The name C.S. Lewis brings back fond childhood memories of The Chronicles of Narnia. Of a magical land which could be reached through a wardrobe, of talking animals and wicked witches. So I was overjoyed to receive the book, Surprised By Laughter: The Comic Word of C.S. Lewis by Terry Lindvall, in hopes of learning more about this acclaimed novelist.
To be honest, I wasn't quite as familiar with Lewis's non-fictions works in comparison to his children's literature. Lindvall's wonderful biography highlighted many key aspects of Lewis's life that were previously unknown to me. Surprised By Laughter is the trade paperback edition of a hardcover book, and at 486 pages, it's not a lightweight-neither in size nor content. The author takes us on a journey through Lewis's life, from his childhood as an atheist, to adulthood as a Christian as well as his becoming of a well known theologian and apologist.
Lindvall illustrates through elegant writing, that what set C. S. Lewis apart was his use of humor in his work, and in his everyday life. Not to say that Lewis was a comedian, but that he had the ability to reach out to people and bring joy in his role as a spokesperson for Christianity.
The topics of this book provoke deeper thought into the messages behind Lewis's humor and the greatness of his legacy. It is evident that Surprised By Laughter: The Comic Word of C.S. Lewis involved heavy research the result is a wonderfully informative and detailed biography. Again, this is no small book, and might not be for the faint of heart, but there is much to be gleaned from completing it. Terry Lindvall's work is a lovely asset to those interested about C. S. Lewis. 4/5
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