Day 56 (10/20 - Tues)

On this, my last day of my thus-far glorious Fall Break, I took up an invitation of a co-worker here to attend a special lecture tonight by Walter Hooper, the man responsible for managing the literary estate of C.S. Lewis and for publishing (and keeping in print) Lewis's work after his death. The talk recounted the history of his work as an advocate for Lewis' work in general, but focused specifically also on his editing of Lewis's personal letters for publication. Here he talks with a gaggle of interested undergraduates.



Perhaps most interesting were his many anecdotes about knowing both Lewis brothers (only one electric space heater per room!) and Tolkien ("I'm the master of this clock and I'll tell you when you can leave!"). A great talk -- time well invested.

It's interesting (and sobering) to consider that at this point in time we are privileged to be only one generation removed from these literary legends: "I know someone who knew that person." But the day will come when it will be two generations, then one day three. What will be remembered then? What will be lost? (thankfully, we have archivists who are on the job as you are reading this...)