The Company They Keep: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien as Writers in Community
Encyclopedia
The Company They Keep: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien as Writers in Community (2007) is a non-fiction book written by Diana Pavlac Glyer
, an Inklings
scholar and English professor at Azusa Pacific University
. The Company They Keep challenges the commonly held belief that the Inklings did not influence each other through a detailed and engaging examination of both published and unpublished works, papers, and letters written by J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield
, Warren Lewis
and the lesser-known writers who comprised the Inklings
.
Dr Glyer provides the historical context for C.S. Lewis' famous statement that one doesn't influence Tolkien, one "might as well try to influence a bandersnatch!" and examines the ways the Inklings both inspired and provoked each other into writing better, more distinctly individual works than they would have without the group.
; and the NETS 2006/2007 Imperishable Flame Award. it was also nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Related Book at Denvention 3, the 66th World Science Fiction Convention
, held in Denver, Colorado
.
Diana Pavlac Glyer
Diana Pavlac Glyer is an American author, speaker and teacher whose work centers on C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Inklings.- Background :...
, an Inklings
Inklings
The Inklings was an informal literary discussion group associated with the University of Oxford, England, for nearly two decades between the early 1930s and late 1949. The Inklings were literary enthusiasts who praised the value of narrative in fiction, and encouraged the writing of fantasy...
scholar and English professor at Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University is a private, inter-denominational, evangelical Christian university located near Los Angeles in suburban Azusa, California. It was founded in 1899, with classes opening on March 3, 1900 in Whittier, California. It began offering degrees in 1939...
. The Company They Keep challenges the commonly held belief that the Inklings did not influence each other through a detailed and engaging examination of both published and unpublished works, papers, and letters written by J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield
Owen Barfield
Owen Barfield was a British philosopher, author, poet, and critic.Barfield was born in London. He was educated at Highgate School and Wadham College, Oxford and in 1920 received a 1st class degree in English language and literature. After finishing his B. Litt., which became the book Poetic...
, Warren Lewis
Warren Lewis
Warren Hamilton Lewis was an Irish British Army officer and historian, best known as the brother of the author and professor C. S. Lewis. Warren Lewis was a supply officer with the Royal Army Service Corps of the British Army during and after World War I...
and the lesser-known writers who comprised the Inklings
Inklings
The Inklings was an informal literary discussion group associated with the University of Oxford, England, for nearly two decades between the early 1930s and late 1949. The Inklings were literary enthusiasts who praised the value of narrative in fiction, and encouraged the writing of fantasy...
.
Dr Glyer provides the historical context for C.S. Lewis' famous statement that one doesn't influence Tolkien, one "might as well try to influence a bandersnatch!" and examines the ways the Inklings both inspired and provoked each other into writing better, more distinctly individual works than they would have without the group.
Awards
The Company They Keep: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien as Writers in Community is the winner of the 2008 Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Inklings StudiesMythopoeic Awards
The Mythopoeic Awards for literature and literary studies are given by the Mythopoeic Society to authors of outstanding works in the fields of myth, fantasy, and the scholarly study of these areas; the full criteria and description can be read on the Mythopoeic Society's -Mythopoeic Fantasy...
; and the NETS 2006/2007 Imperishable Flame Award. it was also nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Related Book at Denvention 3, the 66th World Science Fiction Convention
Worldcon
Worldcon, or more formally The World Science Fiction Convention, is a science fiction convention held each year since 1939 . It is the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society...
, held in Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.