Which 1956 C.S. Lewis novel retells the Cupid and Psyche myth from Orual’s perspective?

Till We Have Faces is C.S. Lewis’s 1956 novel retelling the Cupid and Psyche myth from the perspective of Orual. Lewis described it as his own retelling of the ancient story rather than a simple translation of the classical source.

The novel is divided into two parts. Orual, princess of Glome, narrates her life, her relationship with her half-sister Psyche, and her grievances against the gods. The title reflects themes of identity, self-knowledge, and the difficulty of seeing oneself honestly.

The principal ancient source for the myth is Apuleius’s The Golden Ass, also known as The Metamorphoses. Lewis’s version changes the setting, expands Orual’s inner life, and makes her narration central. Readers who expect a straightforward children’s fantasy may be surprised by the novel’s psychological and philosophical intensity.