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==Early life==

==Early life==

The second son of Albert James Lewis, a solicitor, and Flora Augusta Hamilton Lewis, whose father was a [[Church of Ireland]] minister, he was born in Belfast [[Ireland]] and [[baptism|baptized]] as an infant in the [[Anglican]] church at St Mark's Dundela, Belfast. Aged 4, after his pet dog "Jacksie" was killed by a car, Lewis declared that ''his'' name was now ''Jacksie''. This later became truncated to ''Jacks'' then ''Jack'', the name used by friends and family for the rest of his life. His older brother was [[Warren Hamilton Lewis]] (1895 - 1973) whom C.&nbsp;S. referred to as "Warnie" and described as "''my dearest and closest friend.''" The brothers formed a very close bond playing together at home, writing and illustrating stories for their fictional world called "Boxen", a world populated by dressed, talking animals, and obviously the precursor of the land of [[Narnia]], the magical land of children's adventures that retell the story of the [[Creation]], [[Fall of Man|Fall]], and [[Redemption]] of humankind. Lewis loved to read, and as his father’s house was filled with books, he felt that finding a book he had not read was as easy as "finding a blade of grass." The "reality" he found on the pages of this extensive library seemed as tangible and meaningful to him as anything that transpired outside in the "real world", and he has said of these childhood years that "''at the age of seven, and eight, I was living almost entirely in my imagination; or at least that the imaginative experience of those years now seems to me more important than anything else.''"<ref>'''Lewis, C. S.''', ''Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life'', London: Harvest Books (1955) ISBN 0-1568-7011-8</ref>

The second son of Albert James Lewis, a solicitor, and Flora Augusta Hamilton Lewis, whose father was a [[Church of Ireland]] minister, he was born in Belfast [[Ireland]] and [[baptism|baptized]] as an infant in the [[Anglican]] church at St Mark's Dundela, Belfast. Aged 4, after his pet dog "Jacksie" was killed by a car, Lewis declared that ''his'' name was now ''Jacksie''. This later became truncated to ''Jacks'' then ''Jack'', the name used by friends and family for the rest of his life. His older brother was [[Warren Hamilton Lewis]] (1895 - 1973) whom C.&nbsp;S. referred to as "Warnie" and described as "''my dearest and closest friend.''" The brothers formed a very close bond playing together at home, writing and illustrating stories for their fictional world called "Boxen", a world populated by dressed, talking animals, and obviously the precursor of the land of [[Narnia]], the magical land of children's adventures that retell the story of the [[Creation]], [[Fall of Man|Fall]], and [[Redemption]] of humankind. Lewis loved to read, and as his father's house was filled with books, he felt that finding a book he had not read was as easy as "finding a blade of grass." The "reality" he found on the pages of this extensive library seemed as tangible and meaningful to him as anything that transpired outside in the "real world", and he has said of these childhood years that "''at the age of seven, and eight, I was living almost entirely in my imagination; or at least that the imaginative experience of those years now seems to me more important than anything else.''"<ref>'''Lewis, C. S.''', ''Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life'', London: Harvest Books (1955) ISBN 0-1568-7011-8</ref>

[[Image:C S Lewis child.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Lewis as a child]]

[[Image:C S Lewis child.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Lewis as a child]]

C. S. was [[homeschooling|homeschooled]] until he was 10 years old. On August 23, 1908 - her husband's birthday - Flora Lewis died of cancer. In the same year, Albert Lewis' father and brother also died, and as their father grieved, C.S. and Warren Lewis were left with only each other for comfort and support.

C. S. was [[homeschooling|homeschooled]] until he was 10 years old. On August 23, 1908 - her husband's birthday - Flora Lewis died of cancer. In the same year, Albert Lewis' father and brother also died, and as their father grieved, C.S. and Warren Lewis were left with only each other for comfort and support.

==Military service==

==Military service==

Lewis had joined the Officer Training Corps in September 1913 whilst at Malvern College. Although he had left the corps when he had commenced his study under Kirkpatrick, he rejoined the Malvern Contingent of the Oxford University OTC in March 1917. On April 25, 1917, he applied to join an Officer Cadet Unit, stating a preference to serve in the infantry, preferably with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers or Royal Fusiliers, or with a horse transport unit of the Army Service Corps. Still under the age of 21, the application was counter-signed by his father and character references were taken from Arthur C.&nbsp;Allen (his former Schoolmaster at Malvern) and also from Kirkpatrick. His action was completely voluntary, as although conscription had been in force in Britain since the introduction of the Military Service Act in 1916, it did ''not'' apply to Irish nationals. Five days later the Officer Commanding Oxford University Officers Training Corps completed a recommendation that Lewis attend an Officer Cadet Unit, noting that Lewis was  "''likely to make an useful officer but will not have had sufficient training for admission to an OCU before the end of June''".<ref>[http://www.1914-1918.net/index.htm The Long, Long Trail] A [[World War I]] website</ref>  

Lewis had joined the Officer Training Corps in September 1913 whilst at Malvern College. Although he had left the corps when he had commenced his study under Kirkpatrick, he rejoined the Malvern Contingent of the Oxford University OTC in March 1917. On April 25, 1917, he applied to join an Officer Cadet Unit, stating a preference to serve in the infantry, preferably with the King's Own Scottish Borderers or Royal Fusiliers, or with a horse transport unit of the Army Service Corps. Still under the age of 21, the application was counter-signed by his father and character references were taken from Arthur C.&nbsp;Allen (his former Schoolmaster at Malvern) and also from Kirkpatrick. His action was completely voluntary, as although conscription had been in force in Britain since the introduction of the Military Service Act in 1916, it did ''not'' apply to Irish nationals. Five days later the Officer Commanding Oxford University Officers Training Corps completed a recommendation that Lewis attend an Officer Cadet Unit, noting that Lewis was  "''likely to make an useful officer but will not have had sufficient training for admission to an OCU before the end of June''".<ref>[http://www.1914-1918.net/index.htm The Long, Long Trail] A [[World War I]] website</ref>  

The medical examination then conducted reveals that Lewis was 5 feet 10{{3/4}} inches tall and  weighed 182 pounds, with a chest measurement of 34{{1/2}} inches fully expanded and 32 at rest. His vision was rated "good".<ref name="The Long, Long Trail op cit">''The Long, Long Trail'' op cit.</ref>

The medical examination then conducted reveals that Lewis was 5 feet 10{{3/4}} inches tall and  weighed 182 pounds, with a chest measurement of 34{{1/2}} inches fully expanded and 32 at rest. His vision was rated "good".<ref name="The Long, Long Trail op cit">''The Long, Long Trail'' op cit.</ref>

[[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.

The couple did not immediately take up residence together - this happened somewhat gradually as more and more, Joy and her children stayed Lewis and Warren at ''The Kilns''. Lewis' feelings for Joy seem to have taken him over in 1957 when it was discovered that Joy had aggressive bone cancer, and was given only weeks to live. While she lay in the hospital, dying, Lewis persuaded one of his clergymen friends to perform a Christian marriage service for this divorced woman and her legal husband. Joy’s cancer unexpectedly went into remission and she was able to return home to ''The Kilns''. Initially confined to a wheelchair, she progressed to crutches and later a cane. In 1958, the couple, by now wildly in love with each other, were finally able to take a honeymoon, in Ireland. Lewis, Joy and her sons, David and Douglas, were given two years of respite from Joy’s cancer, but in 1959, the cancer returned. Despite treatments and drugs, her cancer spread and it became apparent that Joy would die. This she wanted to do at home, with her children, Lewis and her brother-in-law Warren near her.  

The couple did not immediately take up residence together - this happened somewhat gradually as more and more, Joy and her children stayed Lewis and Warren at ''The Kilns''. Lewis' feelings for Joy seem to have taken him over in 1957 when it was discovered that Joy had aggressive bone cancer, and was given only weeks to live. While she lay in the hospital, dying, Lewis persuaded one of his clergymen friends to perform a Christian marriage service for this divorced woman and her legal husband. Joy's cancer unexpectedly went into remission and she was able to return home to ''The Kilns''. Initially confined to a wheelchair, she progressed to crutches and later a cane. In 1958, the couple, by now wildly in love with each other, were finally able to take a honeymoon, in Ireland. Lewis, Joy and her sons, David and Douglas, were given two years of respite from Joy's cancer, but in 1959, the cancer returned. Despite treatments and drugs, her cancer spread and it became apparent that Joy would die. This she wanted to do at home, with her children, Lewis and her brother-in-law Warren near her.  

They took a final holiday together in [[Greece]] in April 1960. When they returned home, her cancer progressed rapidly. Lewis was at her side constantly and begged her not to leave him. He wrestled with letting her go, wishing to keep her with him even in the face of the horrible pain she suffered. Finally he surrendered to the inevitable and told Joy to leave. She died at the Radcliffe Infirmary on July 13, 1960. By her own request, her body was cremated and a poem by Lewis, ''Epitaph'', was cut into a marble plaque which is near where her ashes were scattered at Oxford Crematorium. Lewis was devastated by grief. While he was able to carry on the duties of life after losing Joy, it’s clear that he was a changed man. He poured out his grief on paper, turning his own loss into comfort for thousands. His book, ''A Grief Observed'' published first under a pseudonym in 1961, delves deeply into his personal loss, but the profound insight into the nature of grief that Lewis pours out in the volume transcends his own loss and speaks to the heart of any who have lost a spouse or partner. Lewis's relationship with Joy was the subject of the play and movie ''[[Shadowlands]]''.

They took a final holiday together in [[Greece]] in April 1960. When they returned home, her cancer progressed rapidly. Lewis was at her side constantly and begged her not to leave him. He wrestled with letting her go, wishing to keep her with him even in the face of the horrible pain she suffered. Finally he surrendered to the inevitable and told Joy to leave. She died at the Radcliffe Infirmary on July 13, 1960. By her own request, her body was cremated and a poem by Lewis, ''Epitaph'', was cut into a marble plaque which is near where her ashes were scattered at Oxford Crematorium. Lewis was devastated by grief. While he was able to carry on the duties of life after losing Joy, it's clear that he was a changed man. He poured out his grief on paper, turning his own loss into comfort for thousands. His book, ''A Grief Observed'' published first under a pseudonym in 1961, delves deeply into his personal loss, but the profound insight into the nature of grief that Lewis pours out in the volume transcends his own loss and speaks to the heart of any who have lost a spouse or partner. Lewis's relationship with Joy was the subject of the play and movie ''[[Shadowlands]]''.

[[Image:Lewis_tombstone.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Lewis' tombstone]]

[[Image:Lewis_tombstone.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Lewis' tombstone]]

In June 1961, Lewis was diagnosed as having an enlarged prostate gland. He was initially fitted with a catheter, but this caused his kidneys to become infected, which in turn led to a heart problem which made it impossible to operate on him. In November 1963, he was diagnosed with end stage renal failure. Lewis showed a calm approach to death: "''I have done all I wanted to and I'm ready to go,''" he told his brother. Lewis died at 5:30&nbsp;p.m. on Friday, November 22, 1963, at ''The Kilns'', one week before his 65th birthday. His death was largely ignored by the media, due to the assassination of [[John F. Kennedy]] on the same day. He is buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, Headington, Oxford, where his funeral took place on Tuesday 26 November 1963. On his tombstone, his brother had engraved the words from ''King Lear'' which had been on the calendar on the day their mother had died: ''Men must endure their going hence''. Warren was buried beside his brother in 1973.

In June 1961, Lewis was diagnosed as having an enlarged prostate gland. He was initially fitted with a catheter, but this caused his kidneys to become infected, which in turn led to a heart problem which made it impossible to operate on him. In November 1963, he was diagnosed with end stage renal failure. Lewis showed a calm approach to death: "''I have done all I wanted to and I'm ready to go,''" he told his brother. Lewis died at 5:30&nbsp;p.m. on Friday, November 22, 1963, at ''The Kilns'', one week before his 65th birthday. His death was largely ignored by the media, due to the assassination of [[John F. Kennedy]] on the same day. He is buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, Headington, Oxford, where his funeral took place on Tuesday 26 November 1963. On his tombstone, his brother had engraved the words from ''King Lear'' which had been on the calendar on the day their mother had died: ''Men must endure their going hence''. Warren was buried beside his brother in 1973.