The Abolition of Man & The Great Divorce

By: C. S. Lewis

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Here are two classics of moral philosophy from one of the most revered Christian voices of our time.

In The Abolition of Man, C. S. Lewis reflects on society and nature and the challenges of how best to educate our children. He describes what public education should be and how far from this standard modern education has fallen. Lewis eloquently argues that, as a society, we need to underpin reading and writing lessons with moral education.

In The Great Divorce, Lewis presents his vision of the afterworld. A fictional narrator boards a bus on a drizzly English afternoon and embarks on an incredible voyage through Heaven and Hell, where he meets a host of supernatural beings and comes to some significant realizations about the nature of good and evil.

©1945 C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"These two short works by Lewis are a fine introduction to his eloquent writing, as well as his thought....Robert Whitfield's disciplined and well-modulated voice has an appealingly confident quality." (AudioFile)

Abolition. Important book for serious conservative

Any additional comments?

A foundation premise of our Consitution is the truth of Natural Law. This book explores that notion with amazing intellect and compelling reason. I think this is an important book for anyone who wants to really understand the great American Experiment.

Keeps your brain working... but it was fun to listen to.

Insightfully, Delightfully Enjoyable!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Abolition of Man & The Great Divorce to be better than the print version?

Yes, if a performance can be better than the written word. I feel as though I'm at the theatre whenever I listen to The Great Divorce.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I've bookmarked nine conversations between the Solid People of Heaven and the Ghosts of the Gray Town. All reveal to me something of my own character or of someone I know (when they strike too close to home!).

What does Robert Whitfield bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Because of Whitfield's creative reading, I continually forget it is only one person reading this book as opposed to a large cast of readers.

Anointed. A true treasure from a gifted mind!

Go straight to The Abolition Of Man and listen to it. Really get quiet and Listen. C.S. Lewis shines in rigorous debate against irrational rationalism. Unfolding clairvoyant and persuasive thoughts regarding the conscience of man as a function of a transcendentally emotive being.

Interesting and Thoughtful

Would you listen to The Abolition of Man & The Great Divorce again? Why?

Yes, the great divorce has interesting ideas about why someone would choose hell, while there is divine judgement it represents the judgement as a self judgement and decision.And also the first listen of the abolition of man went way over my head. I will need to re- listen. It if anything shows up the problems with audio books you cant easily re-read the last sentence.

Incredible narration

The Abolition of Man is just ok but The Great Divorce is INCREDIBLE. story, narration, truths conveyed, everything. Will listen to again and again.

Well ahead of its written time

Every twenty-first century computer scientist should read chapter three of this book, The Abolition of Man, before putting one more hour of work into the completion of their A.I. project. They must see it for what it is to eventually become, i.e. The Extinction of Man by his own hand.
We`be proven to ourselves that mankind can achieve it. So we should stop, put it in our history books with warnings of wise reasoning and go no further with Artificial Intelligence. Stop now, please. For the sake of man's posterity. Honor the one, true, invisible, Creator GOD and stop Now.

Marriage Made in Heavan

I was familiar with "The Great Divorce" going in and was drawn by the opportunity to hear Simon Vance read it.

Overall it was done very well. Plus the addition of "The Abolition of Man" at the end didn't hurt.

Two great (but quite different) gems from CSL

"The Great Divorce" is an unfortunate title for our modern ears. It is a Dante-esque fantasy about a man's journey to Purgatory and/or Hell and then to the beginnings of Heaven. The title comes as a counter to the mistaken assertion that there is a possiblity of the marriage of Heaven and Hell. The narrator meets with several types of sinner and witnesses their encounters with angelic beings who give them every chance and encouragement to enter into heaven. Lewis (who is the narrator it would seem) meets up with his spiritual mentor (George MacDonald) and converses with him. How many of us hope that when our turn comes, C.S. Lewis will be there waiting for us?
"The Abolition of Man" is a short, pithy, brilliant work, originally lectures, on the natural law and its necessity for good living. It is a pleasure to read/hear such solid, jargon-free prose expressing clearly and without dumbing-down such important ideas.
Robert Whitfield, as usual, reads with clarity and elegance.

Great book - fantastic reading!

What made the experience of listening to The Abolition of Man & The Great Divorce the most enjoyable?

The ability of the reader to use different voice inflections for each character

Who was your favorite character and why?

They were all great

What does Robert Whitfield bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He made the experience come alive

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was very helpful in thinking through the concepts of heaven and hell

Any additional comments?

Well worth the time and money to listen!

thoroughly enjoyed it

thought provoking and enjoyable. Maybe have a dictionary handy. I would recommend it if you have an inquisitive mind.