Charles Williams

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Charles Williams (1886–1945) was a British poet and novelist. He was close friend of C. S. Lewis, and with Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien was a member of The Inklings. Most of his novels were supernatural thrillers that explored the intersection of the natural, human world with the spiritual world. A number of authors have claimed him as an influence, most notably Tim Powers. Williams was also a highly acclaimed literary scholar; and his study of Dante, The Figure of Beatrice, is still popular among scholars of Dante's work. Williams also authored a number of biographies, essays on theology and literary criticism, and plays.

Works written by Charles Williams include:

• War in Heaven (1930)
• The Place of the Lion (1931)
• The Greater Trumps (1932)
• Descent Into Hell (1937)
• All Hallows' Eve (1945)

Charles Williams provides examples of the following tropes:

• Ancient Conspiracy: Williams was briefly a member of the Rosicrucians, and conspiracies feature in many of his works.
• Drunk with Power: The corrupting influence of power is common theme of his fiction.
• Tarot Motifs: The Greater Trumps
• Urban Fantasy: All of Williams' novels are set in the modern world.