What is the name of C.S. Lewis’s 1956 allegorical novel about a woman named Orual?

Till We Have Faces is C.S. Lewis’s 1956 allegorical novel about a woman named Orual.

The novel retells the myth of Cupid and Psyche from the perspective of Orual, Psyche’s older sister. Set in the fictional ancient kingdom of Glome, it presents Orual as a ruler who looks back on her life and accuses the gods of injustice. The narrative explores jealousy, love, self-deception, sacrifice, and the difficulty of seeing oneself clearly.

Lewis described the book as a retelling of the Cupid and Psyche story. It was his last completed novel and is often regarded as one of his most psychologically complex works. Unlike the Narnia books, it is aimed primarily at adult readers.

The title comes from the novel’s treatment of identity and hidden motives. It should not be confused with The Great Divorce, which is a theological fantasy published in 1945.