What Order Should You Read C. S. Lewis Signature Classics?

C. S. Lewis was a British writer, academic, and lay theologian who is most well-known for his series of children’s fantasy novels, The Chronicles of Narnia. However, Lewis’ bibliography comprises dozens of books written throughout his thirty-year-long career. Eight of Lewis’ popular spiritual writings are gathered in the C. S. Lewis Signature Classics collection.

You should read C. S. Lewis Signature Classics in publication order. This will allow you to see how Lewis’s ideas and writing style have evolved over the years. None of the books share the same characters or plot but are connected through themes such as Christian spirituality, morality, and love.

This article will explain why you should read C. S. Lewis Signature Classics in publication order. It will also discuss how many books the collection contains if they are related to the Chronicles of Narnia series, and provide a short description of each book, so read on.

The Best Reading Order for C. S. Lewis Signature Classics

You can read C. S. Lewis Signature Classics in any order. Each book stands on its own and does not require knowledge of one to understand another. However, I recommend reading the books in the order they were published.

C. S. Lewis’s ideas and beliefs evolved as he got older. By reading C. S. Lewis’s Signature Classics in publication order, readers can observe these changes reflected in Lewis’ writing.

The books in C. S. Lewis Signature Classics were originally published in the following chronological order.

The Problem of Pain
The Screwtape Letters
The Abolition of Man
The Great Divorce
Mere Christianity
The Four Loves
Miracles
A Grief Observed

Is C. S. Lewis Signature Classics Part of the Narnia Series?

C. S. Lewis is most famous for his contributions to fantasy and children’s literature in the form of The Chronicles of Narnia.

The seven books in the series are Lewis’ legacy. While the books are written for a younger audience, readers of all ages have loved the series. For more information on the Narnia books, look at this article.

C. S. Lewis’s Signature Classics are not connected to The Chronicles of Narnia. The books contained in Signature Classics are written for an adult audience. The themes of spirituality, morality, and grief are likely too complex for a child reader to understand.

Although The Chronicles of Narnia has some references to Christian ideas (the character of Aslan is interpreted as an allegory for Jesus Christ), they require no knowledge of theology.

How Many Books Are in C. S. Lewis Signature Classics?

The answer to this question is a little complicated. C. S. Lewis Signature Classics were first published by Harper Collins in 2001 and featured only six titles, as given below.

Mere Christianity
The Screwtape Letters
A Grief Observed
The Problem of Pain
Miracles
The Great Divorce

Later editions of the collection include two more titles: The Abolition of Man and The Four Loves. However, some editions only include The Abolition of Man, not The Four Loves.

There are currently fourteen different editions of C. S. Lewis Signature Classics, the most recent being published in 2021. Some are box sets, and some are condensed into a single volume. They are available in paperback, hardcover, and as ebooks.

Before purchasing a copy, check the summary and table of contents to see which titles are included. Otherwise, you may miss out on two of the eight books.

Summary of Stories in C. S. Lewis Signature Classics

1. The Problem of Pain

The Problem of Pain is a nonfiction book published in 1940. The book investigates “the problem of evil,” a philosophical question that seeks to answer how “evil” and suffering can co-exist in a world with the Christian God. As well as investigating the reason(s) why human beings experience suffering, Lewis also seeks to answer why animals must suffer.

2. The Screwtape Letters

The Screwtape Letters is a novel published in 1942. It is the first of the two fictional works in C. S. Lewis Signature Classics. The story is about a demon called Screwtape who instructs his nephew Wormwood (also a demon) on ensuring a young man’s damnation. It is an epistolary novel, meaning the narrative is told as a series of letters.

3. The Abolition of Man

The Abolition of Man is a nonfiction book published in 1943. In this book, Lewis argues that specific moral values are universal and objective rather than subjective. This book was not initially included in the first edition of C. S. Lewis Signature Classics but can be found in later versions.

4. The Great Divorce

The Great Divorce is a novel published in 1945. It is the second of the two fictional works in C. S. Lewis Signature Classics. The story follows an unnamed narrator as he rides a bus from Hell to Heaven. The novel is an allegory for the Christian concepts of the afterlife. It is heavily inspired by texts such as John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678) and Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy (1320).

5. Mere Christianity

Mere Christianity is a nonfiction book published in 1952. The book seeks to lay a foundation for all Christians to find common ground. It explores theological topics such as the existence of God and Christian ethics.

It is adapted from three previously published books by Lewis.

Broadcast Talks (1942)
Christian Behaviour (1943)
Beyond Personality (1944)

6. Miracles

Miracles is a nonfiction book originally published in 1947 but later revised and republished in 1960. The 1960 edition of the book is one you are most likely to find sold in bookstores and by online retailers. As the title suggests, the book investigates the possibility and legitimacy of miraculous events.

7. The Four Loves

The Four Loves is a nonfiction book published in 1960. Lewis examines love from a philosophical perspective. This book was not initially included in the first edition of C. S. Lewis Signature Classics but can be found in later versions.

The types of love that Lewis identifies and describes in the book are as follows.

Storge: love for family members, such as that between parents and children.
Philia: love between friends and those who share common values and interests.
Eros: love between romantic partners, distinct from physical desire (“Venus”).
Agape: charitable love, the “greatest” love that Lewis held as a Christian value.

8. A Grief Observed

A Grief Observed is a nonfiction book published in 1961. This book concerns Lewis’ struggle with loss and mourning following his wife Joy Davidson’s death in 1960. The book was originally published under a pseudonym (“N.W. Clerk”) and later republished in 1963 under Lewis’ name.

Final Thoughts

C. S. Lewis is most famous for The Chronicles of Narnia, but the works in C. S. Lewis Signature Classics are also widely read and enjoyed by adult readers. The eight books in the collection exhibit Lewis’ expertise as a theologian and academic and his writing skills. They can be read in any order but are best enjoyed in publication order.