It looks like you're offline.
Donate
English (en) Change Website Language
Open Library logo
additional options menu
Last edited by kathrinpassig
May 16, 2024 | History
Edit

Charles Williams

Charles Walter Stansby Williams (20 September 1886 – 15 May 1945) was a British poet, novelist, literary critic, editor, biographer, Anglican Christian, and occultist. He was also a member of the Inklings along with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

He is best known for his seven 'metaphysical thrillers', among which are War in Heaven (1930), The Place of the Lion (1931) and All Hallows Eve (1937). He also wrote history, literary criticism and theology, which included The Descent of the Dove (1929) and Outlines of Romantic Theology (1990). However, Williams regarded his Arthurian poetry as his finest achievement. Esoteric and dense, they include Taliessen Through Logres (1938), The Region of the Summer Stars (1944) and The Silver Stair (1912).

Williams' literary style is notable, being labyrinthine and full of obscure allusions. He was influenced by a variety of sources, including the Bible, Arthurian legend and the occult.

Photo of Charles Williams

British poet, novelist, theologian, literary critic, and member of the Inklings

Born 20 Sep 1886
Died 15 May 1945

89 works Add another?

Showing all works by author. Would you like to see only ebooks?

  • Cover of: Descent into hell

    Cover of edition descentintohell00will First published in 1937 — 86 editions
    Preview Only

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Place of the Lion

    First published in 1931 — 84 editions
    Preview Only

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Many dimensions

    Cover of edition manydimensions00will_0 Cover of edition manydimensions0000will First published in 1931 — 76 editions
    Preview Only

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: War in heaven

    First published in 1930 — 67 editions
    Preview Only

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: The greater trumps

    First published in 1932 — 35 editions
    Preview Only

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: All hallows' eve

    Cover of edition allhallowseve0000will First published in 1945 — 35 editions
    Borrow Listen

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Shadows of ecstasy

    First published in 1948 — 27 editions
    Borrow Listen

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: The descent of the Dove: a history of the Holy Spirit in the church

    Cover of edition descentofdove00will First published in 1939 — 18 editions
    Borrow Listen

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: The figure of Beatrice: a study in Dante.

    First published in 1943 — 13 editions
    Borrow Listen

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Arthurian torso: containing the posthumous fragment of The figure of Arthur

    First published in 1948 — 11 editions
    Not in Library

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Poetry at present.

    First published in 1930 — 10 editions
    Not in Library

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Witchcraft.

    First published in 1941 — 9 editions
    Borrow Listen

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Rochester

    First published in 1935 — 8 editions
    Borrow Listen

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: He came down from heaven ; and the forgiveness of sins

    First published in 1938 — 8 editions
    Borrow Listen

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Taliessin through Logres.

    First published in 1938 — 7 editions
    Not in Library

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: The region of the summer stars.

    First published in 1944 — 7 editions
    Not in Library

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Bacon

    First published in 1933 — 7 editions
    Not in Library

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: A myth of Shakespeare

    First published in 1928 — 6 editions
    Not in Library

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: The English poetic mind.

    First published in 1932 — 6 editions
    Read Listen

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: The Image of the City (and Other Essays)

    First published in 1958 — 6 editions
    Borrow Listen

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
Photo of Charles Williams

British poet, novelist, theologian, literary critic, and member of the Inklings

Born 20 Sep 1886
Died 15 May 1945

Subjects

English poetry, Poetry, Adaptations, Arthurian romances, Criticism and interpretation, Fiction, fantasy, general, History and criticism, Biography, Characters, History, Kings and rulers, Religious aspects, Beatrice Portinari, Christianity, Fiction, general, Fiction, religious, In literature, Knights and knighthood, Love, Love in literature, Religious aspects of Love, Theology, Authors, English, Beatrice, Britons

Places

Great Britain, Chelmsford, Eng. (Diocese), Eng. (Diocese) Chelmsford, England, English-speaking countries, London, Scotland

People

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), Arthur King, Beatrice Portinari (1266-1290), Charles Williams (1886-1945), William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Elizabeth I Queen of England (1533-1603), Francis Bacon (1561-1626), James I King of England (1566-1625), Florence Sarah Conway Williams, Henry VII King of England (1457-1509), Jesus Christ, John Milton (1608-1674), John Wilmot Rochester Earl of (1647-1680), Lois Lang-Sims, Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556), William Herman Flecker (1859-1941), William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

Time

20th century, 19th century, James I, 1603-1625, 1558-1603, 1603-1625, 1930s, Early Stuarts, 1603-1649, Early modern, 1500-1700, Elizabeth, 1558-1603, Henry VII, 1485-1509, James VI, 1567-1625, Middle Ages, 600-1500

Add to List

My Reading Lists:

Create a new list

ID Numbers

Links outside Open Library

Alternative names

  • Charles Walter Stansby Williams
  • Charles WILLIAMS
  • Williams, Charles, 1886-1945.
  • Charles W. Williams

History

Download catalog record: RDF / JSON
May 16, 2024 Edited by kathrinpassig merge authors
October 4, 2021 Edited by Jenner merge authors
September 30, 2020 Edited by MARC Bot add ISNI
November 24, 2019 Edited by mdmcginnis Typo
April 1, 2008 Created by an anonymous user initial import