Letters to an American lady

by C. S. Lewis

Hardcover, 1967

Status

Available

Call number

283.0924 LEW

Description

On October 26, 1950, C. S. Lewis wrote the first of more than a hundred letters he would send to a woman he had never met, but with whom he was to maintain a correspondence for the rest of his life. Ranging broadly in subject matter, the letters discuss topics as profound as the love of God and as frivolous as preferences in cats. Lewis himself clearly had no idea that these letters would ever see publication, but they reveal facets of his character little known even to devoted readers of his fantasy and scholarly writings -- a man patiently offering encouragement and guidance to another Christian through the day-to-day joys and sorrows of ordinary life. Letters to an American Lady stands as a fascinating and moving testimony to the remarkable humanity and even more remarkable Christianity of C. S. Lewis, and is richly deserving of the position it now takes among the balance of his Christian writings.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member MrsLee
I enjoyed this tremendously. It gives such insight into Lewis, the man. He is so patient, gentle, humorous and kind. I wish we could have seen some of the American woman's letters, to get an idea of what he was responding to. At times it seems as if she only speaks of her ills, but I don't think
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that is so. I'm betting she only mentions them in passing, but he responds to them as being that which is most pressing in her life. It also seems that she doesn't understand his sense of humour at times. I love his thoughts on cats, as well as his encouragements in living the life of faith.
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LibraryThing member AlexTheHunn
I found this to be quite moving, extremely inspiring. I was very open to Lewis's point of view at the time, so I am sure that helped. This book is a series of letters written to an American woman who was experiencing personal troubles. In these letters, Lewis seeks to comfort and guide her, but
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also chastise and correct her when necessary.
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LibraryThing member Helm
This book provides a unique insight into the personal Lewis, unguarded and informal. His kindness in both form and deed is evident throughout. Occasional references to his writing and publication activities were very good mortar to fill in between the bricks of his works. This was a wonderful
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wind-down-before-bed book.
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LibraryThing member jclemence
Letters to an American Lady is a compilation of letters C.S. Lewis wrote to a woman in the US named Mary, whom he never met face-to-face, over the last 13 years of his life (1950-1963). While most other Lewis books, essays, lectures, etc, introduce the reader to his theology, philosophy and
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imagination, this book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the man himself. We learn of his day-to-day routine, his various health maladies, his thoughts on cats and dogs (turns out he's more of a "cat person"), and his genuine humility and desire to encourage others. The reader also learns how Lewis dealt with the sickness and death of his wife, and, just three years after that, his own impending demise. And although these letters are "mere" personal correspondences not originally meant for publication, one may still glean a good bit of wisdom from them, as well. Lewis ("Jack" to his friends) has much to say to Mary about dependence upon God and others, the need for one to live in the present, the Christian's appropriate attitude toward death, and much more. For anyone who wants to get to know C.S. Lewis as a person--and receive some wise counsel while so doing--this is a great little book.
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LibraryThing member mirryi
Somehow, by the end of this, I felt that I had come with Lewis to the end of a long and rich journey, and I am more because of it.

Language

Library's rating

DDC/MDS

283.0924 LEW

Pages

121

Rating

½ (56 ratings; 3.8)
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