The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis

How Great Books Shaped a Great Mind

De: Jason M Baxter

Narrado por: Simon Vance

C. S. Lewis had one of the great minds of the 20th century. Many know Lewis as an author of fiction and fantasy literature, including the Chronicles of Narnia and the Space Trilogy. Others know him for his books in apologetics, including Mere Christianity and The Problem of Pain. But few know him for his scholarly work as a professor of medieval and Renaissance literature. What shaped the mind of this great thinker? Jason Baxter argues that Lewis was deeply formed not only by the words of Scripture and his love of ancient mythology, but also by medieval literature. For this undeniably modern Christian, authors like Dante and Boethius provided a worldview that was relevant to the challenges of the contemporary world. Here, listeners will encounter an unknown figure to guide them in their own journey: C. S. Lewis the medievalist.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Jason M Baxter (P)2022 Oasis Audio

Helpful context before you dive into the primary sources

I had to read Lewis in high school and therefore I had always had beef with him (lol) for his lack of care for detail when talking about the medieval period, but Baxter has written a great reminder of why that is: Lewis wanted to embody the mindset of the medieval scholar, someone who could pick and choose what works mattered and grade all on his list without worrying about historical context. That’s what seperates Lewis from the standard scholar, his goal isn’t exaction of the facts but recreating the feeling of the religious and philosophical mood that spanned thinkers from Boetheus to Milton.

All in all this was great review of Lewis’ outlook and purpose in his scholarship. Definitely not a substitute to his more historically minded works (If you really want to know Lewis, Discarded Image is more pertinent to his worldview), but if you’re unsure if you want to dive into his professional work, this is an easy way to get more familiar with his overall understanding of the world.

Insightful and mind blowing

Provides wonderful insight into the mountain of medieval philosophy and literature from which Lewis's ideas were formed.

Loved it.

Loved Narnia. Love Lewis. Loved this book. Insightful. Deep. Listening again very soon. Narrator was great.

Excellent

An excellent recording of a fascinating analysis of CS Lewis and his literary influences. Dr. Baxter writes in a fluid and engaging style which is augmented my Vance's sonorous reading.

Any fan of Lewis will find this recording a must-have addition to their collection.

Insights You Will Not HearAnywhere Else

If you enjoy Lewis and want to know his influences, this book is the place to start. The book is not for the faint of heart, you will need to take time to digest its insights. I especially enjoyed the chapters on Dante and Boethius. I suggest reading and not listening, I found it hard to follow some of the arguments as I walked the dogs and avoided traffic.

Very Interesting!

This is a very interesting book, and honestly, I would need to listen to it again just to get it all! I really enjoyed the part about language.

Fantastic

This exploration of “C.S. Lewis the medievalist” is so brilliantly done. It’s primarily it’s the tour through Lewis’s favorite literature and the demonstration that medieval cosmology and poetry was constantly in the mind and writings of Lewis that you learn just how much a “dinosaur” (in the best possible way) he was.

Beautifully Written

A must read if you want to dive into the mind of the great C.S. Lewis.
Narration is expertly done.

Outstanding description that brings the reader into the brilliant and fantastical mind of Lewis

Loved listening to Baxter retell why Lewis so loved nostalgia and the great minds of those who saw the world and humanity’s place in it so differently than the modern view. Filled with hope and beautiful poetic language that grips the mind to think.

The Third Lewis

Baxter provides fascinating insights into a little explored side to Lewis. His professional interest and personal passion for medieval literature reveals a greater appreciation for an understanding of the universe and of being that has largely been lost to us since the advent of modernity. What does medieval cosmology have to teach us in a post Copernican age? How did his long-standing love of Dante's epic poetry inform Lewis' classic, The Great Divorce? What literary antecedents inspired his depiction of the heavens in Our of the Silent Planet? Read (or listen) to find out. Vance, as always, is a delight to listen to in his narration of Baxter's book. Highly recommended, though I think I will now have to get a copy of the paperback, as well, for further study!