Under what pen name did C.S. Lewis publish his early poetry?

C.S. Lewis published his early poetry under the pen name Clive Hamilton.

The name appeared on two poetry collections: Spirits in Bondage, published in 1919, and Dymer, published in 1926. Lewis used the name while developing his literary voice before becoming widely known for Christian apologetics and imaginative fiction.

Spirits in Bondage appeared shortly after Lewis served in the First World War. Dymer was a longer narrative poem and was issued under the same pseudonym. The choice of “Hamilton” connected with his family history: “Hamilton” was his mother’s maiden name.

Readers sometimes assume that C.S. Lewis was always the name on his books. In fact, his earliest poetry provides a clear example of his experimentation with literary identity. He later became famous under his initials, which stood for Clive Staples.