At the end of his life, C.S. Lewis was rather apathetic about what would happen to his estate when he died. His reason, surprisingly enough, was that he thought that his fame had run its course. “After I’ve been dead for five years,” he told his lawyer, “no one will read anything I’ve written.”

For all his insight and prescience, Lewis’s prediction turned out to be wildly inaccurate. His influence has only grown since he passed away, and he is one of the most recognizable Christian authors in the world. After fifty years, his books have sold in the millions.

CNN has posted a blog recounting this phenomenon, as Lewis is again in the news due to the recent releasing of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader movie.

For a similar story (albeit somewhat dated), refer to the article entitled “C.S. Lewis Superstar,” which ran in Christianity Today back in 2005.