Yesterday we ended our movie-themed post with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and that’s the perfect bridge into today’s “This Day in History” moment. Because while J.R.R. Tolkien gave the world Middle-earth, today — 29 November — we celebrate the birthday of his great friend, literary ally, debate partner, and fellow creator of magical worlds: C.S. Lewis, born on this day in 1898.
If Tolkien built the sprawling mythology of hobbits, elves, and dragons, Lewis gave us wardrobes, talking lions, witches, and lamp-posts glowing in snowy forests. Together, they shaped modern fantasy as we know it.
And even more importantly, they inspired each other.
A Friendship That Shaped Modern Fantasy
The friendship between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien is one of the most famous intellectual partnerships of the 20th century. They were both Oxford professors, both brilliant linguists, and both central members of The Inklings — a group of writers who met in pubs to critique each other's work and share ideas (usually over beer, pipes, and spirited argument).
Their relationship was built on deep discussion, shared imagination, trust, and the kind of honesty only close friends can offer.
It was Lewis who pushed Tolkien to finish The Lord of the Rings when Tolkien doubted himself.
And Tolkien was the one who critiqued Lewis’s early dRafts of The Chronicles of Narnia, sometimes bluntly, sometimes encouragingly — and sometimes both at once.
They didn’t always agree.
In fact, they often debated fiercely — on writing, religion, storytelling, and mythology. But that creative tension made them both better writers.
Their friendship is a reminder that some of the greatest stories ever written weren’t crafted in isolation… but built in conversation.
🦁 C.S. Lewis — The Man Behind Narnia
Born on 29 November 1898 in Belfast, Clive Staples Lewis grew up surrounded by books. He read endlessly, imagined constantly, and built elaborate childhood fantasy worlds with his brother.
But it was his adult life — filled with war, academia, loss, philosophy, faith, and long friendships — that shaped him into one of the most significant writers of the century.
Lewis wrote across genres:
- fantasy
- children’s literature
- theology
- philosophy
- science fiction
- literary criticism
But for most people, one world stands out above all others…
🌲 The Chronicles of Narnia — A Doorway into Magic
Published between 1950 and 1956, The Chronicles of Narnia became one of the best-selling children’s series ever written. The stories, filled with symbolism, wonder, and emotional depth, take readers into a land where animals talk, time moves differently, good and evil clash, and ordinary children become heroes.
Key books include:
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- Prince Caspian
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
- The Silver Chair
And of course there's Aslan; one of literature’s most enduring characters.
Narnia feels both nostalgic and timeless. Many people read it in childhood, then return to it as adults and discover deeper themes, reflections on courage, morality, sacrifice, and redemption.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Lewis’s writing shaped generations of readers and continues to do so.
🚀 Lewis the Science Fiction Writer
Less well known but equally important is Lewis’s science-fiction trilogy:
- Out of the Silent Planet
- Perelandra
- That Hideous Strength
These novels mix philosophy, ethics, cosmic exploration, and religious allegory in a way that predates much of modern sci-fi storytelling.
Some fans call it the “Oxford Space Trilogy” — a series that sits somewhere between fantasy, theology, and H.G. Wells-style adventure.
✍️ A Writer of Enormous Range
In addition to fiction, Lewis wrote widely respected books on:
- Christianity (Mere Christianity)
- grief (A Grief Observed)
- allegory (The Allegory of Love)
- medieval literature
- and many volumes of essays and letters
His influence reaches far beyond Narnia — into philosophy, faith discussions, literary study, and modern storytelling.
Why C.S. Lewis for 29 November?
Because today marks the birth of one of the great creative minds of the modern age — a man whose imagination was as expansive as Tolkien’s and whose writing continues to enchant readers worldwide.
Yesterday we journeyed through Middle-earth.
Today, we step through the wardrobe.
Tomorrow — who knows where history will take us next?
What’s Your Favourite C.S. Lewis Story?
Did you fall in love with Narnia as a child?
Have you revisited it as an adult?
Or are you a fan of his deeper, more philosophical work?
Tell us:
👉 What’s your favourite C.S. Lewis book?
👉 Which character or moment has stayed with you the longest?
Our Black Friday week continues tomorrow — and so does our journey through history.
