What is the title of C.S. Lewis’s novel based on the myth of Cupid and Psyche?

Till We Have Faces is C.S. Lewis’s novel based on the myth of Cupid and Psyche.

Published in 1956, the novel retells the ancient story from the perspective of Orual, a princess in the fictional kingdom of Glome. Orual’s account focuses on her relationship with her half-sister Psyche, whom she loves but also tries to control.

Lewis transforms the classical myth into a psychologically complex exploration of love, jealousy, accusation, religious experience, and self-knowledge. The first part is presented as Orual’s complaint against the gods, while the later part forces her to confront how her own desires have shaped the story she tells.

The title comes from the novel’s concern with honest self-recognition. A “face” suggests a distinct identity that can stand openly before others rather than hiding behind complaint or self-justification. The book is often considered one of Lewis’s most mature and literary works.