Till We Have Faces
With Annie Crawford
Till We Have Faces
With Annie Crawford
Discover the symbolic depths of the best book C.S. Lewis ever wrote.
This January, join classical educator and C.S. Lewis scholar Annie Crawford for a Symbolic World reading of Lewis’s final and most profound work, Till We Have Faces. This reimagining of the ancient myth of Cupid and Psyche is a modern novel that explores timeless themes of idolatry, divine hiddenness, longing, and redemption—culminating in a masterful narrative born from decades of reflection and creative effort.
While Lewis is widely known for The Chronicles of Narnia, Till We Have Faces represents the height of his literary and intellectual maturity. The novel invites readers to wrestle with deep questions of faith, love, and human nature through a compelling narrative voice and rich symbolic imagery. It is a work that rewards readers who are willing to engage with its complexity and beauty.
Exclusive Discount to Symbolic World VIP Patrons
TWHF12469
Course Overview
Why Till We Have Faces Matters
Unlike Lewis’s more straightforward works, Till We Have Faces is a culmination of his lifelong engagement with myth, reason, and faith. Through the character of Orual, the novel’s narrator, Lewis explores themes of brokenness, self-deception, and redemption with a depth and artistry unmatched in his earlier writings.
This story draws readers into a transformative encounter with both human and divine realities—revealing truths that are often hidden, yet deeply felt. Anyone in the Symbolic World community would find this read intriguing and illuminating.
Why Join This Course?
- Unlock the Richness of Lewis’s Greatest Work: Till We Have Faces is densely layered with meaning. Annie Crawford’s expertise in both C.S. Lewis’s thought and literary analysis will help you discover its hidden depths.
- Explore Timeless Questions: The novel addresses significant themes that resonate deeply in our modern world:
- The role and power of myth
- The ways in which God remains hidden
- The limits of reason and the purpose of longing
- The reordering of loves and desires (ordo amoris)
- The transformation of the human soul
- Lewis’s literary and philosophical influences
- Benefit from a Unique Symbolic Perspective: Annie Crawford brings a sacramental and symbolic approach to Lewis’s work, shaped by her involvement in the Symbolic World community and her understanding of Jonathan Pageau’s insights on myth and meaning.
Whether you’re reading Till We Have Faces for the first time or revisiting it with fresh eyes, this course will provide the tools and guidance to fully experience its depth and beauty. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore Lewis’s most challenging and rewarding novel with an experienced and insightful guide.
What to Expect
- 4 Weeks of Engaging Study: Live sessions will take place every Friday at 2 PM CT, starting January 17th, 2025.
- A Full Learning Experience: Each week includes live lectures, guided discussions, additional readings, and bonus videos to enrich your understanding.
- On-Demand Access: Can’t attend live? All sessions will be recorded and available for you to watch at your convenience, with downloadable audio, along with supplementary materials.
About Your Instructor
Annie Crawford is a respected classical educator and C.S. Lewis scholar known for her thoughtful and accessible approach to literature and theology. According to Dr. Michael Ward, author of Planet Narnia, “Annie Crawford approaches C.S. Lewis’s works with both sensitivity and rigor. She is thoughtful, insightful, and a talented communicator, ably balancing theological considerations with respect for literary forms.”
Course Details
Live Course Schedule
Live classes will be on Fridays at 2 - 4 pm CT
Session 1 - Jan 17th, 2025 (Part I: Chapters 1-7)
Session 2 - Jan 24th, 2025 (Part I: Chapters 8-14)
(No class Jan 31st)
Session 3 - Feb 7th, 2025 (Part I: Chapters 15-21)
Session 4 - Feb 14th, 2025 (Part II)
What you'll need
Get your own copy of Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
Book Description:
This twist on an old story is an exploration of love—between sisters, between friends, between teacher and pupil, between men and women. Till We Have Faces is retold through the eyes of Psyche’s oldest sister, Orual.
Orual was born ugly and even though she’s a princess, she struggles with the death of her mother and the friction between her sisters. There are two lights in Orual’s life. One is her tutor, the Fox, a Greek slave captured through war. The other is her much younger sister Istra, later nicknamed Psyche, born from Orual’s father’s second marriage. Istra is beautiful and sweet and good and Orual loves her as a daughter. When the priest of Ungit says that Psyche’s great beauty is an insult to the goddess and she must be sacrificed, Orual fights to prevent this. When Orual expects to find her sister dead, she finds her well and thriving, yet, why can’t Orual see what Psyche sees? Blinded by her jealous love, Orual casts blame on the duplicity of gods. What is the truth? What is real?
Lewis’s novel is a brilliant examination of envy, loss, betrayal, blame, grief, guilt, and conversion. Why must holy places be dark places? Lewis reminds us of our own fallibility and the role of a higher power in our lives. “Holy places are dark places. It is life and strength, not knowledge and words, that we get in them. Holy wisdom is not clear and thin like water, but thick and dark like blood.”
Course Outline
Associated Courses
Related Content
Presenters
Annie Crawford
Annie Crawford is a cultural apologist and classical educator with a Master of Arts in Cultural Apologetics from Houston Baptist University. She teaches apologetics and humanities courses and is co-founder of The Society for Women of Letters. She has written for The Blyth Institute, American Thinker, Circe Institute, The Worldview Bulletin, Classical Academic Press, and An Unexpected Journal, where she is a founding editor and writer. Learn more at anniecrawford.net.
