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Jack

By: George Sayer
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
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Publisher's summary

Numerous biographies have been written about this great theologian, literary critic, and novelist, but we have found this to be the best.

Sayer describes Lewis’ early years, hinting at childhood evidence of the brilliance and eccentricity that would later become Lewis’ hallmarks. He discusses Lewis’ academic career, his life-transforming conversion to Christianity, and the role of religion in his life. With honesty and compassion, he covers Lewis’ controversial relationship with Mrs. Moore and his passionate marriage to Joy Davidman.

©1988 George Sayer (P)2000 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A cheerful look back on the life of [Sayer’s] cherished friend and mentor…Frederick Davidson…maintains the flow of the work. His presentation of English and Irish dialects is excellent.” ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about Jack

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The story of a life told by his friend

Other biographies of C.S. Lewis (and I think that I have all of them from Audible) are told from the perspective of the scholar, but George Sayer tells the story of his friend. Because he can share personal details of Lewis' life, this biography is much more intimate. For example, Sayer deals with the matter of Lewis' relationship with Mrs. Moore. Was it based on his sense of duty to her deceased son, Patty, and to her appeal to him as a surrogate mother, or was there some 'purient' motivation that he was ashamed to admit? There is no doubt that Jack was extremely protective of the details of their relationship, but Sayer's insight helps to dispel the confusion around the subject with good, sound reason and facts. The only quibble that I have with this audiobook is that it shows EACH half as being 13 hours whereas the total of BOTH halves is approximently 13 hours. I read an earlier review that pointed out this error and so I called Audible to find out and was assured that it really is 26 hours long -- it's not. But the 13 hours that it is, is worth listening even if you are a Lewis fan like me and think you've heard it all.

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12 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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nice bio of lewis

First note,this audiobook is listed as 26 hours long,IT IS ACTUALY 13 hrs.long..also the narator is one i never liked..however,his usual horror of tone and attitude is quite tame in this book..in short I found it listenable..now the book itself is very good..I always prefer what I call "old school' styles of writers..[less modernistic...non sceptical,relativistic,super psycological ect.] and this fits that nice style..it is also simply very interesting and personal with its object,the great C.S. Lewis...if you can stand the narrator on the sample clip,i think you will love this biography of Lewis..

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8 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Why do I never learn?

This is the second time I've purchased a book I thought would be very interesting only to discover that I have also purchased the irritating, effete voice of Frederick Davidson. For heaven's sake, please listen to the sample of this book before you buy it. If you are like me, you will save your dollars and learn, as I now have, that this reader is the greatest disaster ever to befall audio books.

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7 people found this helpful

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JUST WRONG

The pompous style of the reader is so contrary to the warm and passionate nature of the subject, I found it too distracting.

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4 people found this helpful

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Appropriate biography of Lewis, poorly read

The content and story have long been considered one of the greatest biographies of CS Lewis. Unfortunately, the reading of it was subpar and not entirely enjoyable to listen to. It is well worth the time, but one hopes a new reading may be put together the may be a little easier on the ears in coming years.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Another Slice of the Story

There are little slivers of new information gleaned from this account of Lewis's life. Most of the facts can be run across in other places, but there is something special about hearing the story from someone who was there. My only negative for this recording is a slight bit of background sound that seems to trail or proceed some of the audio. Regardless, this title is full of genuine accounts with Jack. I enjoyed feeling like I was sitting with him at the Kilns for a cup of tea or talking of old Norse by the fire in his rooms at Magdalen College. I may never get to be an Inkling, but taking this trip with George Sayer has definitely given me the feeling of sitting in the room at a table nearby.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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CS Lewis - the touching "rest of the story"

I've read other biographies of CS Lewis, but this was the most inside look, the most unvarnished, yet told with great tenderness and a touching honesty. It doesn't spend too much time on the parts widely covered elsewhere but reveals more of the day-to-day realities of his life. I found it deeply moving. He struggled through in spite of all his success. Much of the brilliance, like that of true geniuses in other genres, we only really see posthumously. He lived mostly relatively impoverished, and when he died, it was in relative obscurity and with little money, because he used what he earned to improve the lives of those who needed it more. But he had a habit of looking for joy, and he found it. I cried "at his funeral," quite touched.

My lower rating for the narrator was only because the tempo was sometimes too fast, yet other times quite slow. His voice change when he was speaking for women was humorous and cute.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Phenomenal

The desire I have had my whole like to know this man was fulfilled in this work. Sayer is an ingenious author and worked hard to combine Lewis' literary career, his personal life, and the workings of his radiant mind into one book. The result is a holistic introduction to C.S. Lewis.

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  • Overall
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Excellent capstone.

After reading all of CS Lewis's major works, including his works of criticism, I read a few other biographies before discovering "Jack." This memoir fills in all the blanks with the grace of a true friend who happens also to be a British professor.

Beautiful homage, but please do your homework before reading. Trust me. You will enjoy it either way, but the effect will increase hyperbolically if you come to the tutorial prepared.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Detailed biography of C. S. Lewis

This is considered by many to be the definitive biography of C. S. Lewis. The author Sayer was once a student of Jack's and later became a close friend. This biography helps one to better understand Lewis' books, writings and lectures.
The reading of the book could be improved by a more animated narrator.

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