The ideal of kingship in the writings of Charles Williams, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien : divine kingship is reflected in Middle-Earth

In his distinctive work, Christopher Scarf explores the writings of the three most prominent Oxford ‘Inklings’ – Charles Williams (1886-1945), C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), and J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) – to reveal and contrast their conceptions of the ideal of ‘Kingship’: divine, human, and mythological. As practising Christians, the faith of all three writers was central to their literary and personal visions of Kingship, society, love, beauty, justice and power. Scarf investigates their belief in God as Creator and Heavenly King, opinions on the nature of His very being, and the way in which all believed the Creator to be unique rather than one among many. The relation between the earthly and heavenly King is considered, as well as the extent to which the writers contend that earthly kings are God’s vice-regents, act with His authority, and are duty-bound to establish and sustain just and joyous societies. Examining the writings of all three men in detail, Scarf also highlights the covert evidence of their lives and personalities which may be discovered in their texts. An understanding of the authors’ individual but overlapping views of the essential meaning of Kingship, and their personalities and early lives, will enrich the reader’s appreciation of their created worlds. This volume provides a unique focus on Kingship and the Christian beliefs of three well-loved writers, and will be of interest to any reader seeking a fuller understanding of these individuals and their works. Whilst much has been written about Charles Williams, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien both individually and collectively, Scarf claims that the quintessential ideals of Kingship common to their work have never by themselves been studied. In exploring the ideals of kingship divine, human and mythological in the work of the three writers, Scarf discovers a variety of ideas, some overlapping, of a Creator-King. Scarf explores the concept in depth seeking out evidence for His attributes, His perceived purpose in creating, and whether any such purpose is reflected in His creations. The book considers whether the Creator involved demiurges, or simply created ex nihilo. Scarf also considers the entry of evil into a perfect creation, a question at the heart of Christian theology. As well as drawing on the works of the three authors, Scarf looks to their influences Old English poetry such as Beowulf, the Arthurian Legends and Greek history, as well as scholarly exegesis of Old and New Testament ideas of Ancient Hebrew kingship, and its ultimate fulfilment in Christ the King. This new work forms an inter-disciplinary approach to Kingship literary, theological and historic that offers the reader a key to a deeper understanding of the work of all three Oxford Inklings. Scarf ultimately claims that these ideas are important in the light of todays Christian belief (or lack of it) in contemporary Britain, and that it is only in understanding these ideas and ideals that the three mens true contributions to English Life and Literature can be fully appreciated. (James Clarke & Co 2013) In his distinctive work, Christopher Scarf explores the writings of the three most prominent Oxford Inklings - Charles Williams (1886-1945), C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), and J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) - to reveal and contrast their conceptions of the ideal of 'kingship'; divine, human, and mythological. As practising Christians, the faith of all three writers was central to their literary and personal visions of kingship, society, love, beauty, justice and power. Scarf investigates their beliefin God as Creator and heavenly King, opinions on the nature of His very being, and the way in which all believed the Creator to be unique rather than one among many. The relationship between the earthly and heavenly King is considered, as well as the extent to which the writers contend that earthly kings are God's viceregents, act with His authority, and are duty-bound to establish and sustain just and joyous societies. Examining the writings of all three men in detail, Scarf also highlights the covert evidence of their lives and personalities which may be discovered in their texts. An understanding of the authors' individual but overlapping views of the essential meaning of Kingship, and their personalities and early lives, will enrichthe reader's appreciation of their created worlds. This volume provides a unique focus on Kingship and the Christian beliefs of three well-loved writers, and will be of interest to any reader seeking a fuller understanding of the individuals and their works. Prologue: The Inkling's Ideals Of Kingship -- Williams And The Historical Notion Of Kingship -- Williams And The Vicegerent -- Williams And Life In The Kingdom -- Williams And The Ideal Of Kingship -- Lewis And The Historical Notion Of Kingship -- Lewis And The Experience Of Joy -- Lewis And The Hierarchy -- Lewis And The Ideal Of Kingship -- Tolkien And The Historical Notion Of Kingship -- Tolkien And The Divine Court -- Tolkien And The Ideal Of Kingship -- The Inklings And The Place Of Royalty -- Epilogue: The Inklings And The Wider World Of Fantasy. Christopher Scarf. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 194-200) And Index. Inter-disciplinary approach to Kingship: literary, theological and historic. The book offers the reader a key to a deeper understanding of the work of all three Oxford 'Inklings'.