The Mirror, the Mask, and the Masterpiece Bundle
The Mirror, the Mask, and the Masterpiece Bundle
A Guide to C. S. Lewis’s “Till We Have Faces”
by Peter Kreeft and C.S. Lewis
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This two part bundle includes the full text of C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces, along with an in-depth guide by Peter Kreeft.
Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis has been described as the most controversial of Lewis’s fiction—despised by some and celebrated by others. Yet Lewis himself regarded the novel as “far and away the best [book] I have written.” What are we to make of this strange and oftentimes dark retelling of the pagan myth of Cupid and Psyche?
In this new guide, renowned philosopher and writer Peter Kreeft introduces readers to the style, setting, and characters of Lewis’s novel; walks through ten philosophical and theological themes that permeate it, including the problem of evil, the question of identity, and the relationship between faith and reason; and, finally, shows how these various themes animate the drama of the narrative itself. The result is a deepened appreciation and understanding of a true masterpiece, one that offers not only wisdom, which is the end of all philosophy, but also wonder, which is its beginning.
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What People are Saying
“Peter Kreeft is right: Till We Have Faces is a masterpiece that’s also a mystery. With his characteristically piquant percipience, Kreeft inspects the many faces of Lewis’s gem-like narrative, helping us more intelligently to dwell in its profound mysteriousness and more appreciatively to savor its masterful artistry.”
—Michael Ward, University of Oxford, author of After Humanity: A Guide to C. S. Lewis’s “The Abolition of Man”
“Reading both Peter Kreeft and C. S. Lewis is like visiting an old friend—a wise, brilliant friend who wants to set you straight for the sake of your own virtue (and, ergo, the virtue of the whole culture). In The Mirror, the Mask, and the Masterpiece, we get a double dose of wisdom about how to read one of the most hauntingly challenging stories of the twentieth century. By the last page, I was eager to devour again Lewis’s timeless work and revisit it with Kreeft-tinted lenses. If we aren’t afforded the privilege of living at the same time as Lewis, at least we have the gift of living at the time of Kreeft. What a gift he is to all of us, as is this book.”
—Tsh Oxenreider, author of Shadow and Light: A Journey into Advent and Bitter and Sweet: A Journey into Easter
“With his signature clarity of style spiced with a healthy dash of Chestertonian wit and paradox, Peter Kreeft takes a deep dive into Lewis’s most difficult but most rewarding novel, Till We Have Faces. As he elucidates the intricacies of the plot, he illuminates what Lewis has to teach modern and postmodern readers about the true nature of evil, identity, reason, myth, faith, hope, and love. And yet, while he explains and clarifies, he never reduces or collapses the complexity and beauty of Lewis’s achievement. A must read for those who struggle to understand why Lewis considered Till We Have Faces his finest novel.”
—Louis Markos, Professor in English and Scholar in Residence, Houston Christian University; author of C. S. Lewis for Beginners and Restoring Beauty: The Good, the True, and the Beautiful in the Writings of C. S. Lewis
“Great books deserve great guides. With Till We Have Faces, C. S. Lewis’s most mysterious and confounding novel, we now have one—Peter Kreeft. Drawing on years of reflection, the eminent Catholic philosopher brings his sharpest insights and perennial wisdom to Lewis’s masterpiece. In this book, you’ll encounter one great thinker exploring the depths of another.”
—Trevin Wax, author of The Gospel Way Catechism, The Thrill of Orthodoxy, and Rethink Your Self