C.S. Lewis & Mere Christianity: The Crisis that Created a Classic, by Paul McCusker, is a fun read for fans of C.S. Lewis’s work. It is a relatively short book, and is written in a clear style that makes it easy to read.
The book provides the reader with some insights into C.S. Lewis’s life, and in particular, how World War II and its impact on Lewis’s life influenced and served as the catalyst for many of his writings. The focus of the book, of course, is that Mere Christianity was birthed out of the talks Lewis gave on the radio during that time, and the book does a nice job of showing how Lewis’s involvement with radio came to be and how the talks blossomed into Mere Christianity.
Although this book is not a true biography (it is part history, part biography), McCusker covers some of the important events that transpired in Lewis’s life, and the reader comes away from the book with a better understanding of C.S. Lewis. The people with whom Lewis lived and associated (Janie Moore, Warnie his alcoholic brother, and of course, “The Inklings,” all make up parts of C.S. Lewis’s life and likely served as a catalyst for some of his writings.
McCusker also gives the reader some details about Lewis’s conversion to Christianity, which is, of course, the underlying theme running through most of Lewis’s writings.
Although the book focuses on the events that led to the publishing of Mere Christianity, attention is given to other well known books, including The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, as well as the science fiction trilogy consisting of Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength.
Fans of C.S. Lewis will enjoy this book. As a fan myself, I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
***NOTE***In exchange for my review, Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of the book. In no way was my receipt of the book contingent on a favorable review.
Eric Bensinger 