Will Vaus

The paper I delivered at the recent Perelandra Colloquium in Oxford was entitled: Some Ladies at Wantage: C. S. Lewis, Sister Penelope & The Community of St Mary the Virgin . Lewis dedicated Perelandra to "Some ladies at Wantage", the nuns of CSMV. Lewis's correspondence with Sister Penelope of CSMV began when Penelope wrote to Lewis about Out of the Silent Planet. Their correspondence continued for the next 24 years, right to the end of Lewis's life. One of the many blessings of my recent visit to Oxford was that I had the opportunity to visit Wantage thanks to the help of a nun from another religious community, Sister Catherine CSC, who drove me out to see the Community of St Mary the Virgin. Here are some photos from that visit. . . . Entrance Gatehouse where C. S. Lewis stayed when he visited and spoke to the Junior Sisters of CSMV in the early 1940's CSMV Cemetery Sister Penelope's Memorial Marker

During my recent trip to Oxford I visited a number of graves. One of the church yards I visited was that of the Church of St. Cross, Holywell, pictured above. Walter Hooper writes of this church in C. S. Lewis: Companion & Guide , p. 781, Many of Lewis's friends and acquaintances lie in the cemetery adjacent to this ancient church in St Cross Road, Oxford. The earliest parts of the church date from the late 11th or early 12th century, but most of what is seen was added during the 14th-16th centuries. Charles Williams went to services here during his years in Oxford, and Dorothy L. Sayers chose it for the 'marriage' of Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane in Busman's Honeymoon . The cemetery contains the graves of many notable people, among whom are : Stella Aldwinckle; Sir Maurice Bowra (1898-1971), Warden of Wadham College; H.V.D. 'Hugo' Dyson; Austin Farrer; Katherine Farrer; Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932), author of The Wind in the Willows ; Lord Redcliffe-...

In celebration of the Fourth of July I am reading the letters of C. S. Lewis's American wife, Joy Davidman (edited by my friend Don King). These letters, along with King's brief and incisive commentary along the way, are a real treat. While I was in Oxford last week I got to see the former Register Office (42 St Giles) where Lewis and Davidman were married in a civil ceremony on April 23, 1956: I also walked by Joy's former home at 10 Old High Street, Headington: And here is an old photo of mine showing Joy's memorial at the Oxford Crematorium with poem by C. S. Lewis: And Douglas Gresham viewing his mother's memorial plaque in 1997:

Here are some photos from my recent visit to some sites mentioned by Sheldon Vanauken in A Severe Mercy . . . . The Perch in Binsey Interior of The Perch The church yard of St. Margaret's, Binsey, where Van & Davy's ashes were scattered. Interior of St. Margaret's The organ played by Davy St. Margaret's Well which also figures in the Alice stories by Lewis Carroll Street sign above and approximate location of The Studio (now demolished) below: "Ah Studio! We'll meet again. It won't be gaslight in the lane, But just as gentle, only brighter. And Jack on Aslan's back. We'll sing His glory Around those two: One Love-truth. Old world will give one final 'crack!' Our hearts could not be lighter." Dom Julian, O.S.B. (Upon reading the Oxford chapters of A Severe Mercy in manuscript.)

It is Friday morning at St. Stephen's House, Oxford, in between the summer apologetics conference and the beginning of the Perelandra Colloquium. I thought I might take this opportunity to comment on the setting for these two events. St. Stephen's House was formerly the mission house for the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE). This Anglican order is also known as the Cowley Fathers due to the location of the original mission house in Cowley, a suburb of Oxford. The photo above is of the cloister with the Church of St. John the Evangelist beyond. Below is a photo of the mission house itself. It was to this location that C. S. Lewis came to make confession to Father Walter Adams, one of the Cowley Fathers. Lewis began the practice of confession to a priest during the first week of November 1940, as noted in his letters to Sister Ruth Penelope Lawson. Lewis continued on with Father Adams until Adams' death in 1952. After Adams' death Lewis continued the p...

Today is my third day in Oxford. Alas, I haven't posted anything about this visit yet on this blog because I have been too busy. But here we go. . . . I have come to Oxford in order to attend two events: The Summer Apologetics Course at St. Stephen's House and The Perelandra Colloquium. But of course my real reason for coming to Oxford is just because I love the place. My first day here was spent walking about a good bit taking lots of photos. Even though I have been to Oxford several times before, the beauty of the architecture and setting has simply overwhelmed me once again. Though I have taken many photos of Oxford in the past, this opportunity has been unique for now I have a digital camera. Yea! Last night, as the sun was just setting around 9 pm, was the best photo op yet. I hope you will agree. . . . Magdalen College Tower The spire of the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin The Radcliffe Camera The Sheldonian Theatr...

Today I visited my youngest son's school, Highland Elementary in Monterey, Virginia. I spoke to grades three through five about "My Journey with C. S. Lewis" and signed copies of my book "The Professor of Narnia". With K-2 I read from the Narnia pop-up and picture books. There was much enthusiasm expressed for Narnia and many intelligent questions asked by the students about C. S. Lewis, Narnia and the writing process. If you would like "The Professor of Narnia" to visit your school in the coming year e-mail me today at will@willvaus.com .

Here is Part 2 of my 100 Huntley Street Interview about The Professor of Narnia: The C. S. Lewis Story .

Here is the first part of my interview about The Professor of Narnia: The C. S. Lewis Story from 100 Huntley Street.

For many readers of C. S. Lewis this blog will be old news. Furthermore, this is a blog I never before planned to write. That is not because I lack an opinion about the book pictured above, Planet Narnia, but simply because I saw no point in adding my voice to the many others in the world who have already commented far more intelligently than I could about this book. So why am I writing this blog? First of all, as I travel around and speak about Lewis and his work in various places around the United States I have started to have people ask me my opinion about Planet Narnia. Secondly, I read a blog about Planet Narnia today, written by C. S. Lewis scholar Dr. Devin Brown, that got me thinking about writing my own blog. (You can read that other blog here: http://booksbycslewis.blogspot.com/2009/05/planet-narnia-spin-spun.html .) At first I was just going to comment about Dr. Brown's blog post, but then I realized my comments were too long to be contained in a blog comment. ...

I will be a guest on 100 Huntley Street, Canada's longest running daily TV talk show, on Thursday morning, May 21. Hopefully all of you, my readers in Canada, and those who receive 100 Huntley via satellite TV in the USA, will tune in to watch the interview. For more information click here: http://crossroadstv.ca/television/huntley/upcoming-guests

June 26-27 I will be in Oxford, England for the second premiere of "Perelandra the Opera" based upon the C. S. Lewis book by the same name. I will be presenting a paper at the Perelandra Colloquium in connection with the new premiere of the opera. My paper will be about the dedicatees of Lewis's original book, namely "Some Ladies at Wantage". For more information about Perelandra the Opera and the two day international colloquium click here: www.perelandraproject.org .

Mere Theology: A Guide to the Thought of C. S. Lewis has now been published in Korean by Knowledge and Love Press, an imprint of Revival and Reformation Press. Strange it is to look at the cover of a book I know I wrote and not even be able to discern my own name in print!

In case you missed the news: A. N. Wilson has come back to faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. That's right. The same A. N. Wilson who wrote a biography of C. S. Lewis (much deplored for its factual errors and Freudian twist on Lewis's life) is now a Christian, for the second time. You can read the full story, in his own words, here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1169145/Religion-hatred-Why-longer-cowed-secular-zealots.html or here http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2009/04/conversion-experience-atheism . I think Wilson's articles show that no one is beyond the grace of God, the God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ, the God who never stops reaching out, in love, in order to bring us back to himself.

My talk on C. S. Lewis: The Professor of Narnia, from my visit to Christ Church at Grove Farm, has now been uploaded and posted on my web site. You can listen to it here: http://willvaus.com/c__s__lewis_talk .

Last night I spoke at Christ Church at Grove Farm outside of Pittsburgh, PA. What a delightful group of people! I have known the pastor of CCGF, John Guest, for twenty years. It hardly seems possible. But in all that time this was my first visit to the church. For anyone reading this blog who does not know him, John is a brilliant evangelist, pastor and great all-around speaker who grew up in my favorite place--Oxford, England--and came to faith in Christ through the ministry of Billy Graham, just like my father. Only John Guest was not involved in organized crime before his conversion--let's make that clear! John graciously wrote a glowing endorsement of my book, My Father Was a Gangster . My presentation last night was on--what else?--C. S. Lewis: The Professor of Narnia. There was a good crowd present. They asked a host of excellent questions and I sold lots of books! Thanks to all the warm and welcoming staff and friendly people of CCGF who made my visit to Pittsburgh a m...

Yesterday I had the truly wonderful blessing of visiting Redeemer Classical School in Harrisonburg, Virginia. I was invited by Jeremiah Forshey to speak to his 8th grade literature class about C. S. Lewis's novel, Till We Have Faces, which his class just finished reading. Mind you, I went to this speaking engagement wondering what 8th graders could possibly get out of reading a book I read for the first time in college and didn't even understand then. I was delightedly astonished at the intelligent and engaging conversation I had with these middle school students about C. S. Lewis, mythology, TWHF and The Four Loves: storge, philia, eros and agape. I left that encounter having received far more than what I was able to give. Wow! Three cheers for classical Christian education!!! Then yesterday evening I gave a presentation on Lewis's life and works to some of the parents, faculty and board members of Redeemer Classical School. We too had a very enjoyable conversati...

You can listen to an Easter Weekend Interview I did for radio station KTLO by clicking here: http://www.ktlo.com/listentott.php and then clicking on Friday. Or listen on my web site here: http://www.willvaus.com/the_professor_of_narnia . Enjoy!

Occasionally I post items on this blog that have nothing to do with C. S. Lewis or Narnia. Now is such an occasion. This is a music video done by my brother, Steve Vaus . . .

This past week I was in the Los Angeles area speaking about C. S. Lewis's life and work. I addressed the Southern California C. S. Lewis Society (some of whom are pictured above). The topic was: My Journey with C. S. Lewis . I also gave presentations on Lewis's life and work to a class at Azusa Pacific University and to English classes at Western Christian School in Covina, California. Interest in Lewis's life and work is indeed alive and well in Southern California. To learn more about the Southern California C. S. Lewis Society click here: http://www.socalcslsoci.org/ . If you are interested in having me speak about C. S. Lewis at your school or group meeting you may e-mail me at: will@willvaus.com .