The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Did CS Lewis influence tolkiens writings in any way??

littlemanpoet · 02-10-2002, 03:09 PM

I forget the exact quote, but I think it was C.S. Lewis who once said of Tolkien something like "he's harder to influence than a bandersnatch." The ONLY influence any of the inklings had on Tolkien was encouragement, according to everything I've read. It's kind of sad considering the influence these two men have had, that they grew apart and lost touch - not becoming unfriends, perhaps, but they were no longer friends after Lewis published his Narnia series because Tolkien was horrified by the books. I think it would not be too strong a phrase to say that he despised the books.

02-10-2002, 03:09 PM	#11
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	I forget the exact quote, but I think it was C.S. Lewis who once said of Tolkien something like "he's harder to influence than a bandersnatch." The ONLY influence any of the inklings had on Tolkien was encouragement, according to everything I've read. It's kind of sad considering the influence these two men have had, that they grew apart and lost touch - not becoming unfriends, perhaps, but they were no longer friends after Lewis published his Narnia series because Tolkien was horrified by the books. I think it would not be too strong a phrase to say that he despised the books.