Into the Region of Awe: Mysticism in C. S. Lewis
"C. S. Lewis did not think of himself as a mystic, David Downing argues, but he was far more interested in mysticism and even the occult than many people imagine. Downing plumbs both Lewis's fiction and nonfiction and shows convincingly that the cast of Lewis's mind is not exhausted by his brilliant intellect and his fertile literary imagination. Deep within Lewis lies an appreciation for, and engagement with, the mystical way. Downing offers a wonderful corrective to a C. S. Lewis we are tempted to cut down to fit our own mental, spiritual and imaginative wardrobe. Beautifully written, a joy to read." (James Sire, author of The Universe Next Door)"One does not commonly think of finding C. S. Lewis in the ranks of 'mystical' writers--Evelyn Underhill, Baron von Hügel, Meister Eckhart and company. But David Downing has probed, with great skill (and fidelity to Lewis's own vision) the works which we all know, and has opened up to us a fresh appreciation of this component in Lewis's writings. . . .  Downing's prose style is worthy of his topic." (Thomas Howard, author of C. S. Lewis: Man of Letters and Splendor in the Ordinary)