Women Among the Inklings: Gender, C. S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780313312458)

The Oxford group of writers known as the Inklings met and thrived during the 1930s and 1940s. Three of the members, C. S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams, became known as authors and cultural figures, recognized for interweaving Christian themes into fantasy fiction. Other members of the group doubtlessly influenced these works through their comments and discussion, and the published ideas of Williams, Lewis, and Tolkien were probably first discussed within this circle. Every member of the Inklings was male, the group consciously excluded women, and it was formed to promote male companionship. This book examines the attitude of the Inklings toward women and thus, sheds new light on the lives and works of Lewis, Tolkien, and Williams.

The book examines the male culture of the Inklings and the relation of the literary group to the larger Oxford community. It also looks at women in the lives of Williams, Tolkien, and Lewis. While Williams and Tolkien apparently thought of women as mythic icons, Lewis began to question some of the group's assumptions after his marriage. When considering the representation of women in fiction by the Inklings, the volume gives special attention to issues of gender and theology.

Author: Candice Fredrick, Sam McBride
ISBN-10: 0313312451
ISBN-13: 9780313312458
Publisher: Praeger
Language: English
Published: 08/30/2001
Pages: 224
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.02lbs
Size: 9.84h x 6.04w x 0.86d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 03/01/2002 pg. 1237
Reference and Research Bk News 11/01/2001 pg. 224