Rediscovering Love with C.S. Lewis

The Makings of The Four Loves

While reading through Lewis’s letters this past month, I was struck by the origin story of The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis’s beloved exploration of love in its various forms. If you need a refresher, this cherished book dives deep into the complexities of love, using ancient Greek words—Storge, Philia, Eros, and Agape—as its foundation. But what some may not know is that the book began its life as a series of radio talks for the Episcopal Radio Hour in 1958.

The station had reached out to Lewis, asking him to record a series of 15-minute talks on a subject of his choosing. At the time, C.S. Lewis was navigating a deeply emotional period in his life. His wife, Joy Davidman, had recently emerged from a grueling battle with cancer. Following her recovery, the couple set out for a trip to Ireland. Reflecting on this trip, Lewis wrote:

“[We] feasted on love, every mode of it--solemn and merry, romantic and realistic, sometimes as dramatic as a thunderstorm, sometimes as comfortable and unemphatic as putting on your soft slippers. No cranny of heart or body remained unsatisfied.”¹

It’s no surprise that, within this “love bubble,” Lewis chose to focus on the subject of love—a philosophy that became even more tangible with Joy’s presence in his life. Her influence may have also drawn his attention more profoundly toward Eros, the romantic form of love. This deeper understanding of Eros led Lewis to present a “candid exploration” of it in the radio series. The radio station found his musings on it so scandalous that they were hesitant to air the recordings.

Though the full series never aired, portions of the recordings survived and later served as the foundation for The Four Loves. These recordings remain available today, offering a rare peek into the book's beginnings. Listen here.

Despite the criticism, Lewis pressed on to put his thoughts into writing. A letter to a friend in March 1959 reveals how his experience with the radio project may have impacted his approach to the book. He writes of his work on The Four Loves:

“Pray for me, that God grant me to say things helpful to salvation, or at least not harmful. For this work is ‘full of dangerous hazard’.”²

I think we can consider Lewis’s prayers answered, as this powerful book has inspired countless readers in their spiritual journeys. The work also shaped so much of Lewis’s future writings, with many of his final books dependent on a deep understanding of love. We see Agape, Storge, Philia, and Eros all over the pages of Surprised by Joy, A Grief Observed, and Till We Have Faces.

Sixty-five years after its publication, The Four Loves remains a timeless guide for those seeking to understand the profound power of love in its many forms. And while it’s only 192 pages, the book feels expansive, inviting readers to think differently about a word we often use casually. Lewis illuminates the many faces of love, encouraging us to engage with them more thoughtfully and intentionally.

Whether you’re revisiting its pages or encountering it for the first time, The Four Loves serves as a powerful reminder of love’s ability to shape our lives, deepen our faith, and connect us with one another in meaningful ways.

1. Santamaria, Abigail. “1958-1960.” Joy: Poet, Seeker, and the Woman Who Captivated C.S. Lewis , Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, MA, 2015, pp. 329–329.

2. Lewis, C.S. “1959.” Yours, Jack, HarperOne, New York, NY, 2008, pp. 320.