Oxford Literarium - Sneak Peak

 

Greetings!

I hope you are doing well and enjoying this lovely seasonal shift into Autumn when all things books and cosy spaces abound. Pull up a comfortable spot and make a cup of tea. 

Here's another little snippet of my forthcoming book - Oxford Literarium: Oxford Writers in Time and Place

This is from my chapter on C.S. Lewis:

In Lewis’s time at Oxford, there was plenty of debate in society, and he seemed to not shy away from it but welcome it as a way to engage with other opinions. He encouraged differing opinions to defend their position; while he listened to their defense, he would be able to determine if it was well thought out, or not.  A lot was changing in the inter-war years, and some student spaces for debate were needed for them to grapple with the big questions. Just as we need that space today, Lewis was supportive of debate, whether in a tutorial or out in public for philosophical discussions with students and colleagues.

He was the president of the Socratic Club, a popular club open to debating the difficult, philosophical questions. The club provided a setting where the big questions could be explored by non-Christians and Christians together in dialogue and debate. Lewis would typically open the meetings and serve as the overseer figure as debates would ensue across the spectrum of differing opinions. 

Austen Farrer records his experiences coming to the Socratic Club meetings. He would come in fear and trembling; afraid he’d be called out in a debate and let them down. But he noted that Lewis was there “snuffing the imminent battle and saying ‘Aha!’ at the sound of the trumpet. My anxieties rolled away. Whatever ineptitudes I might commit, he would maintain the cause; and nobody could put Lewis down.”

 Nevill Coghill was a student with Lewis and a long-time friend and Inkling. He called Lewis “formidable” explaining that he was certain, but not arrogant. Coghill explained that he could diminish you to dust in an argument, but he enjoyed debates too much to do that. Per Coghill: “Genius is formidable and so is goodness; he had both.” The more that I pondered this description of Lewis, the more it made sense. 

Lewis had immense talent in communication - he would adjust himself in any situation, rapidly shifting as if from one foot to the other, the correct amount of weight on one thing, versus another. Behind all of that was the scholarly mind, a fabulous memory, and a deep sense of truth. He would quote almost perfectly accurately from his photographic memory.