In this powerful follow-up to the bestselling , historian Joseph Loconte tells for the first time how the dark shadows cast by the Second World War utterly transformed the lives and literary imagination of Tolkien and Lewis. The mood of cynicism and disillusionment after the First World War unleashed a storm of destructive ideologies: eugenics, scientism, modernism, communism, Nazism, and totalitarianism. The political and cultural crises created a new sense of urgency. The future of Western civilization stood on the edge of a knife. Tolkien and Lewis jumped into the fray. Loconte explores how these authors and friends rededicated themselves to their scholarly and literary pursuits to offer a brave and hopeful vision of the human story. Their most beloved works— , —were conceived in the furnace of the most devasting and dehumanizing war in history. In a world burdened by ugliness and despair, the works of Tolkien and Lewis opened the door to beauty, goodness, and faith. They continue to inspire the moral imagination. Readers who join Loconte on this epic journey will be Combining a careful study of history and compelling storytelling, Loconte's book reveals how the remarkable achievements of Tolkien and Lewis—in the shadow of deep suffering and heroic sacrifice—offer enduring lessons for today's cultural moment. Loconte's book is essential reading for anyone who believes that great stories can reveal great truths. He reminds us that the imagination, anchored in a mature and heartfelt faith, can become the gateway to gratitude and to a life of purpose and joy.