Table of Contents

Introduction 1 Chapter 1 War Service 19 Chapter 2 Broadcast Talks 35 Chapter 3 Loved or Hated 58 Chapter 4 A Classic as Afterthought 84 Chapter 5 Into the Evangelical Orbit 97 Chapter 6 Many-Sided Mere Christianity 116 Chapter 7 Critiques 139 Chapter 8 The Lasting Vitality of Mere Christianity 153 Appendix Changes in Mere Christianity Compared to the Original Three Books 189 Acknowledgments 193

About the Author

George M. Marsden is the Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame. His books include Fundamentalism and American Culture, Jonathan Edwards: A Life, The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship, and The Soul of the American University. He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Reviews

"A clear and deeply informed account of a religious work that seems to have no expiration date."--Kirkus "Admirers of Lewis as well as those interested in the origins of recent Christian thought will be happy to dive into this densely packed volume."--Publishers Weekly "Books on Lewis abound. Marsden's belongs on the top shelf."--Booklist "[A]n insightful historical sketch"--The Gospel Coalition "If Marsden's biography of Mere Christianity encourages his readers to read or reread it for themselves, it may in its own way be an antidote for the attention to self that so dominates our culture."--Gilbert Meilaender, Commonweal "Marsden's book is fascinating and well-written and researched. It makes one want to go back to read Mere Christianity itself."--Frank Freeman, University Bookman "George Marsden provides a splendid account of the book's evolution ... and its reception."--Jonathan Wright, Catholic Herald "Marsden's work is a terrific exemplification of the contribution to knowledge which can be made by study of the reception history of texts... Fascinating insights emerge."--Peter Anthony, Church Times "[A] fascinating exploration of one of the most influential religious books of modern times."--Ryder Miller, San Francisco Book Review "Marsden's 'biography' of Lewis's Mere Christianity is an excellent commentary on a classic of modern Christian literature on spirituality."--Choice