On Stories: And Other Essays on Literature

On Stories is a companion volume to Lewis's collected shorter fiction, The Dark Tower and Other Stories and presents the literary face of C.S. Lewis's many aspects.

The theme of this collection is the excellence of Story, especially the kind of story dear to C.S. Lewis—fantasy and science fiction, which he fostered in an age dominated by realistic fiction. Gathered here are nine essays, including "On Stories" and "On Three Ways of Writing for Children," and eleven pieces not previously collected, among them reviews of works by J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, Rider Haggard, and George Orwell; a panegyric to Dorothy Sayers; and an essay, "The Death of Words," which shows how common usage can distort and deprive language.

"Lucid, urbane, modest, and humorous."—Anthony Burgess

C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) gained international renown for an impressive array of beloved works both popular and scholarly: literary criticism, children's literature, fantasy literature, and numerous books on theology. Among his most celebrated achievements are Out of the Silent Planet, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, The Four Loves, and Surprised by Joy.