I've been working on a book retracing the walks Lewis and the Inklings took between the wars...it involves lots of pubs and thinking about how and why we romanticise England. The Tolkien and Lewis relationship didn't work so well when they were walking. 'Tollers' would keep on stopping to peer at a plant or road sign, while 'Jack' would stomp on at a 'ruthless' place. Very like their writing habits: once he had an idea for a book, Lewis would charge ahead and get it done in weeks. Tolkien, as you say, took decades.
This might sound trivially obvious, but one reason why the Inklings were important is that they essentially created the modern fantasy genre, both through their fiction and through the popularization of the term mythopoeia and the concept of "worldbuilding" in their criticism.
Seventy or so years later, I think it's clear that that had a profound impact on the world of books and -- via influences on tabletop RPGs, video games and cinema -- on pop culture in general.
I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read of Humphrey Carpenter. His imagined Inklings conversation in this book is innovative, but I especially liked his book on Victorian / Edwardian children’s writers - The Secret Garden I think it’s called. And he was an accomplished children’s writer himself.
Inklings period was perhaps helped by their not being called up to WW2 but most of them had seen intense action in WW1. They were not just the cloistered tweedy folk they are often painted as.
I’m sure you know that Betjeman was Lewis’ pupil too. They did not get on! Tho not sure they came to the exchange of swords..
Oh I’d like to read his other books yes, he was such a lovely writer. Agree about the inks and the mark of war can be seen in all their work I think. Very distinguishing from some other modernist writers.
I've been working on a book retracing the walks Lewis and the Inklings took between the wars...it involves lots of pubs and thinking about how and why we romanticise England. The Tolkien and Lewis relationship didn't work so well when they were walking. 'Tollers' would keep on stopping to peer at a plant or road sign, while 'Jack' would stomp on at a 'ruthless' place. Very like their writing habits: once he had an idea for a book, Lewis would charge ahead and get it done in weeks. Tolkien, as you say, took decades.
Would be interested in hearing more about this.
Sounds like a fun idea!
This might sound trivially obvious, but one reason why the Inklings were important is that they essentially created the modern fantasy genre, both through their fiction and through the popularization of the term mythopoeia and the concept of "worldbuilding" in their criticism.
Seventy or so years later, I think it's clear that that had a profound impact on the world of books and -- via influences on tabletop RPGs, video games and cinema -- on pop culture in general.
Loved this Henry.
I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read of Humphrey Carpenter. His imagined Inklings conversation in this book is innovative, but I especially liked his book on Victorian / Edwardian children’s writers - The Secret Garden I think it’s called. And he was an accomplished children’s writer himself.
Inklings period was perhaps helped by their not being called up to WW2 but most of them had seen intense action in WW1. They were not just the cloistered tweedy folk they are often painted as.
I’m sure you know that Betjeman was Lewis’ pupil too. They did not get on! Tho not sure they came to the exchange of swords..
Oh I’d like to read his other books yes, he was such a lovely writer. Agree about the inks and the mark of war can be seen in all their work I think. Very distinguishing from some other modernist writers.
Lewis himself was arguably a later bloomer in some senses. He's best known now as a writer of children's fiction, which he began at around age fifty.
That’s true but I don’t love Lewis so much
Same! I’m not one of the fans but that I approved of!