What was the title of C.S. Lewis’s 1956 novel exploring myth through Orual’s story?

Till We Have Faces was C.S. Lewis’s 1956 novel, subtitled A Myth Retold. It retells the ancient myth of Cupid and Psyche through the viewpoint of Orual, Psyche’s older sister.

The novel is set in the fictional kingdom of Glome and explores jealousy, religious belief, political power, self-knowledge, and the difficulty of seeing other people clearly. Orual narrates much of the story, and her understanding changes as she confronts the motives behind her accusations against the gods.

Unlike the Narnia books, Till We Have Faces was written primarily for adults and is often considered one of Lewis’s most psychologically complex works. Lewis regarded it as one of his best books, although it has historically received less popular attention than his children’s fantasy.

The title comes from the novel’s central idea that people cannot truly encounter one another, or the divine, while hidden behind masks of self-deception. Its source myth ultimately derives from the classical story of Cupid and Psyche.