Book Review: "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S.Lewis

 

Charles Staples Lewis (1898-1963) remains one of the giants of theology and literature, penning such classics as the “Chronicles of Narnia”, “Mere Christianity” and “Surprised by Joy”.  “The Screwtape Letters” first published during World War II in 1942 and dedicated to his contemporary J.R.R.Tolkien rightfully sits amongst Lewis’ collected works as a modern classic.

The Screwtape Letters is a collection of missals from a senior devil, Screwtape, to his junior nephew, Wormwood, whose mission it is to lure an unsuspecting human onto the path to Hell and keep him there.  It’s an interesting premise and the letter format allows for the fact that we do not have any direct dialogue between the two. Screwtape’s alone is the voice that we hear. He orchestrates the plot from start to conclusion and is characterised so deftly that one can almost imagine him peering over one’s shoulder, chuckling in self-congratulation at the book reviews.

Lewis’ genius lies not only in his imaginative plotline, but also the deft and sensitive way in which he can present thirty-one chapters of diabolical scheming in a flowing style which allows easy reading. Such an attempt could easily have descended into drab moralism or absurd farce but Lewis presents neither. The gravity of the moral issues are underscored with wry humour and an ever-present awareness of the power of the Enemy-God.

Be assured this is no enjoyable fairy story. Lewis himself asserts that one can fall into the two extremes not believing that devils exist, or believing in them in an obsessive and unhealthy way. The purpose of this novel is not to provide an introduction to the occult.

There are, however, deep moral lessons to be learned from “The Screwtape Letters”. It’s packed with advice on what not to do. It’s not a book to be read, enjoyed, put away and forgotten. In fact it would be ideal reading for a book club or small group to study and discuss.

For personal study I found it an interesting exercise after reading the book once to look through each chapter and note what the temptations were that Screwtape was advocating. Some were obvious, such as procrastination; others such as peevishness were more subtle. Once you have a list you could then opt to write down what you think God would wish his people to be characterised by instead i.e. what would be the opposite action to this temptation.

It's no small feat for a Christian author to imagine himself and write as a devil. No doubt Lewis weighed carefully the personal responsibility of doing so. The volume I read included a short story, “Screwtape proposes a toast”, first published in the Saturday Evening Post in 1959. In its introduction Lewis states

“Screwtape’s advice to Wormwood should have been balanced by archangelical advice to the patient’s guardian angel. Without this the picture of human life is lop-sided. But who could supply the deficiency? Even if a man- and he would have to be a far better man than I – could scale the spiritual heights required, what ‘answerable style’ could he use?”

There is of course only one book which can adequately  impart the glory of God and instruct mankind in the right way to live, and that is the Bible, written by human hands under Divine inspiration.

“The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis,  William Collins 2016