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[[Joy Davidman Gresham|Helen Joy Davidman Gresham]] (b.April 18, 1915, [[New York]] - d.July 13, 1960 [[Oxford]]) was an award winning American poet (the Yale Younger Poets Series Award, for her 1938 poetry collection, ''Letter to a Comrade''), born into a family of [[Poland|Polish]] and [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] [[Jewish]] immigrants. She began reading before she was 3. At 8, she read H.G. Wells' ''Outline of History'' and pronounced herself an [[atheist]]. Davidman entered Hunter College at 14, and took a degree at 19. Three semesters later, in 1935, she received her master's degree with honors from Columbia University. She began publishing poetry in America's most prestigious poetry magazine, ''Poetry'', the next year.

[[Joy Davidman Gresham|Helen Joy Davidman Gresham]] (b.April 18, 1915, [[New York]] - d.July 13, 1960 [[Oxford]]) was an award winning American poet (the Yale Younger Poets Series Award, for her 1938 poetry collection, ''Letter to a Comrade''), born into a family of [[Poland|Polish]] and [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] [[Jewish]] immigrants. She began reading before she was 3. At 8, she read H.G. Wells' ''Outline of History'' and pronounced herself an [[atheist]]. Davidman entered Hunter College at 14, and took a degree at 19. Three semesters later, in 1935, she received her master's degree with honors from Columbia University. She began publishing poetry in America's most prestigious poetry magazine, ''Poetry'', the next year.

She first heard of Lewis through his Christian writings and later through his Narnia tales, which her sons had read avidly. She rediscovered religion and converted to Christianity in 1948, partly as a result of Lewis' writings. She was encouraged to strike up a trans-Atlantic correspondence with him by fellow poet and C.S. Lewis Scholar [[Chad Walsh]]. Her correspondence eventually became a warm friendship, and during a trip to London in 1952 in search of a publisher for her poetry and a home for her family, she invited Lewis to meet her for tea. He and his brother accepted. Clearly, Lewis was quite taken with her, and her candor and willingness to compete with him in battles of wits made her a welcome presence in his life. Yet to say that he loved her from the beginning would be to presume. It’s unlikely that this dedicated bachelor would have recognized loving Joy immediately let alone admit to it. Warren Lewis observed: "''For Jack the attraction was at first undoubtedly intellectual. Joy was the only woman whom he had met who had a brain which matched his own in suppleness, in width of interest, and in analytical grasp, and above all in humour and a sense of fun.''"<ref>'''Lewis,'''., ''Brothers and Friends'', op cit.</ref>

She first heard of Lewis through his Christian writings and later through his Narnia tales, which her sons had read avidly. She rediscovered religion and converted to Christianity in 1948, partly as a result of Lewis' writings. She was encouraged to strike up a trans-Atlantic correspondence with him by fellow poet and C.S. Lewis Scholar [[Chad Walsh]]. Her correspondence eventually became a warm friendship, and during a trip to London in 1952 in search of a publisher for her poetry and a home for her family, she invited Lewis to meet her for tea. He and his brother accepted. Clearly, Lewis was quite taken with her, and her candor and willingness to compete with him in battles of wits made her a welcome presence in his life. Yet to say that he loved her from the beginning would be to presume. It’s unlikely that this dedicated [[bachelor]] would have recognized loving Joy immediately let alone admit to it. Warren Lewis observed: "''For Jack the attraction was at first undoubtedly intellectual. Joy was the only woman whom he had met who had a brain which matched his own in suppleness, in width of interest, and in analytical grasp, and above all in humour and a sense of fun.''"<ref>'''Lewis,'''., ''Brothers and Friends'', op cit.</ref>

Gresham was married to William Gresham, also an acclaimed author, although the marriage was unhappy due to his alcoholism and infidelities. Joy divorced Gresham in 1953 when he professed his love for another woman but invited his wife to join him and his lover in a ''ménage a’ trois''. Taking her sons, she returned to London, intending to make England her new home. In 1956, her visa was due to expire, and the Home Office had refused to renew it. She had maintained her friendship with Lewis, and it seems that a gentle love was beginning to bloom. She asked him to marry her and extend his citizenship to her and her children. He agreed and on April 23, 1956 they were married in a secret civil ceremony.

Gresham was married to William Gresham, also an acclaimed author, although the marriage was unhappy due to his alcoholism and infidelities. Joy divorced Gresham in 1953 when he professed his love for another woman but invited his wife to join him and his lover in a ''ménage a’ trois''. Taking her sons, she returned to London, intending to make England her new home. In 1956, her visa was due to expire, and the Home Office had refused to renew it. She had maintained her friendship with Lewis, and it seems that a gentle love was beginning to bloom. She asked him to marry her and extend his citizenship to her and her children. He agreed and on April 23, 1956 they were married in a secret civil ceremony.