Davy and Douglas are happiest when the three spend holidays at Jack's estate, the Kilns. Jack helps Joy pay for their nearby boarding school. She sells the house and takes the boys to England.ĭavy and Douglas do not immediately settle in. Bill goes through various jobs, including traveling with a circus. He begs Joy for another chance to make their marriage work. Within days, Bill writes to Renee that he is staying with Joy. Renee moves to Florida, believing Bill will soon join her there. She decides she is going to move to England, though she has no idea how she will get the money to do so. He urges Joy to return, find someone of her own in New York, and allow Bill and Renee to marry.īack in America, Joy feels trapped by lack of money, continuing to live in the house with Bill, Renee, and the four children. Just as Joy books passage home, Bill writes that he and Renee are in love. She spends months in England and comes to love Jack and his brother Warnie as her family. Though she feels better physically and emotionally, she desperately misses Davy and Douglas. She sees doctors and dentists, all at no charge, and does research for her next book project while writing a series of articles she also hopes to publish as a book. In England, Joy is captivated by the land, architecture, and people. She leaves Davy and Douglas with Bill, Renee, and Renee's two children. Joy decides to go, noting that she can seek much-needed medical and dental care while there.
As Joy's physical and emotional health continue to fail, Renee encourages her to visit England. When her cousin Renee seeks a place to hide from her own abusive husband, Joy welcomes her into her own home. When Bill makes no secret he is having sex with other women, Joy moves out of their bedroom. Since Joy has health issues, her family doctor warns Bill that Joy might not recover from another crisis. Through their letters, they become friends. Joy becomes determined to show Jack her true self.
Lewis, known to friends as Jack, begins to help Joy navigate her concerns. Joy writes to him in the hope of finding some of those answers. She learns that an English author named C.S. From that moment, she desperately seeks answers to spiritual questions.
One night, she falls to her knees in prayer and realizes God is real. Bill often spends time drinking and carousing with other women, leaving Joy worrying at home. The two are writers and parents of two young sons, Davy and Douglas. She considers herself an atheist and marries Bill Gresham. Joy Davidman grows up in a strict household with demanding parents. The following version of the book was used to create this study guide: Henry, Patti Callahan.
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