Clive Staples Lewis (November 29, 1898 - November 22, 1963) was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 1916, he won a scholarship to University College, Oxford, but enlisted in the British Army in 1917, arriving in the Somme Valley on his nineteenth birthday. After being discharged from the Army in 1919 he returned to his studies receiving First Class degrees in Honour Moderations (Greek and Latin Literature - 1920), Greats (Philosophy and Ancient History - 1922), and English in 1923.

Lewis taught at Magdalen College, Oxford from 1925 to 1954, and was a close friend and colleague of J.R.R. Tolkien and the younger brother of W.H. Lewis. Together they were all members of the literary discussion group the Inklings.