Present ConcernsAlthough C.S. Lewis professed never to read newspapers and recommended doses of good literature as an antidote to news, he himself was an occasional journalist. All but two of the nineteen essays in this volume, previously uncollected, first appeared in newspapers or magazines. They have in common Lewis's characteristic sanity and persuasiveness. Those written between 1940 and 1945 reflect largely on questions generated by the war: democratic values, the need for an updated chivarly, and the cynicism of the modern soldier. Other essays examine the threats to educational and spiritual fulfillment; while Sex in Literature and On Living in the Atomic Age address literary censorship and our very survival, issues debated even more passionately today than in Lewis's lifetime. |
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Aristotle Atomic Age atomic bomb Battle of Maldon becomes believe better bicycle Blimpophobia C. S. Lewis called chivalry Christian Church civilization claim Cleon Colonel Blimp course danger demands democracy democratic discipline discover Disenchanted dream emergency petty officers Enchantment English equality essay evil existence experience fact feel Fordist fourth age give going happened happiness Hedonics Home Guard honour human I. A. Richards kind Lady Chatterley's Lover Launcelot less Lewis's literary criticism literary history literature live London Mares-Neste mean mind mirage modern moral Naomi Mitchison nation Nature never newspapers ourselves Owen Barfield Oxford parade perhaps philosophy pleasure present priggery Private Bates prudery question Re-enchantment remember reprinted scepticism seems sense simply society sort suppose talk teacher thing thought true truth Ulubrae Unenchanted universe Walter Hooper whole words