About this episode

John Granger and Nick Jeffery discuss the connections between C. S. Lewis' 'Till We Have Faces' and J.K. Rowling's Cormoran Strike series.

[ Apologies but the recording is quite poor at the start, but improves. Please bear with it - Nick ] John Granger shared privately with Nick Jeffery that he thought it would be a good idea to read C. S. Lewis’ Till We Have Faces, a re-telling of the Cupid and Psyche myth, to get a better grip on Rowling-Galbraith’s re-imagining of the same myth in her Cormoran Strike series. Nick, as is his wont, promptly read the book, wrote up the possible connections between the chapters of Till We Have Faces and the books in the Strike series — C. S. Lewis’ ‘Till We Have Faces’ and Rowling-Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike Series (Part One) — which ‘Part One’ constituted a challenge to John to write up his contrarian notes as ‘ Part Two ,’ which he did yesterday. Today? They talk about CSL’s Till We Have Faces, what it tells us (and doesn’t tell us) about JKR’s Strike series, and the reasons why a Serious Striker or ‘every thoughtful reader’ really should read Lewis’ last novel, one he and Tolkien thought was his best. Hogwarts Professor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Links to everything they discuss can be…

People in this episode

Host: John Granger

Guest: Nick Jeffery

Topics covered

• Cormoran Strike Series
• C. S. Lewis
• Till We Have Faces
• myth re-telling
• literary analysis

Keywords

• Cormoran Strike
• C. S. Lewis
• Till We Have Faces
• mythology
• literary connections
• J. K. Rowling
• Tolkien

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Till We Have Faces, Cormoran Strike Series

More episodes of Rowling Studies The Hogwarts Professor Podcast

• Metallurgical, Literary, and Psychological Alchemy: Is Jung a Good Guide for Understanding J. K. Rowling's Artistry and Meaning? · April 2, 2026 · 1h 44m
• What do Tyler Powell, Rupert Fleetwood, Jolanda Lindvall, and Lady Jensen Have in Common? · March 2, 2026 · 1h 27m
• What the Hallmarked Man Epigraphs Reveal About Rowling-Galbraith's Artistry and Meaning · February 22, 2026 · 1h 37m
• 'Sleep Tight, Evangeline,' Miniature Psalters, and the Head of Persephone: A Conversation with Dimitra Fimi · February 17, 2026 · 1h 23m
• Valentine's Day Special: The Cupid and Psyche Myth within the Cormoran Strike Series · February 14, 2026 · 1h 58m
• The Christmas Charm Bracelet of Strike 9 Clues (Part Two) · February 6, 2026 · 1h 10m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Rowling Studies The Hogwarts Professor Podcast podcast page.