Surprised by Joy
The Shape of My Early Life

It is a lofty goal, but many would be pleased if the work they accomplished would last well after their death, and be lauded with posthumous praise. Such is what happened to British author Clive Staples Lewis. He was born on November 29, 1898 and passed on November 22, 1963...... just prior to his 65th birthday. It was 2013 on the 50th Anniversary of Lewis' death, that he was honored by being given a memorial in Poet's Corner in West minister Abbey.

Lewis wore many professional hats......that of novelist, poet, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, broadcaster, lecturer, and Christian apologist. His best known work is The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, and The Space Trilogy. He is the author of more than 30 books, translated into over 30 languages. As we are all aware, The Chronicles of Narnia had tremendous sales numbers and have been made popular on stage, TV, radio, and cinema.

Lewis married American author, Joy Davidman, in 1956, but sadly, she passed away only four years later from cancer at only 45 years old. Lewis then died in 1963 of renal failure.