Jack: a life of C.S.Lewis by George Sayer

C.S.Lewis’ works have become increasingly popular since his death. With the increased interest in his work, there has been increased interest in the man. I had never read a biography on Lewis. With the plethora of choices out there, I decided to start with one by someone who knew him intimately. George Sayer is a former student of Mr.Lewis. He also had the privilege of calling him friend.

Sayer moves through the life of Lewis from birth to death in a way that kept my attention. It was not a mere narrative of his life. Sayer stops along the way to give you snapshots of things that are relevant to the development of Jack’s writings. As someone who has read most of Lewis’ works, this helped me discern what brought Lewis to his often puzzling conclusions.

This was an extremely helpful book in understanding the man behind Narnia. Mr. Sayer writes from a perspective that both clarifies some misconceptions about Lewis and shows him in his raw humanity. I highly recommend this book to any who are fascinated by the writings of C.S.Lewis.

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books (June 20, 2005)
• ISBN-13: 978-1581347395

J.R.R.Tolkien: a biography by Humphrey Carpenter

I have been a fan of Tolkien since early childhood. So naturally, I have consumed much material by and about him. This biography was a pleasant blend of Tolkien’s life events and his literary influences. For any who wonder how or why Tolkien wrote the stories he is now famous for, this is an excellent resource. This is no dry biography but rather a story of how a man, who had quirks and flaws, produced a masterful work that continues to impact readers of all ages. Humphrey Carpenter draws on all the pertinent influences of Tolkien’s life to give you a portrait of one of the twentieth centuries most enigmatic and influential writers. If you only want facts about Tolkien’s life, search him on wikipedia. But if you want to gain an understanding of the man and his myth, read Humphrey Carpenter’s book and gain a deeper appreciation for the creator of middle-earth.

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (June 2000)
• ISBN-13: 978-0618057023