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Diana Glyer
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Bandersnatch: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings Kindle Edition

by Diana Glyer (Author), James A. Owen (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 284 ratings
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C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the other members of the Inklings met each week to read and discuss each other’s work-in-progress, offering both encouragement and blistering critique. How did these conversations shape the books they were writing? How does creative collaboration enhance individual talent? And what can we learn from their example?Beautifully illustrated by James A. Owen, Bandersnatch offers an inside look at the Inklings of Oxford—and a seat at their table at The Eagle and Child pub. It shows how encouragement and criticism made all the difference in The Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia, and dozens of other books written by the members of this literary circle. You’ll learn what made these writers tick and more: inspired by their example, you’ll discover how collaboration can help your own creative process and lead to genius breakthroughs in whatever work you do.
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  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Black Squirrel Books
  5. Publication date
    December 8, 2015
  6. File size
    6290 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

What a gift! Bandersnatch is a joy to read and helps dispel that dangerous myth that our greatest writers created in solitude. We all need community in order to do our best work, and this book will show you how some of the greatest minds of the twentieth century did just that. You won't be able to read this book just once. --Jeff Goins, founder of Tribe Writers and author of The Art of Work

No one knows more than Diana Pavlac Glyer about the internal workings of the Inklings. In Bandersnatch, she shows us how they inspired, encouraged, refined and opposed one another in the course of producing some of the greatest literature of the last one hundred years. A brilliant and beautifully clear case study of iron sharpening iron. --Michael Ward, coeditor of C.S. Lewis at Poets Corner

The Inklings are about as important a group as ever existed in the literary world. This tremendous new book about them is much anticipated and hugely welcome! --Eric Metaxas, New York Times Bestselling author of Bonhoeffer and Miracles

About the Author

Diana Pavlac Glyer is an award-winning writer who has spent more than 40 years combing through archives and studying old manuscripts. She is a leading expert on C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien; her book The Company They Keep (The Kent State University Press, 2007) changed the way we talk about these writers. Her scholarship, teaching, and work as an artist all circle back to one common theme: creativity thrives in community.
 James A. Owen has written and illustrated the Starchild graphic novel, the Mythworld series of novels, the bestselling The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, and the forthcoming series Fool's Hollow. He is also the author of the inspirational nonfiction trilogy The Meditations and the illustrator/designer of The Hundred Books Project, a series that showcases some of the greatest books ever published. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages, and more than a million copies are in print. He works in the Coppervale Studio, a century-old restored church in Northeastern Arizona.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B018RB6FNY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Black Squirrel Books (December 8, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 8, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6290 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 284 ratings

About the author

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Diana Glyer

Diana Glyer

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Diana Pavlac Glyer is an award-winning writer who has spent more than 40 years combing through archives and studying old manuscripts. She is a leading expert on C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Inklings. Her book "The Company They Keep" changed the way we talk about these writers. "BANDERSNATCH" offers insights about the Inklings and their creative process, telling their story in a way that is accessible and very practical. Her scholarship, her teaching, and her work as an artist all circle back to one common theme: creativity thrives in community.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
284 global ratings
"Creativity thrives in community."
5 Stars
"Creativity thrives in community."
I have had this book on my list for years after virtually touring the Kilns with Glyer and hearing of her focus on collaboration and the Inklings. I take an interest in Lewis and his life through letters and relationships and have not laughed out loud from sentences within a book in so long. It was so good for my soul! I am a young mother of 3, aunt to many, a substitute public school teacher, a homeschool enrichment teacher, and a porch mama to the rest, and I am eager to help raise a generation cultivated by healthy anticipation, not anxiety. Glyer's narrative is so well-rounded and cuts no corners. I can hear the time she spent pouring over the actions and reactions of these fellows. I loved the notice she took on Charles Williams, her nod to Christopher Tolkien, and her walk through what occurred after Lewis told Tolkien that hobbits were only amusing when in unhobbitlike situations.How different would life be if we were to be, ourselves, 'amusing' instead of 'interrupted' or 'unhappy' when we, too, are found in unfavorable situations?
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Top reviews from the United States

Anthony Smitha
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2023
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If you are a creative type, this book is for you. If you love the writings of the Inklings, then even more so. This book talks about the creative process that went into writing some of the best loved books that we know (Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, Silmarillion, The Problem of Pain, etc.) and talks about the group of writers that was behind the authors, encouraging them, critiquing them, and assisting them in ways beyond just the editorial process.

It’s a very useful book even in simply gaining inspiration on how to form and run a small group dedicated to a purpose.
2 people found this helpful
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Nichols
5.0 out of 5 stars Like reading a biography from a super fan
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2023
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It reads like a fan taking you on a tour of his collectable museum in his basement. His love for the authors and the inklings spills out all over the pages. This is much more a passion project that an academic exercise. The takeaways are simple and could be applied broadly.
I’m sure more helpful books on creative collaborations exist. But that is not why this was written or why you read it. You read it for the same reason it was written. You want a glimpse into the behind the seems and closed doors of the inklings. How did these men get along? What was it like as they created their masterpieces? What were their friendship like? What did they really think of each others writing? And for that the book does not disappoint.
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Mark A. Sommer
5.0 out of 5 stars Creative collaboration demonstrated in the Oxford writers group the Inklings
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2016
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The Inklings was an Oxford writers group which met during the 1930s and 40s, and included JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. It is unusual for a writers group to garner the attention the Inklings have over the years. A few select scholars have devoted much of their lives to not only studying the lives of the men who were part of this group, but the group as a whole. As early as 1979, scholars such as Humphrey Carpenter realized the importance of the interaction of the Inklings to their lives and writings. Colin Duriez' recent book has helped amend and clarify much of what we thought we knew. In 2007, Diana Pavlac Glyer went a step further in her book, The Company They Keep: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien as Writers in Community, examining the extent of influence the Inklings had on each other's writings. Glyer may not be as well known to Inklings fans as Carpenter and Duriez, but she is considered one the foremost Inklings scholars in the academic world.

Bandersnatch: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings is the newly published adaptation of her 2007 book, re-written for a wider audience. The Company they Keep was meant for academic use. However, although the earlier book has been described as "easy and enjoyable to read" with "plenty to enjoy" for new fans and scholars alike, Glyer realized the "fundamentally academic" work should be updated. Besides being of interest to fans of Tolkien, Lewis, and the other Inklings, Bandersnatch also is also helpful to aspiring writers, artists, and inventors, providing suggestions on how to interact with others in the same kind of creative collaboration the Inklings did.

The title of the book comes from an often quoted line from a letter Lewis wrote to Charles Mooreman in 1959. Mooreman was researching a book about "the Oxford Christians," which came out in 1966. After admitting the influence Charles Williams and he had over each other, Lewis writes, "No one ever influenced Tolkien—you might as well try to influence a bandersnatch." (A "bandersnatch" is a creature created by Lewis Carol. Lewis was undoubtedly borrowing from a quote from "Through the Looking-Glass" where the White King describes his Queen: "She runs so fearfully quick. You might as well try to catch a Bandersnatch!")

Lewis' "bandersnatch" quote has been often used to affirm the idea the Inklings really did not have much influence on each other's writings. However, the context of the quote demonstrates the group did have a significant influence over Tolkien. The next two sentences read: "We listened to his work, but could affect it only by encouragement. He has only two reactions to criticism; either he begins the whole work over again from the beginning or else takes no notice at all."

As Glyer points out, "listening and encouraging are neither passive activities nor insignificant ones." And "starting over" when criticized "represents major influence, indeed." [p. 152] And there is evidence that Tolkien rarely took "no notice at all." Tolkien's papers indicate he often jotted down notes to himself based on suggestions he was given by others.

Dr. Glyer presents this and other evidence to show quite convincingly how the Inklings not only influenced each other's work, but often quite literally helped edit one another, "officially" collaborated on projects, and wrote each other into their works. She gives some help along the way for writers and others to work "in community" with others, doing what the Inklings did. Well worth the time for any Inklings fan, or those who just want some ideas on how to collaboratively work with other in the creative community.
7 people found this helpful
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Rachael Corrales
4.0 out of 5 stars I thoroughly enjoyed this book
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2017
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Prior to reading this book, I was one of the many who admired authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. In particular, the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and the Lord of the RIngs series. I sincerely admired both literary works and was even more thrilled by their captivating plots when they were made into movies. Author Diana Glyer does an exceptional job at highlighting the various processes which Lewis and Tolkien partake in the making of their multiple renowned novels.

The majority of Glyer's, Bandersnatch, she describes Lewis and Tolkien's work with an academic writing group, the Inklings. This literary group was comprised of their scholarly and college friends. The Inklings are described as being a highly selective troop, and it amazes me how well the members work together. They efficiently work together to further develop and revise their currently published works. Their mission, to cultivate a space of collective opinions, is one that has inspired my work habits as well as that which I share with my own friends.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I would attribute my praise to the fact that I am familiar with Lewis and Tolkien’s work. There were even some literary works which I had not been introduced to prior to reading Bandersnatch, however I am glad to acknowledge their existence. At times, Glyer seemed redundant when she frequently commented upon the Inklings collective engagement from chapter to chapter. However, apart from her multiple comments about the importance of collective engagement, I believe she effectively conveyed her admiration for Lewis, Tolkien and the Inklings’ work. The highlighted aspects of their work ethic is certainly applicable to my own work and I am glad to have been enlightened.
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Libbytw
5.0 out of 5 stars Reads like a novel
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2023
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This is so well written, with the great 'character descriptions' of the real people, it reads like a novel. I'm in a critique group myself, which is why I wanted to read it. I thought I'd get some ideas on ways to get more out of my group. But instead I'm getting so much more. Bandersnatch has taken me back to the time The Inklings met and their impressive impacts were left on their readers. Like a novel, I wanted a sequel. But like real life, I sense the responsibility to encourage the others in my group as well as give them the valuable feedback to help them realize their best work.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Stanley James Hanna
5.0 out of 5 stars Important and Relevant
Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 2021
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This is a must read for anyyone in the arts and literature world. It explores and emphasizes the absolute necessity of collaboration. We all like to think we can go it alone. Glyer points out the folly and detriment of that notion. If some of the greatest authors of all time needed the benefit of working together what makes any of us as writers and poets think we do not? I am grateful for Ms. Glyer's research and dogged efforts to bring this to our attention. It is a labour of love and much needed.
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Colin Duriez
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for anyone serious about writing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2016
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Any writer, no matter how talented, can benefit from the creative collaboration of a writing group, in giving honest advice and encouragement. Demonstrating this, Diana Glyer provides a unique, inspiring and captivating resource for the writer-in-group (even a small group). She draws richly upon the experience of the Inklings, one of literature's most well-known groups: their art of collaboration that can still mentor and sustain writers today.
Colin Duriez, author of THE OXFORD INKLINGS, LEWIS, TOLKIEN AND THEIR CIRCLE; J.R.R. TOLKIEN: THE MAKING OF A LEGEND; C.S. LEWIS: A BIOGRAPHY OF FRIENDSHIP; etc.
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