Walter Hooper facts for kids
Walter Hooper (born March 27, 1931 – died December 7, 2020) was an American writer. He was best known for his work with the writings of C.S. Lewis, the famous author of The Chronicles of Narnia. Hooper helped manage Lewis's literary works after Lewis passed away. He also looked after the writings of another author, Owen Barfield, for several years.
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Walter Hooper's Life
Walter Hooper was born in Reidsville, North Carolina, in the United States. He studied at the University of North Carolina and later taught English at the University of Kentucky in the early 1960s.
In 1963, Hooper briefly worked as C.S. Lewis's personal secretary. After Lewis died in November 1963, Hooper dedicated himself to preserving Lewis's memory and writings. He eventually moved to Oxford, England, where he lived for the rest of his life.
Hooper became the main person in charge of C.S. Lewis's papers. He worked to protect and edit Lewis's books and other writings. Hooper's research into Lewis's papers also showed important details about the friendship between Lewis and his fellow Oxford scholar, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Hooper also studied to become a minister in the Anglican church at St Stephen's House, Oxford. He became a deacon in 1964 and a priest in 1965. He served as a chaplain at Wadham College, Oxford and Jesus College, Oxford. In 1988, he joined the Catholic Church. He once described meeting Pope John Paul II in 1984, saying it felt "as if Aslan himself had arrived."
Walter Hooper passed away on December 7, 2020, at the age of 89. He died from problems caused by COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in England.
Walter Hooper's Literary Work
Walter Hooper wrote or edited many books related to C.S. Lewis. He helped bring many of Lewis's unknown or less-known writings to light. Here are some of his works:
- C.S. Lewis: A Biography (written with Roger Lancelyn Green) (1974)
- Study guide to The Screwtape Letters (with Owen Barfield) (1976)
- Past Watchful Dragons: The Narnian Chronicles of C.S. Lewis (1979)
- Through Joy and Beyond: The Life of C.S. Lewis (with Anthony Marchington) (1979)
- The Chronicles of Narnia Soundbook (abridged) with a booklet by Walter Hooper (1980)
- Through Joy and Beyond: A Pictorial Biography of C.S. Lewis (1982)
- C.S. Lewis: A Companion and Guide (1996)
- C.S. Lewis: A Complete Guide to His Life and Works (1998)
Awards and Recognition
In 1972, Walter Hooper received the Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Inklings Studies. This award recognized his important contributions to understanding and appreciating the fantasy literature written by the Inklings group. This group included C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.
Related Works
- Diana Pavlac Glyer The Company They Keep: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien as Writers in Community. Kent State University Press. Kent Ohio. 2007. ISBN: 978-0-87338-890-0
See also
In Spanish: Walter Hooper para niños
