5 Things You Didn’t Know About C.S. Lewis (and Why They Matter in Shadowlands)

Posted on 20 Jan 2026

arrives in the West End, audiences are being invited not just into a beautiful love story, but into the real life of **C.S. Lewis** — the mind behind

. The

play explores the emotional awakening of **Lewis** through his relationship with **Joy Davidma**n, revealing the man behind the imagination: an Oxford academic whose carefully ordered world is quietly, and profoundly, reshaped by love.

Here are five lesser-known facts about **Lewis** that add extra depth to the experience of watching

the

Aldwych Theatre

in London.

Although **Lewis** is now famous for his Christian writing, he spent much of his early life as an atheist. His return to faith came slowly, influenced by friends at Oxford — including **J.R.R. Tolkien**. In

, this intellectual certainty is tested again, this time by love and real human connection, making his personal journey just as central as his philosophical one.

**Lewis** wasn’t working in isolation. He was a core member of the Inklings, an informal group of writers and academics that included **Tolkien**, the creator of

. They famously met in **Lewis**’s rooms at Magdalen College, Oxford, and at the Eagle and Child pub to read aloud and critique each other’s work. Knowing this adds another layer to the reserved academic you meet in

— a man surrounded by some of the greatest storytelling minds of the 20th century.

### 3. A Meeting of Minds That Changed Everything **Joy Davidman** arrived from America as a spirited poet whose wit and honesty challenged **Lewis**’s long-held beliefs. What began as a sharp, playful exchange of ideas becomes a deep emotional connection, drawing him out of his routines and into a more open, vulnerable way of seeing the world. The *Shadowlands* play places this evolving relationship at its centre, charting how friendship quietly blossoms into love. ### 4. He May Have Had Autistic Traits (But It’s Not a Fact) While **C.S. Lewis** was never formally diagnosed, some modern readers and researchers suggest he may have shown traits associated with autism, such as intense focus on specific interests, a strong preference for routine, and a tendency toward solitude. These interpretations are speculative and based on his letters and biographies rather than medical evidence. Still, the idea offers an intriguing lens for audiences watching *Shadowlands* — particularly as Joy draws him into a more unpredictable, emotionally open way of living. ### 5. Early Loss Shaped His Emotional World **Lewis** lost his mother, **Florence Lewis**, when he was just nine years old — an event many biographers believe had a lasting impact on how he approached relationships, grief, and emotional closeness. This background echoes through *Shadowlands*, where the story explores what it means for a guarded, highly intellectual man to risk opening his heart. ### Why This Matters When You See *Shadowlands* Knowing more about the man behind the books adds a richer layer to the experience of watching the [*Shadowlands* play](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-shadowlands). Rather than a historical portrait, it’s a close, human story about ideas being challenged, emotional walls coming down, and what can happen when someone who has lived largely in their head is forced to engage with the heart. With *Shadowlands tickets* now available for a limited West End run, this is a chance to see **C.S. Lewis** not as a distant literary figure, but as a complex, deeply relatable person brought to life on stage. Playing from 5 February to 9 May, book your [Shadowlands tickets](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/shadowlands-the-play-tickets) with us today