
audiobook
by C. S. (Clive Staples) Lewis
SPIRITS IN BONDAGE - A CYCLE OF LYRICS
By Clive Hamilton [C. S. Lewis]
In Three Parts
Historical Background
Prologue
Part I The Prison House
I. Satan Speaks
II. French Nocturne (Monchy-Le-Preux)
III. The Satyr
IV. Victory
Spirits in Bondage unfolds as a lyrical journey through three distinct phases—confinement, doubt, and the promise of release. The opening section, The Prison House, gathers stark wartime reflections and brooding meditations on evil, nature, and the weight of captivity. Lewis’s verses blend Romantic reverence for the natural world with a raw, cynical edge shaped by his experience in the trenches. The poems pulse with a voice that questions divine order while wrestling with personal despair.
In Hesitation, the tone softens, allowing moments of lyrical introspection that contemplate solidarity, fleeting beauty, and the ache of indecision. The final segment, The Escape, introduces more hopeful rhythms, hinting at renewal through songs, mythic symbols, and gentle night‑time lullabies. Listeners are invited to trace the poet’s evolving outlook, from the shadows of a prison cell to the first tentative steps toward freedom.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (59K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer, and David Widger
Release date
1999-12-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1898–1963
Best known for bringing Narnia to life, this beloved writer also shaped generations of readers with his clear, thoughtful books on faith, imagination, and literature. His work moves easily from fairy tales and science fiction to essays that still feel lively and readable today.
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