The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis

How Great Books Shaped a Great Mind

By: Jason M Baxter

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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.

Dante, myth, revelation and revealing in the beauty of the divine

I have always loved Lewis; he brings difficult concepts in the light via story and imagery. Discovering how his ability to do so is rooted in his love of the Medieval poet brought clarity and insight into his writings I had not understood before. I’m inspired to reread Dante with Lewis’s mindset. Also after listening to this book I want to reread and listen again to grasp all the intricacies.

A wonderful introduction Lewis's influences.

I loved hearing about the books that influenced Lewis. I have so many more books to read now.

The narrator did a beautiful job reading the book.

Too often neglected

An excellent book focusing on Lewis's scholarly work, especially regarding the "Medieval Model" - the specific subject of Lewis's Discarded Image. But this short book is far more, integrating into its insights various Lewis essays, his love for Dante, all of his fiction, and more. Lewis as a kind of modern Boethius was an intriguing insight! Very well done.

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.

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!

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.

Great synopsis of Lewis’s theories!

I am grateful for all of the research that Baxter has done to give a thorough overview of Lewis’s theories.