s&r, it seems you're right that this is the preferred pronunciation now in the UK (where "Lewis" is available for the other pronunciation).

My own concern is that novelists often claim expertise for exotic settings, sometimes (not often) do meticulous research for details, but fail to grasp the authentic mentality. Film makers aren't any better. An exotic-sounding name can be a jigsaw piece of an image of authenticity.

What is the significance of the names "Bill" and "Smart" named above? Abuses?