Bright Shadow of Reality: Spiritual Longing in C. S. Lewis

The writings of C. S. Lewis stir a profound sense of spiritual longing—a desire for joy lying beyond the offerings of this world. Known to the Romantic tradition by the German word sehnsucht, this concept has been a recurrent theme in some of humanity’s most powerful works of literature. Bright Shadow of Reality has been lauded as the best study of this idea since its publication in 1974. Corbin Scott Carnell presents sehnsucht as a key to understanding the writings of C. S. Lewis’ life, theology, and literary legacy. Paying special attention to Lewis’ space trilogy and Till We Have Faces, Carnell evaluates Lewis’ portrayal and reflection on the concept of sehnsucht and its relationship to the human quest for joy.