What happens when one of the twentieth century’s greatest Christian writers is brought to life by one of Britain’s greatest comic actors?
In this Chesterton Radio Deep Dive, we journey through C.S. Lewis’s timeless masterpiece, The Screwtape Letters, as brilliantly narrated by John Cleese. Far more than an audiobook, Cleese’s performance captures the razor-sharp wit, chilling irony, and unsettling realism of Lewis’s fictional correspondence between the senior demon Screwtape and his inexperienced nephew Wormwood.
Broadcast from the little station on Commercial Street in Atchison, Kansas, this episode explores why The Screwtape Letters remains one of the most insightful examinations of human nature ever written. We discuss Lewis’s remarkable ability to reveal temptation through satire, the subtle psychology of spiritual warfare, the enduring influence of G.K. Chesterton on Lewis’s imagination, and why the quiet dangers of distraction, pride, comfort, and self-deception are as relevant today as when the book first appeared in 1942.
Along the way, we examine John Cleese’s extraordinary narration—his impeccable timing, understated menace, and dry humor—which transforms Lewis’s classic into an unforgettable listening experience.
Whether you’re discovering The Screwtape Letters for the first time or returning to an old friend, this conversation offers fresh insights into one of the most profound and entertaining works of Christian literature ever written.
Join us as we pull another well-loved volume from the shelves, switch on the studio microphone, and settle in for an evening of stories, ideas, and wonder—from the little station on Commercial Street, where great books are always on the air.
