Charles Williams
Charles Williams (1886–1945) was a British poet and novelist. He was close friend of CS Lewis, and with Lewis and JRR Tolkien was a member of The Inklings. Most of his novels were supernatural thrillers that explored the intersection of the natural, human world with the spiritual world. A number of authors have claimed him as an influence, most notably Tim Powers. Williams was also a highly acclaimed literary scholar; and his study of Dante, The Figure of Beatrice, is still popular among scholars of Dante's work. Williams also authored a number of biographies, essays on theology and literary criticism, and plays.
Notable examples of Charles Williams' fictional work:
- War In Heaven (1930)
- The Place Of The Lion (1931)
- The Greater Trumps (1932)
- Descent Into Hell (1937)
- All Hallows Eve (1945)
Works by Charles Williams provide examples of:
- Ancient Conspiracy: Williams was briefly a member of the Rosicrucians, and conspiracies feature in many of his works.
- Drunk With Power: The corrupting influence of power is common theme of his fiction.
- Tarot Motifs: The Greater Trumps
- Urban Fantasy: All of Williams' novels are set in the modern world.