Which C.S. Lewis work retells the Cupid and Psyche myth from Psyche's sister's viewpoint?

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Till We Have Faces retells the Cupid and Psyche myth from Psyche's sister's viewpoint.

C.S. Lewis published the novel in 1956, describing it as a retelling of the ancient myth of Cupid and Psyche. The narrator is Orual, the eldest daughter of the king of Glome, who becomes a ruler and reflects on her relationship with her half-sister Psyche.

The novel's title comes from a central idea about human beings hiding behind masks or lacking the self-knowledge needed to speak honestly before the gods. Lewis uses the myth to explore jealousy, possessive love, religious doubt, and the painful process of self-understanding.

Till We Have Faces differs from the Narnia books because it is written primarily for an adult audience and draws on classical mythology rather than a secondary fantasy world. Lewis considered it one of his best works, though it was less commercially successful at first than some of his other books.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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