Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast, Ireland, on November 29, 1898. He was the son of Albert J. Lewis, a lawyer, and Flora Hamilton Lewis. Lewis's mother died when he was nine, and his father remarried a few years later. Lewis had a difficult relationship with his stepmother, which led him to spend much of his time reading and writing.
Lewis was educated at Wynyard School and Malvern College. He then went on to study at Oxford University, where he earned a first-class degree in English literature. After graduating, Lewis taught at several schools before becoming a fellow and tutor at Magdalen College, Oxford.
Lewis's literary career began in the 1930s with the publication of several works of fantasy literature, including The Pilgrim's Regress (1933), Out of the Silent Planet (1938), and Perelandra (1943). These works were followed by The Chronicles of Narnia, which began with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1950. The Chronicles of Narnia tells the story of four children who are transported to the magical land of Narnia, where they must help Aslan, the lion king, defeat the evil White Witch.
In addition to his fantasy literature, Lewis also wrote extensively on theology and apologetics. His most famous works of non-fiction include The Screwtape Letters (1942), Mere Christianity (1952), and The Problem of Pain (1940). In these works, Lewis argues for the existence of God and the truth of Christianity.
C. S. Lewis died on November 22, 1963, at the age of 64. He is considered one of the most influential Christian writers of the 20th century.