Originally posted 12/19/10) CNN’s John Blake just posted an article on C.S. Lewis, discussing many facets of the writer’s life, including the friendship with Tolkien. The article, like countless others, states they were close friends until the day of Lewis‘ death. Also, like countless others, the article doesn’t state what Tolkien really thought of Lewis‘ work.
I bring this up because it’s something I’ve always wondered. Tolkien went on record multiple times stating how much he despised symbolism and children’s lit that acted as though . . . well, acted as though it were actually speaking to a child. He found such prose demeaning. Since The Chronicles of Narnia contain both of these elements in ample amounts, I wonder what he really thought about them overall?