'The House of the Octopus' (1945) is a fantastical religious play written by Charles Williams that explores themes of Christian faith, spirituality, apostasy, and salvation. Charles Williams (1886-1945) was a British theologian, playwright, novelist and poet. As a member of the 'Inklings' literary group at Oxford, his work supported a strong sense of narrative. Williams acknowledged the spiritual undercurrents present in life and his literary explorations into Christian fantasy writing, such as 'Descent into Hell' (1937), earned him many followers. This classic work is now being republished in a new modern edition with a specially commissioned introductory biography.