THE MOST RELUCTANT CONVERT

A C.S. Lewis scholar and professor of English, Downing offers a thoughtful examination of the great man’s journey from disbelief to eloquent proponent of Christianity. The cultural and religious climate in his native Northern Ireland, his childhood and boarding school experiences, and the loss of his mother at age 9 all affected Lewis emotionally and complicated his ability to settle into a religious faith. Filled with interesting detail about the intellectual and spiritual communities that surrounded Lewis, the analysis is impressive without sounding academic or intellectual. A degree of suspense pervades the narrative as Lewis bobs and weaves around his conflicts, eventually finding his life’s passion and purpose. T.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 04]