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Description edit
A story one will read over and over and still be learning from it. Lewis was a great lover of Greek and Ancient Mythology. Here he retells the tale of Psyche from the point of view of her half-sister who, as so often is the case with me, carries her complain before the gods of their neglect of... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
This is essentially the myth of cupid and psyche, retold from a different worldview.
Characters/People edit
- Orual (or Maia): Eldest princess of Glome, Orual is the ugly sister who becomes caretaker of Istra (Psyche).
- Psyche (or Istra): Orual's youngest sister, the most beautiful child in the land. She is offered up to the Shadowbrute/God of the Grey Mountain/Son of Ungit/Cupid in the hopes of saving Glome.
- The Fox (or Grandfather): The princess' Greek tutor.
- Redival: The middle sister, between Orual and Psyche, beautiful but spoiled and shallow.
- Bardia: Captain of the guard in Glome. He is secretly loved by Orual during his lifetime.
- Argan: Prince of Phars, went to war against his brother and father. Is later killed in a duel by Orual.
- Arnom: Second high priest in Glome. Becomes high priest when Ansit dies, and becomes a great advisor to Oural during her reign.
- Batta: Nurse to the three princesses.
- Poobi: One of Orual's most beloved maidservants.
- Ansit: High priest of Ungit for most of the book. When he dies, he is replaced by Arnom.
- Ungit: Known as Aphrodite in Greek.
- Prince Trunia: Add a description of this character.
- Helen
- Daaran
- Talapal
- Ilerdia
- Ialim
- Gram
- Tarin
- Anchises
- Queen Orual
- Socrates
Quotes edit
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“Holy wisdom is not clear and thin like water, but thick and dark like blood.”
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“"Long did I hate you, long did I fear you"”
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“How can <the gods> meet us face to face till we have faces?”
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“Don't you think a dream would feel shy if it were seen walking about in the waking world?”
Psyche (or Istra) -
“What I shall remember forever is the change that presently came over his face. It was to me an utter astonishment. I did not understand it. I should now. I have since seen the faces of other men as they began to believe, "This is death." You will know it if you have seen it; life more alive than ever, a raging, tortured intensity of life.”
Orual
Setting & Locations edit
First Sentence edit
I AM old now and have not much to fear from the anger of gods.
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Fairy Tale Retellings. (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- C. S. Lewis (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Geoffrey Bles
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1956
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 313
Publisher: Geoffrey Bles
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1956
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 313
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 823.912
Subjects edit
- Books › Literature & Fiction › Authors, A-Z › ( L ) › Lewis, C.S.
- Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction › Action & Adventure
- Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › Mythology
- Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary
- Books › Literature & Fiction › Classics
- Books › Literature & Fiction › Classics
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