Which C.S. Lewis novel is narrated by the medieval scholar Orual?

C.S. Lewis’s novel narrated by the medieval scholar Orual is Till We Have Faces.

Published in 1956, Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold is Lewis’s final completed novel. It retells the ancient myth of Cupid and Psyche from the viewpoint of Psyche’s older sister, Orual. In Lewis’s version, Orual becomes queen of the fictional kingdom of Glome and writes a long accusation against the gods.

The title comes from Orual’s developing understanding that human beings often hide behind masks and cannot honestly confront themselves or the divine. The story explores jealousy, love, sacrifice, religious belief, and the difficulty of seeing another person clearly. Unlike the Narnia books, it is aimed primarily at adults and uses a darker, psychologically complex setting.

The narrator’s name is sometimes confused with Psyche’s because Orual’s account centers on her sister. Orual is the first-person voice and the principal character whose understanding changes through the novel. Lewis based the work on the classical Cupid and Psyche story associated with Apuleius.