The Inklings: A Select Reading
Fantasy classics and obscure works from an iconic Oxford literary group.
Who were the Inklings?
The Inklings referred to an informal literary group mainly composed by Oxford students and faculty, with the purpose of reading and discussing the members’ unfinished works.
The most notable among The Inklings included authors J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Charles Williams and Owen Barfield, although other personalities of Oxford University took part of the group’s regular meetings at “The Eagle and Child” pub. The likes of Shakespeare expert Hugo Dyson, scholar and playwright Nevill Coghill, and award-winning historian Lord David Cecil were also part of the group.
Paragons of High Fantasy
To say that The Inklings redefined modern fantasy fiction is an understatement. The works of Tolkien and Lewis made high fantasy a mainstream literary genre, inspiring many of today’s best-selling fiction authors such as George R. R. Martin and Neil Gaiman.
It is important to point out, however, that not all of The Inklings enjoyed their peers’ fantasy fiction, with Dyson being one of the most vocal deterrents of fantasy readings during the group’s meetings. According to Christopher Tolkien, the son of J. R. R. Tolkien and a fellow Inkling himself, Dyson at one point shouted “Oh no, not another f***ing elf!” during a reading of The Lord of the Rings, and eventually the readings stopped altogether.
Nevertheless, The Inklings continued to be a place of literary discussion, where Lewis and other writers continued to seek feedback for works such as The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe. It is safe to say that the world of fantasy literature would not be the same without The Inklings and their lasting legacy.
More than a Literary Society
The group that gathered in the “Rabbit Room” of The Eagle and Child was, above all, a circle of friends and family. They shared common interests and pursuits in literature, as well as common (and sometimes opposing) ideas on politics, philosophy and religion. And while The Inklings changed modern literature with their writings, they also changed their fellow members with their discussions.
Most notably, The Inklings had a profound effect on converting C. S. Lewis to Christianity. Members like Tolkien, Dyson and Barfield played a critical role in his conversion and directly influenced Lewis’ works, especially those that compose The Chronicles of Narnia.
Their discussions on religion and spirituality turned Lewis from an atheist who dismissed Christianity as “supernaturalism” to one of the faith’s fiercest apologists of the 20th century — a near “Saul-to-Paul” twist which in turn influenced every following generation of Christian theologians and novelists.
Six Inklings, Six Works
J. R. R. Tolkien, “The Hobbit”
By far the most recognizable title in this list, The Hobbit is a classic that completely transformed the fantasy genre. Heavily influenced both by Tolkien’s interest in legends and his troubled experiences in World War I, The Hobbit follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, a jolly good Hobbit fellow living in the quiet, peaceful Shire — until he is drawn into an epic quest featuring a powerful itinerant wizard named Gandalf and a company of boisterous dwarves set on reclaiming their home from the dragon Smaug.
Since it was written in 1937, The Hobbit has remained a classic in children’s literature and a popular work among fantasy fiction enthusiasts. Together with The Lord of the Rings trilogy published between 1954 and 1955, The Hobbit has spawned numerous TV and movie adaptations and derivative works across all kinds of media. The novel is a must for everyone who wants to dive into Tolkien’s realm of fantasy or is simply looking for a good adventure to read alongside a good cup of tea.
C. S. Lewis, “Out of the Silent Planet”
While best known for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and other works set in the world of Narnia (which we explore in another article), author C. S. Lewis first made his mark in science fiction with Out of the Silent Planet, published one year after Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Lewis’ novel follows Elwin Ransom, a professor at Cambridge University who is kidnapped by two other men and brought to Malacandra, a Mars-like planet inhabited by different species of humanoid aliens.
Much like The Chronicles of Narnia and other fictional works by Lewis, Out of the Silent Planet is filled to the brim with his characteristic use of allegory and social critique. The novel strikes particularly hard at the growing presence of Evolutionism themes in fiction literature and the ambiguous morals they propose.
C. S. Lewis followed Out of the Silent Planet with two sequels, Perelandra and That Hideous Strength; the books are collectively referred as “The Space Trilogy” or “Cosmic Trilogy,” and are still favorably regarded by its readers, especially among Christian audiences. If you’re a fan of Lewis’ Narnia and science fiction, you will definitely enjoy reading these earlier novels.
Charles Williams, “Descent into Hell”
Not as well-known as his fellow Inklings Tolkien and Lewis, Charles Williams still managed to conceive a noteworthy novel that stands the test of time. Descent into Hell is the living proof of Williams’ status as “the greatest Inkling” with its uncanny and bewildering plot, overflowing with mind-boggling mysticism mixed with the ever-present themes of redemption and damnation.
The story follows multiple characters and the struggles they face — literal ghosts of their past that threaten to bring these characters to a spiritual fall. Williams’ deep belief in the theological concept of “co-inherance” is central to the novel as characters who don’t share each other’s spectral burdens eventually succumb to their own.
Ripe with allusions both literary and biblical, Descent into Hell is a heavy reading, though worthwhile to many enthusiasts of this kind of Christian fiction. The novel is often paired with C. S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce as a Christian symbolism heavyweight and a “theological thriller” that appeals to many fans of Lewis’ work.
Owen Barfield, “The Silver Trumpet”
The so-called “First and Last Inkling” was instrumental in C. S. Lewis’ conversion — as was his work, in the way of The Silver Trumpet. The first fantasy fiction book published by an Inkling, The Silver Trumpet arguably sets the tone for the fantasy works written by Tolkien and Lewis.
The book is very much a work of children’s literature featuring kings and queens, magic and chivalry — and at the center of it all, a plot device with a powerful ability. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
While it remains largely obscure today, The Silver Trumpet is regarded as one of Barfield’s best works. It was his only venture into fantasy fiction, but its influence on his fellow Inklings was substantial — and for that reason alone, Barfield’s fantasy legacy deserves further examination in our days.
Warren Lewis, “The Splendid Century”
Unlike his brother Clive and other prominent Inklings, Warren Lewis did not find in himself a passion to write high fantasy. A military officer who served Great Britain in World Wars I and II, the elder of the two Lewis brothers had a different literary interest instead: historical fiction, more specifically fiction set in 17th century France.
The Splendid Century is the realization of that interest. It is less of a creative narrative and more of an informative collection of essays on the life and times of Louis XIV, written from the point of view of the main character, the Chevalier d’Arvieux. The book describes in detail the differences between the French social strata of the time, employing a good deal of French words and sentences that may puzzle those unfamiliar with the language.
Still, The Spendid Century is worth a try, given it stands as both W. H. Lewis’ best work and a fascinating account of “the Sun-King” and his glorious days.
Roger Lancelyn Green, “The Luck of Troy”
A peripheral figure among the Inklings, Roger Lancelyn Green — father of renowned Sherlock Holmes scholar Richard Lancelyn Green — achieved literary success as a children’s writer and biographer. A lifelong friend of C. S. Lewis, whom he met as an undergraduate student at Oxford, Green wrote primarily children’s fiction based on medieval legends and tales from antiquity — The Luck of Troy being one of his finest examples of this trend.
The story is a retelling of the Trojan War as seen through the eyes of Nicostratus, the teenage son of Menelaus and Helen of Troy, who has grown up in Troy but struggles to reconcile his loyalty to his Trojan friends with his Greek identity. The book is filled with interesting little tidbits regarding the ancient Greek culture, adding to a more vivid and colorful story.
Sixty years on and The Luck of Troy continues to be a worthwhile read for young boys and girls who love thrilling adventures set in ancient times.
