Which biblical book inspired the title of C.S. Lewis’s novel Till We Have Faces?

C.S. Lewis’s novel Till We Have Faces was inspired by 1 Corinthians.

The title refers especially to 1 Corinthians 13:12, where Paul writes that people presently see “through a glass, darkly,” but will later see “face to face.” Lewis used that biblical image to explore self-knowledge, love, accusation, and the difficulty of seeing another person truthfully.

Published in 1956, Till We Have Faces is Lewis’s retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth. The narrator is Orual, a queen who reflects on her relationship with her half-sister Psyche and on her complaints against the gods. Lewis considered the novel one of his best works.

The title is sometimes treated as a simple reference to physical appearance, but its biblical context is more substantial. “Faces” suggests recognizable identity and direct encounter, while the novel’s central questions concern whether people understand themselves and those they claim to love.