W Starr Charlie

Light: C. S. Lewis's First and Final Short Story W Starr Charlie

That an unknown manuscript by C. S. Lewis should suddenly appear two decades after his death is remarkable. That it turns out to be a version of a previously published Lewis short story which some have accused of being a forgery, makes it a mystery. C. S. Lewis's "Light" manuscript appeared out of nowhere in 1985 after a different version of the story was published in 1977. Could "Light" be the final version of that story, the missing polished text which should have been published all along? And does it disprove or inflame the accusations of forgery? Charlie W. Starr explores the questions and reveals the truth that what Lewis scholars have previously believed about the story's origins is largely inaccurate, and that the insights into Lewis's thinking which "Light" reveals provide a new key to understanding some of Lewis's most profound ideas.

"As literary journalism, both investigative and critical, it is top shelf."

James Como, author of Remembering C. S. Lewis

"Starr's book explores a vitally important theme in Lewis's work - light."

Will Vaus, author of Speaking of Jack: A C. S. Lewis Discussion Guide

"Starr has done us all a great service ... I can't recommend this book highly enough."

Adam Barkman, author of C. S. Lewis and Philosophy as a Way of Life

"Starr shines a new and illuminating light on one of Lewis's most intriguing stories."

Michael Ward, author of Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C. S. Lewis

Charlie W. Starr is professor of English and Humanities at Kentucky Christian University.