LITERATURE + LECTURES

The Jung Center of Houston presents The Transformative Friendship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.  C.S. Lewis scholar Andrew Lazo explores the relationship between these two titans of 20th century literature.

Seldom have the private worlds of two friends—obscure, dusty academics who devoted their time to medieval texts, languages, and history—touched more lives than have the mythologies and fairy stories of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Within the context of their Oxford writing group, the Inklings, Lewis and Tolkien crafted not only worlds that sparked the imaginations of millions, but also an approach to mythology that continues to transform lives.

This lecture will introduce the work of both men and will explore the intersection of faith, story, myth and language. We will also assess the ongoing and deeply personal way in which their work continues to transform, and we will discuss the themes that have made Lewis and Tolkien's work touching and enduringly popular.

Andrew Lazo is a well-known speaker, writer, and expert on C.S. Lewis. He holds an MA in English from Rice University, where he was the Jacob K. Javits Fellow in the Humanities. He has taught literature and mythology at UH-Clear Lake.