Chap. IX

Chapter IX: The Great Knock.

Lewis' tutor was an unusual man to say the least. He was rational to a fault. Lewis wrote of him, "The idea that human beings should exercise their vocal organs for any purpose except that of communicating of discovering truth was to him preposterous." The tutor started Lewis in Home in Greek with no introduction. That worked better than one could except it might. While there Lewis learned Greek, French, Italian, and a little German. In addition he continued to read in English. 

Lewis describes his perfect day. Breakfast at exactly 8. Reading from 9 to 1 (with a cup of tea of coffee at 11). Lunch at 1. Waling in the afternoon (preferably alone) from 2-4. Tea ready when he returns from the walk at 4. Light reading with tea. Serious reading from 5 to 7. Dinner at 7.  Talk or light reading after dinner. "There is no reason why you should ever be in bed later than eleven.

Lewis enjoyed all the landscape of this part of England and spent many afternoons exploring it. He talks about not comparing one landscape to the other and preferring one over the other. "Shut your mouth; open your eyes and ears. Take in what is there and give no thought to what might have been there or what is somewhere else."

Charles Eklund 2018