Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold
Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold book cover

Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold

Paperback – Deckle Edge, February 14, 2017

Price
$12.99
Format
Paperback
Pages
368
Publisher
HarperOne
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0062565419
Dimensions
5.31 x 0.83 x 8 inches
Weight
9.6 ounces

Description

From the Back Cover Fascinated by the myth of Cupid and Psyche throughout his life, C. S. Lewis wrote this, his last novel, to retell their story from the perspective of Psyche’s sister, Orual: “I saw well why the gods do not speak to us openly, nor let us answer . . . Why should they hear the babble that we think we mean? How can they meet us face to face till we have faces?” Lewis provides an engaging retelling of one of the most popular myths from antiquity with what The Saturday Review called “new meaning, new depths, new terrors.” With his trademark insightfulness, Lewis reminds us of our own fallibility and the role of a higher power in our lives. About the Author Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Out of the Silent Planet , The Great Divorce , The Screwtape Letters , and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and have been transformed into three major motion pictures. Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) fue uno de los intelectuales más importantes del siglo veinte y podría decirse que fue el escritor cristiano más influyente de su tiempo. Fue profesor particular de literatura inglesa y miembro de la junta de gobierno en la Universidad Oxford hasta 1954, cuando fue nombrado profesor de literatura medieval y renacentista en la Universidad Cambridge, cargo que desempeñó hasta que se jubiló. Sus contribuciones a la crítica literaria, literatura infantil, literatura fantástica y teología popular le trajeron fama y aclamación a nivel internacional. C. S. Lewis escribió más de treinta libros, lo cual le permitió alcanzar una enorme audiencia, y sus obras aún atraen a miles de nuevos lectores cada año. Sus más distinguidas y populares obras incluyen Las Crónicas de Narnia, Los Cuatro Amores, Cartas del Diablo a Su Sobrino y Mero Cristianismo .

Features & Highlights

  • A repackaged edition of the revered author’s retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche—what he and many others regard as his best novel.
  • C. S. Lewis—the great British writer, scholar, lay theologian, broadcaster, Christian apologist, and bestselling author of
  • Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Chronicles of Narnia
  • , and many other beloved classics—brilliantly reimagines the story of Cupid and Psyche. Told from the viewpoint of Psyche’s sister, Orual,
  • Till We Have Faces
  • is a brilliant examination of envy, betrayal, loss, blame, grief, guilt, and conversion. In this, his final—and most mature and masterful—novel, Lewis reminds us of our own fallibility and the role of a higher power in our lives.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(1.3K)
★★★★
25%
(557)
★★★
15%
(334)
★★
7%
(156)
-7%
(-155)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

One of my favorites!

This title is honestly one of my favorite C.S. Lewis stories. He's known most often for his work on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe series, and although those books will always be a go-to read, I can't discount this one - my adult favorite.

C.S. Lewis was just one of those minds that, when I've been asked by others which famous individual, dead or alive, I'd most like to sit and have a conversation with, he is most assuredly at the top of my list.

This tale is just, wow... It grips me and drags me through its minefield of perfect prose and grand, epic storytelling. I'm just in awe and in love with his portrayal of these godlike characters made human. And well, maybe that was his point: to really bring home the idea that we are, all of us, so very very human.

I highly recommend this book to any lovers of fiction, classical mythology, psychology, or just the everyday reader!
15 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Read it!!

So I will say that it is a very slow burner of a book that does take some dedication, but my goodness I loved how Lewis tied everything together at the end and how it casts everything in a different light. I'd definitely recommend it!
5 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Our outer self is wasting away, while our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Till We Have Faces has sat on my shelf intimidating me for a few years now. Did I really care about Greek myths? Maybe nervous about how academic Lewis would make this book. Am I smart enough to read and understand this book? All these things passed through my mind as I would walk past it sitting on my shelf over the years. Then my book club put it on the list for January’s book and I knew now was the time to tackle it.
Just in the first few pages, I realized I actually sighed out loud, a sigh of relief. It wasn’t over my head (yet it is insanely deep) and the story itself was extremely enjoyable. Oh, there were times I had to sit it down for a few days because it was overwhelming sad, but then would pick it up and devour 50 pages at a time. I don’t want to give anything away with this book...just read it!
5 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Terrifyingly beautiful

I am familiar with a good deal of C.S. Lewis' fiction and non-fiction works; Till We Have Faces has to be my absolute favorite. To go even further: this is one of the best novels I have ever read. Lewis uses the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche to plumb the depths of the human condition, exploring religious faith, suffering, family, vulnerability, and so much more. Having just read it for the first time, I can already tell this is a book I will return to again and again for the rest of my life.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Best Work of Fiction - I adore this book!

I’m a huge fan of CS Lewis. He is the most gifted, Wise, and intelligent author I have ever encountered. Till We Have Faces is, in my opinion, his best work. This is my favorite fiction book of all time, I’ve read it 9 or 10 times. Cannot recommend this book enough.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Interesting version of the psyche myth

I usually love everything C.S. Lewis wrote. I prefer his "take" of the psyche myth to earlier versions of this myth, but I did not love it, in spite of the rave reviews by other writers.
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

C.S. Lewis's Best and Grittiest Novel

This is C. S. Lewis's best and grittiest novel. It is a retelling of the Cupid-Psyche myth. Through storytelling, Lewis explores the roles of imagination and reason in religion. The line, "How can we see the gods face to face till we have faces," indicates Lewis's belief that religion is fundamental a personal encounter.
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

A great book with questionable binding

A Greek myth retold. The plot is not dissimilar to that of Paradise Lost. Though it may not be an easy read throughout, even confusing at times, it is a rewarding and inspiring experience. That being said, the choice of deckled edge in binding is the ruin of this book. The jagged edges make it hard to turn the page or flip back and forth in the book. It is quite disruptive when you have to jump out of the story to worry about the simple task of turning only one page which is rendered difficult by the deckled edge design...
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Why?

Why do we even care about Greek mythology?
Why would Lewis try to twist a pagan myth into something with Christian undertones?
Why write about two women, one born beautiful and favored by all, the other deformed and despised and proceed to reward the beautiful one and punish the ugly one?
Why drag the whole sorry thing out so long?
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

A masterpiece

A masterpiece by the master, get one and enjoy it!
1 people found this helpful