[fantasyfan]

Charles Williams: The Third Inkling by Grevel Lindop

Finally we have a very fine biography of the “Third Inkling” Charles Williams. Grevel Lindop enables us to experience the mercurial intellectual brilliance and charismatic personality of this genius. It must be stated, though, that Williams is a genius nearly forgotten. In his preface Lindop gives the reasons why this happened and outlines his objectives in the biography. Essentially he hopes that it will result in a reassessment of Williams as a literary figure--particularly as a major poet. Additionally, we learn a considerable amount about the impact Williams had as a critic, dramatist, lecturer, novelist, Rosicrucian adept, theologian, and spiritual Guru who founded a mystical order of companions for lay people.

Lindop emphasises that the biography “ . . . is by no means an unmixed advocacy. “ He attempts {completely successfully in my opinion} to create a unified portrait so that “. . . a figure formerly regarded as somewhat mystifying becomes comprehensible, and much more interesting.” This process allows us to see a man whose fierce creative charisma seemed to necessitate certain disturbing sadomasochistic aspects. But a person who embodied a blazing sanctity and holiness also emerges. Younger women in particular found him hypnotically attractive and usually fell in love. At the same time he had problems with his marriage and his wife who clearly loved him had serious doubts about his ability to be a spiritual mentor and described the Rosicrucians with whom he associated during one phase of his life as "phonies". Grevel Lindop gives us a balanced narrative which reveals both the brilliance and darkness--the Yin and Yang--of this enigmatic friend of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

One thing is certain--he was a visionary who seemed to unite opposites and lived life with an incredible spiritual and creative intensity. He died at the height of his powers but left behind a legacy that deserves to be remembered. It is to be hoped that this very fine biography will initiate a reassessment of “The Third Inkling”.