Owen Barfield: Romanticism Come of Age

Owen Barfield: Romanticism Come of Age examines the life and work of Owen Barfield, a prominent member of the Oxford Inklings literary group alongside C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. This biography traces Barfield's development from his early years through his career as a solicitor and his emergence as a significant philosophical thinker. The book details Barfield's relationships with other key intellectual figures of his time and explores his unique contributions to fields including linguistics, consciousness studies, and anthroposophy. Blaxland-de Lange draws on extensive research and previously unpublished materials to document Barfield's evolution as both a writer and philosopher. The work contextualizes Barfield's ideas within the broader intellectual movements of the 20th century, particularly his views on human consciousness and the role of imagination in understanding reality. Through careful analysis of Barfield's major works and personal correspondence, the biography reveals the deep connections between his spiritual worldview and his theories about language and human cognition. The central themes of evolution of consciousness and the relationship between rationalism and imagination emerge as critical elements in understanding both Barfield's work and the larger trajectory of Romantic thought into the modern era. These concepts continue to influence contemporary discussions about the nature of human consciousness and spiritual development.

Not enough reader reviews or ratings exist online to create a substantive summary. The book was published in 2006 and appears to have limited readership. Goodreads shows only 8 ratings with no written reviews. Amazon has no customer reviews. The few mentions in academic circles focus on it being a biographical study of Owen Barfield's intellectual development and anthroposophical thought. The book does receive citation in scholarly work about Barfield but lacks sufficient public reader feedback to analyze reception or consensus. The specialized nature of the subject matter (Barfield's philosophical ideas and connection to Rudolf Steiner's work) likely contributes to its niche readership. Goodreads Rating: 4.0/5 (based on 8 ratings) Amazon Rating: No ratings

The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings by Philip Zaleski, Carol Zaleski This group biography explores the intellectual and spiritual connections between Barfield, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams through their Oxford discussions and writings.

Evolution of Consciousness: Studies in Polarity by Shirley Sugerman The collection presents essays from scholars who examine Barfield's theories on the development of human consciousness and language through history.

Steiner and Kindred Spirits by Robert McDermott This work places Rudolf Steiner's thought in context with other transformative thinkers who influenced Barfield's intellectual development.

The Golden Age of Philosophical Chemistry by David Booth The book traces the historical intersection of science and imagination that shaped Barfield's understanding of consciousness and reality.

Coleridge and the Inspired Word by John Beer This study examines Coleridge's theories of language and imagination that parallel Barfield's own explorations of consciousness and meaning.

🌟 Owen Barfield was C.S. Lewis's closest friend and a member of the Inklings literary group, deeply influencing Lewis's conversion to Christianity and his philosophical views 🌟 The book's title "Romanticism Come of Age" reflects Barfield's belief that Romanticism wasn't just a literary movement but an evolution in human consciousness that needed to mature 🌟 Author Simon Blaxland-de Lange spent over 20 years researching Barfield's life and work, including conducting extensive interviews with Barfield himself in his later years 🌟 Barfield worked as a solicitor (lawyer) for most of his life while developing his philosophical ideas, only becoming a full-time writer and lecturer after retiring from law at age 60 🌟 The biography explores Barfield's unique theory of the "evolution of consciousness," which suggests that human perception and understanding of reality has fundamentally changed throughout history