Jack's Life: The Life Story of C.S. Lewis

Douglas Gresham
Broadman & Holman Publishers (2005)
ISBN 0805432469
Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views (8/06)

“Jack’s Life” is truly an inside look at the life and times of famous author, C. S. Lewis from a perspective nobody else could give you but his own step-son, Douglas.  First glance at the book and it’s elegant cover tells you immediately that not only was there a lot of thought and care put into the making of this book, but no scrimping on presenting the reader with a wonderful personal view of Lewis’ life was ever even an option.  An exquisite hard cover book with a detailed embossed cover to protect this cherished book is only the beginning of the author’s way of expressing the care taken.  At a mere list price of under $20 the elegant hard cover book not only offers some great reading material, but a bonus DVD that adds yet another touch of class to the experience. 

Even the most well read of biography lovers has not been given a chance like this to see the inside life of the world renowned C.S. Lewis.  Focusing not as much on his writings and his thoughts as a writer, but more on his every day life and hardships that helped to create the man he was.  A wonderful look at what later became known as the true “home” of Lewis; Douglas fondly remembers the stories told by so many others regarding the beginning of the love/hate relationship Lewis came to have with his beautiful Estate.  With so much work needing to be done, Lewis was remembered not only as an extremely hard worker, but a determined man with so much character that he took on the extended family of a friend who died at war while serving with Lewis.  Submitting to a life of poverty at times, simply to take care of them all!  This alone shows the intense character of the beloved author and, after reading the life Lewis accepted as his own to simply fulfill the obligation of a pact he shared with his close friend, brings one to realize that this is a man of integrity.

The author shares everything from the relationships Lewis had with the “inherited” family, the mother and sister of a friend and fellow soldier in war, to the often shaky relationship he had with his own father; the touching love and relationship he shared with his brother, Warnie; and later the loving and tender relationship he shared with Douglas himself.  Touching ever so briefly on the friends and acquaintances with whom he also shared numerous conversations and intricate details of the books he wrote, the author shows the inside influences of other famous authors, such as J.R. Tolkien, and some not-so-famous people that met together in a group weekly for intellectual discussions.  This small group of intellectual geniuses and intimate friends became known as “The Inklings” and provided Lewis with many intense conversations and criticisms that influenced nearly all of his writings.

“Jack’s Life” is simply one of the best biographies I’ve read in ages and shares intimate details and touching antics of Lewis’ life that no other author could share accurately.  Seeing the loving relationship and utter admiration that Douglas Grisham had for his step-father gives the reader a feeling of truly knowing the inside workings of an intriguing man.  Sometimes humorous, always intimate and completely touching, this is one biography that will not only leave you smiling from the knowledge shared but remembering to add on the many other books of C.S. Lewis that you may not have read yet, simply to experience the man you’ve learned about all over again.

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