C.S. Lewis's Masterpiece | Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold

The Best of Paganism | Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold | C.S. Lewis

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	• Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold C.S. Lewis Harcourt Brace & Company, 1980 - 324 pages average customer review:based on 188 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Beyond Excellent

I went into this book not knowing what to expect; I'd never even heard of it before. The first time I read it, it blew my mind. The second time, it struck me in different ways, all just as powerful and intriguing. I can safely say that this is one of my favorite books of all time.

The story follows the "ugly sister" of the Eros/Psyche myth -- the one who seeks to destroy Psyche's happiness in the original fairytale. Here, the myth gains new life as it is stripped of its fairytale trappings and set into a realistic world. In short, it explains why the myth is the way it is, and at the same time it is an engaging tale of the true nature of "love."

Just thinking about what Lewis manages here is amazing enough. I don't think I've ever read a book that so effortlessly entwines 1) an engaging story, 2) a strong allegory, 3) a philosophical treatise, 4) beautiful character development (beautiful characterization all 'round!), and best of all, 5) pure entertainment. Most incredibly, Till We Have Faces effortlessly "instructed" me -- one of those rare books that left me looking at my own character and my relationships with other people (Jane Austen is the other author who has really done this for me). Anyone 13 and up can enjoy it -- the writing style is sharp and concise, communicates much with very few words, delivers some wonderful turns of phrase, and in general is very earthy and strong and rich. In my mind, Lewis is easily a master of the genre.

Some people are angry that this is not a "perfect" retelling of the Eros/Psyche myth, which I find odd, as it states very clearly on the back of the book that it is about the ugly sister. Judging the book for something it never promises is a bit foolish. If anything, I find the story far more engaging because of its altered focus. Don't be fooled... the Psyche myth is here, and it's absolutely integral; this book is all about the myth and how it reflects Orual's life. It's running inbetween the lines if one would care to look for it. In fact, I much preferred reading about the far more complex and interesting character of Orual (the ugly sister) than her sweet and perfect sister Psyche who, in my opinion, was a little bit annoying.

The other contention some critics have is that it is boring; this is true if you dislike reading about somebody's daily life. Reading about how people lived in ancient days is great fun for me! But if such exposition is painful for you, you'll probably hate this book. Another way you might find it painful is if you dislike having thick philosophy stirred in -- and the allegory/philosophy comes to a head near the end of the book in such a way that will spin an unprepared reader's head. The first time I read this I had to read it about three times and I still didn't get it. The second time it was much clearer, but obviously Lewis was an excellent philosopher, which I am not.

One can enjoy this book on its superficial level and come away feeling oddly relaxed and good at the end, even without completely understanding why. And if you dare to dig deeply, you will get more than you know what to do with. Lewis found it important to really know what one was saying -- to say what one really meant, one should get at the foundation of a word. The word here is "Love." If you want to get some extra oomph out of your reading, if you want to expand your mind and your understanding about this integral word, this is the book for you. If you want an entertaining ride, the book is this, too.

I do not understand why it doesn't have any more critical acclaim; perhaps its Christian allegory is part of this, in which case it is a shame. This book manages what most "artsy" books can almost never claim: it is entertaining at the same time that it is thought-provoking.

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C.S. Lewis's Masterpiece

The first time I read Till We Have Faces, upon finishing the last page I immediately returned to the first page and began reading it again, something I have felt compelled to do only one other time in my life. It was Lewis's last work of fiction and, in spite of being written in first person from the viewpoint of ancient queen in a largely mythical past, his most personal. His deepest thoughts on God and faith are entwined throughout the story, though it is certainly not an allegory, even in the less formal modern sense which encompasses the Chronicles of Narnia. Certainly metaphors and symbols abound (readers familiar with Lewis's life will see a certain level of autobiography in the tension between the Old Fox and the priests of Ungit) but they often flow along complicated currents. Lewis once said that life is like a tree that branches out as it reaches towards perfection, not a pool that gathers towards unity. Till We Have Faces represents the highest branches, arrived at in the last chapter of the author's life.

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The Best of Paganism

C.S. Lewis writes very well, and so almost anything written by him would be a pleasant read. What is more, he knows and understands ancient mythology very well. Many people know about ancient mythology, but few understand it as well as Lewis. Unlike his "Narnia" books, which are obviously Christian, this book is more 'human', therefore it could be enjoyed by people of any religious faith, or none at all.

Shawn T. Miller

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Great read, in Lewis' fluid style

I bought this book for a literature class, only knowing that I liked the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis, and hoping I'd like this one as well.

I was very pleased. I could hardly put this book down, and that's not something I say often in regards to assigned reading material. The style is fluid, easy to read, although it was a surprise -- at first -- to realize it was a 1st person tale.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to read a mythological fiction work with a unique take to it.

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I've Lived In It

Considering that at the time I'm writing this review, it's had over 150 five-star reviews, I hesitate to add another little voice to the huge chorus, but here it is. This is one of the most haunting novels I've read, and I've read it three times. I'll read it many more. Whenever I meet someone I like a lot - I give them a copy of TILL WE HAVE FACES...

This tale of two princesses - one beautiful and one unattractive - and of the struggle between sacred and profane love is Lewis?s reworking of the myth of Cupid and Psyche and one of his most enduring works.

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