The Discarded Image

An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature

By: C. S. Lewis

Narrated by: Richard Elwood

The Discarded Image paints a lucid picture of the medieval worldview, providing the historical and cultural background to the literature of the middle ages and renaissance. It describes the 'image' discarded by later years as "the medieval synthesis itself, the whole organization of their theology, science, and history into a single, complex, harmonious mental model of the universe". This, Lewis' last book, has been hailed as "the final memorial to the work of a great scholar and teacher and a wise and noble mind".

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A Masterful Guide to the Medieval Mind

I absolutely loved this book. Lewis’s writing is as engaging as ever, blending fine scholarship with a conversational, almost whimsical voice that makes the dense material feel accessible and enjoyable. His commentary is both enlightening and deeply insightful, offering a masterful exploration of the medieval and Renaissance worldview.

This book has also been particularly helpful in preparing me to dive into medieval classics like Dante and Mallory, providing invaluable context for understanding their worlds and the mental frameworks they inhabited. Beyond that, Lewis’s exploration of the "medieval model of the universe" has given me a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration for my own writing. The detailed glimpse into the intricate, symbolic, and often beautiful worldview of the Middle Ages is proving to be tremendously useful as I work on my fantasy novel this year. For anyone interested in history, literature, or medieval cosmology, this book is an indispensable gem.

A beautiful gem of scholarship and writing.

Though I had sought out Lewis’ works in conventional outlets, I hadn’t seen this before. Delightful!

Venus and Mars are alright tonight!

This book is an excellent companion piece to Lewis’ Ransom trilogy much like the Abolition of Man is an excellent supplement to That Hideous Strength. Without any understanding of the medieval cosmological model, it is very difficult to understand what Lewis was trying to accomplish through his Space books. I would have to say, and let me add that I’m grateful that this book got in under the wire prior to Lewis’ death, that this work alone ties an invisible thread that runs through every book of Lewis’ catalog. Also see Aristotle’s On the Heavens.

CS Lewis

Thank you for making The Discarded Image available. CS Lewis ought to be read by everyone. This piece brings the listener to the best lecture halls a university offers.

Lewis at his scholarly best

This is a wonderful book, and one that I’ve read many times over the years. It’s an essential vademecum for any reader of medieval literature, and provides a fascinating glimpse into the structural and stylistic features of Lewis’s (and Tolkien’s) own fiction as well. It’s great to finally have an audio recording of this one!