The Mirror, the Mask, and the Masterpiece

Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis has been described as the most controversial of Lewis's fiction--despised by some and celebrated by others. Yet Lewis himself regarded the novel as "far and away the best [book] I have written." What are we to make of this strange and oftentimes dark retelling of the pagan myth of Cupid and Psyche? In this new guide, renowned philosopher and writer Peter Kreeft introduces readers to the style, setting, and characters of Lewis's novel; walks through ten philosophical and theological themes that permeate it, including the problem of evil, the question of identity, and the relationship between faith and reason; and, finally, shows how these various themes animate the drama of the narrative itself. The result is a deepened appreciation and understanding of a true masterpiece, one that offers not only wisdom, which is the end of all philosophy, but also wonder, which is its beginning.

Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis has been described as the most controversial of Lewis's fiction--despised by some and celebrated by others. Yet Lewis himself regarded the novel as "far and away the best [book] I have written." What are we to make of this strange and oftentimes dark retelling of the pagan myth of Cupid and Psyche? In this new guide, renowned philosopher and writer Peter Kreeft introduces readers to the style, setting, and characters of Lewis's novel; walks through ten philosophical and theological themes that permeate it, including the problem of evil, the question of identity, and the relationship between faith and reason; and, finally, shows how these various themes animate the drama of the narrative itself. The result is a deepened appreciation and understanding of a true masterpiece, one that offers not only wisdom, which is the end of all philosophy, but also wonder, which is its beginning.