Young people couldn’t think of anything positive that the Christian church stood for.” In a video interview, Barna Further reported, “We’re essentially in the Dark Ages, in America today.” (View YouTube, titled: ‘Young Americans see nothing positive in church – says George Barna.’)
Christian History Institute is a non-profit Pennsylvania corporation founded in 1982. CHI publishes Christian History magazine and produces books and videos featuring important Christian history, including Torchlighters®, an animated history series of biographies. CHI is a donor-supported organization providing church resources and self-study material making Christian history accessible to the widest possible audience, via video and the Internet.
CHI & Vision Video introduced Redeem TV in mid-March of 2020, as the virus pandemic began, uniquely offering their entire archive on a no fee \ advertising free basis for registered users. The 100% faith-based channel is a faith venture, funded entirely by viewer donations. The Redeem TV website, www.redeemtv.com, offers quality dramas, family movies, documentaries, children’s favorites, biographies, Biblical films, missions & history classics, inspirational & contemporary works, small group studies, apologetics, and more. Since the launch, Redeem TV has been viewed in over 200 countries and as of January 2021 has a subscriber base of 90,000. 40% of the Channel’s views are from outside the USA.
Christian History magazine issue, #140, titled: Jack at Home – C. S. Lewis and those who knew him best
Contact:
Christian History Institute, Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490, https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine.
Issue #140
