C.S. Lewis on Re-reading: FASO Essay Argues Art Is Not Content

Eugene Terekhin, in an essay for The FASO Way newsletter, emphasizes that a genuine understanding of art and literature demands multiple readings, drawing on C.S. Lewis's insights from "Different Tastes in Literature." He highlights Lewis's assertion that "the literary man re-reads," contrasting it with those who only read once. Terekhin argues that good taste transcends mere familiarity with "content," using Claude Monet's Water Lilies and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as illustrations. He notes that the Old English term for "read" means "to interpret the signs," and references Ecclesiastes regarding the infinite nature of books. The article includes works by Frank Ordaz and Elaine Haake and will be accessible only to paying members after two days.