Don W. King

NCLA Review - Joy Davidman is best known as the American woman who married C.S. Lewis. She was also a poet, novelist, book and movie reviewer, and wrote a book on the Ten Commandments which is still in print. Don King, a professor of English at Monreat College and editor of Christian Scholar's Review, has gathered the letters of Joy Davidman, plus the autobiographical essay, "The Longest Way Round," which chronicles her journey from secular Judaism, to atheism, to communism, and eventually to Christianity. The letters provide a fascinating insight into an intellectual and curious mind, as well as illustrating the struggle of her marriage to William Gresham, her relationship with C.S. Lewis, and her emotional state when dealing with the cancer that took her life at the age of 45. Mr. King's purpose for this book was to reveal a woman who was not only brilliant, but was a spiritually perceptive Christian, one who was misunderstood by many of Lewis' friends, who saw her as a predator. To the contrary, her letters reveal that she was adored and deeply loved by Lewis and his brother. Obviously, this book would be a valuable addition to the college or research library, but church libraries with a heavy emphasis on biographies or on works by C.S. Lewis would also find this a useful addition. Rating: 4 —BS… (mere)