C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity: A Biography

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The life and times of C. S. Lewis's modern spiritual classic Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis's eloquent defense of the Christian faith, originated as a series of BBC radio talks broadcast during the dark days of World War Two. Here is the story of the extraordinary life and afterlife of this influential and inspiring book. George Marsden describe

Reviews

"A superb study of C. S. Lewis's greatest work. Marsden succeeds both in illuminating the success of Mere Christianity and enriching our own reading of this seminal work."--Alister McGrath, author of C. S. Lewis--A Life
"Sometimes we place classics on our shelves with the intention of reading them someday. In this case, Marsden has done a good job of introducing us to a work we will now more eagerly read, or reread, with greater insight and appreciation."---Paul W. Fields, Theology and History
"[A] fascinating exploration of one of the most influential religious books of modern times."---Ryder Miller, San Francisco Book Review
"George Marsden provides a splendid account of the book's evolution . . . and its reception."---Jonathan Wright, Catholic Herald
"If Marsden's biography of Mere Christianity encourages his readers to read or reread it for themselves, it may in its own way be an antidote for the attention to self that so dominates our culture."---Gilbert Meilaender, Commonweal
"Marsden's 'biography' of Lewis's Mere Christianity is an excellent commentary on a classic of modern Christian literature on spirituality."--Choice
"Marsden's book is fascinating and well-written and researched. It makes one want to go back to read Mere Christianity itself."---Frank Freeman, University Bookman
"Marsden's work is a terrific exemplification of the contribution to knowledge which can be made by study of the reception history of texts. . . . Fascinating insights emerge."---Peter Anthony, Church Times
"New readers of Lewis' classic of Christian apologetics who have been moved to learn more about the book . . . will find Marsden to be a steady hand and a reliable guide through what can otherwise be an intimidating morass of secondary literature on Lewis's classic text."---Jarrell D. Wright, Anglican and Episcopal History
"A significant contribution to Lewis scholarship. No one has surveyed the reception history of Mere Christianity as well as Marsden has done here, and given the enduring popularity and influence of the book, this is a task well worth doing."--Alan Jacobs, author of The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis
"This is a match made in heaven: C. S. Lewis, modernity's most influential Christian voice, interpreted by George Marsden, leading historian of Christian intellectual culture. Mere Christianity has taken on a life of its own, winning converts by its peculiar blend of rhetoric and reason. In unveiling the life of this book and taking the measure of its influence, Marsden has given us an indispensable key to the mind and stature of its author."--Carol Zaleski, coauthor of The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings
"Though there have been analyses of Mere Christianity before, none has been so comprehensive or serious as this one. Marsden has subjected Lewis's book to an assessment more searching and satisfying than anything so far in print."--Michael Ward, University of Oxford, author of Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C. S. Lewis

Author Bio

George M. Marsden is the Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame. His books include Fundamentalism and American Culture, Jonathan Edwards: A Life, and The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship.