Six Stars Out Of Five

'Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

As with many "serious" pieces of literature, I was introduced to C. S. Lewis' 'Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold in a college literature class. Even though I was an adult student (having partied my way through an unsuccessful first stint at school), and very serious about it (4.0 GPA), I didn't really want to read this book. Just didn't sound like my cup of tea; I hate fluffy literature, romance novels, and the like, and this just sounded soft and unsubstantial.

Boy, was I wrong.

Far from being all ribbons and curls, 'Till We Have Faces is a strong, insightful story that draws the reader in unsuspectingly. Slowly but surely, this little novel (313 pages) may cause you to rethink your own spirituality and life purpose.

'Till We Have Faces retells the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche from the viewpoint of Psyche's sister Orual. Lest you think you have to go out and read (or re-read) this myth before reading the book, don't worry. The story stands well on it's own.

The setting for the book is an unnamed time, in a mythical land of Glome. Because of the lack of modern technology, you assume it is set in the distant past. The leader of Glome (King Trom) has three daughters: Orual, Redival and Psyche. (Redival, while in the story, plays a relatively minor part.)

Psyche, the younger of the sisters, is beautiful both of face and spirit and beloved by all. She is sent as a sacrifice to the gods when trouble invades the township. Orual is ugly (in her own words) and as an adult, does not show her face in public. After her father's death, she is crowned queen, and finds that her life experiences have made her a wise and fair ruler.

The story centers around the love between the two sisters (Orual and Psyche), and Orual's unwillingness to share her sister, even to the point of extinguishing Psyche's every happiness.

The ending chapter of the book may be confusing on first read, and bear a second, third, or even fourth pass to make it fully understandable.

'Till We Have Faces examines love - deep, consuming love that can destroy a relationship if left to itself. It examines self-perceived truth that can become cloaked in jealousy and protectiveness. It examines spirituality, not the traditional relationship with God, but rather the internal holiness and sanctity that every person must find to discover their own being. It is a powerful, moving story that causes the reader to evaluate and think through their personal love, truth and spirituality, and the driving force behind each one.

Since that forced reading back in college, I have voluntarily re-read 'Till We Have Faces at least once a year. I have not only recommended it to friends and family, but have purchased several copies to give as gifts. I have found each reading that I freshly discover meaning and significance in passages. As opposed to most "popular" fiction, Lewis' 'Till We Have Faces has a classic feel to the writing style. This is not to say that it's hard to read, on the contrary, I find it reads quite easily.

C.S. Lewis is best known in the secular world for his children's Narnia books, and while this work is lesser recognized, it is truly a masterpiece.

--B. Redman