Into the Region of Awe

Mysticism in C. S. Lewis

By: David C. Downing

Narrated by: Simon Vance

C. S. Lewis is generally regarded as a commonsense Christian whose theology is understandable and practical. And yet, from his memoir Surprised by Joy to his beloved Chronicles of Narnia, from his nonfiction essays to his letters, C. S. Lewis's works display a distinct sense of the mystical. In this work, David C. Downing explores the breadth of Lewis's writing, introducing us to the context of Christian mysticism in Lewis's day and the writers who most influenced him.

Lewis's critique of mysticism is instructive to us in this day of eclectic religious thought. Exploring Lewis's sense of the mystical can help us safeguard ourselves from false mysticism, even as it opens the way to a full experience of God's presence - the "region of awe."

©2005 David C. Downing (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[T]he author's affection for his subject ably informs this sensitive reading of Lewis's life and writings. Highly recommended." ( Library Journal)

All the yes!

The balance of C.S. Lewis portrayed in this book is nourishing! I am so glad I read this.

I am so glad this book exists!

This book is the exact one I hoped existed! I was wanting someone to flesh out "Christian Mysticism" and that is exactly what the author does so well! My personal opinion was that CS Lewis was a mystic through and through :)

Great book

This is the best book I’ve read about C. S. Lewis in a long time. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to understand Lewis.

I listen to it again and again

I'm a huge C.S. Lewis fan, and this book really helped me understand his works better, especially the Space Trilogy. But even beyond the connection to C.S. Lewis, this book is fantastic as a summary and explanation of Christian mysticism, from Paul to Augustine to Teresa of Avila and Julian of Norwich. I love the content, and the narrator is EXCELLENT.