As I said in the re-introduction to
this blog, the Inklings -- C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles
Williams -- have been very influential in forming my views of reason,
imagination, and literary fantasy. Williams wrote seven wild, crazy,
bizarre “spiritual thrillers.” The Place of the Lion is my
favorite.
A series has just ended over on my other blog, The Oddest Inkling, in which several readers wrote their responses to The Place of the Lion. Most of these readers were shocked by this book. It's extremely startling! I won't spoil or even summarize it here; please go and read the posts.
First, the book is visually gorgeous.
There are descriptions of an enormous golden lion, a humongous
multi-colored butterfly, a fire that burns in the shape of a phoenix
and does not consume, a visionary mystic soaring in his mind's eye
like a eagle.
Second, the events of the book are
shocking; when I first read it, Williams kept smacking me upside the
head with philosophical surprises. I know I'm wired differently than
the average Jane (I guess): I get my kicks from the appearance of
Platonic forms. (OK, I also get kicks from the appearance of, say,
Benedict Cumberbatch—but that's a different post!). When a gigantic
lion appeared in the sunset and turned out to be the Platonic form of
strength, a shiver of heaven ran through me, lifting me into realms
of glory.
Third, the spiritual lesson was hard and
painful, but (perhaps therefore) also glorious. Every time I reread
it, I am convicted. One of the main characters is a woman trying to
be a scholar, and she has turned her studies into a kind of dry
idolatry. I do that. So Williams terrifies me.
Finally, the ending soars up into heights
of sweet desire. But I won't spoil it. Read it!
1 comment:
Wow, appreciate your honesty in the comment about a character turning her studies into a kind of dry idolatry, and linking that to yourself. We all struggle with different idols - I do for sure! - even if most of us hide it in our public, capable selves. It's a fine line between getting pleasure in something you were obviously gifted to do and called to do, and going over the line into worship!
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