Shakespeare in (and on) the Margins: The Lesser Told Story of C.S. Lewis’ Readerly and Writerly Engagement(s) with Shakespeare

“…the theory is very shaky and seems to be based less on evidence than on a predetermination to acquit Shakespeare of the worst passages” (C.S. Lewis, c. 1930-31)  Although better known as an apologist, children’s writer, or medievalist, Lewis also engaged deeply with Shakespeare. Dr. Waters will explore the different and varied ways we see Lewis exploring Shakespeare (and his critics), and the way he pulls on Shakespeare as a frame of reference pointing, as he does, to not only the immediate stories, characters, and themes, or even to his own extensive Renaissance learning, but using Shakespeare also to point towards the Story.

Dr. Sarah Waters is a Lecturer in English Literature and Honorary Junior Research Fellow at the University of Buckingham. Dr. Waters was the first Shuster Grant Recipient from the Marion E. Wade Center in 2019.