Synopses & Reviews
The White Witch, Aslan, fauns and talking beasts, centaurs and epic battles between good and evil -- all these have become a part of our collective imagination through the classic volumes of
The Chronicles of Narnia. Over the past half century, children everywhere have escaped into this world and delighted in its wonders and enchantments. Yet what we do know of the man who created Narnia? This biography sheds new light on the making of the original Narnian, C. S. Lewis himself.
Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably the most influential religious writer of his day. An Oxford don and scholar of medieval literature, he loved to debate philosophy at his local pub, and his wartime broadcasts on the basics of Christian belief made him a celebrity in his native Britain. Yet one of the most intriguing aspects of Clive Staples Lewis remains a mystery. How did this middle-aged Irish bachelor turn to the writing of stories for children -- stories that would become among the most popular and beloved ever written?
Alan Jacobs masterfully tells the story of the original Narnian. From Lewis's childhood days in Ireland playing with his brother, Warnie, to his horrific experiences in the trenches during World War I, to his friendship with J. R. R. Tolkien (and other members of the "Inklings"), and his remarkable late-life marriage to Joy Davidman, Jacobs traces the events and people that shaped Lewis's philosophy, theology, and fiction. The result is much more than a conventional biography of Lewis: Jacobs tells the story of a profound and extraordinary imagination. For those who grew up with Narnia, or for those just discovering it, The Narnian tells a remarkable tale of a man who knew great loss and great delight, but who knew above all that the world holds far more richness and meaning than the average eye can see.
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“Combines fine scholarship with winsome writing . . . it is an important contribution.” Books & Culture
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“An amiable, uncluttered biography...” Kirkus Reviews
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“A deeply insightful yet broadly accessible intellectual biography, written in an engaging voice.” Christianity Today, (a CT Book Award winner)
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“An erudite and welcome addition to the C. S. Lewis canon.” Mary S. Lovell, acclaimed biographer and national bestselling author of The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family
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“[Jacobs] provides excellent context by explaining authors and literature that influenced Lewis…his matter-of-fact approach is welcome.” The Christian Science Monitor
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“The Narnian is thoughtful, intriguing and inspiringa treasure for Narnia fans, as well as aficionados of fine biography.” Booklist
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“...[B]est appreciated by the Narnia enthusiasts seeking to learn more about the man behind the stories.” Presbyterians Today
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“This is the book on Lewis weve all been waiting for: probing, generous, lyrical and entertaining.” Charles Marsh, author of The Beloved Community: How Faith Shapes Social Justice, from the Civil Rights Movement to Today
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“The most influential Christian apologist of the last hundred years has found a worthy biographer.” Richard John Neuhaus, editor in chief of First Things
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“It is hard to imagine a more insightful and even-handed treatment of the life and work of Lewis.” Frederick Buechner, author of Beyond Words
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“A book about Lewis that will fascinate even those readers who think they arent interested in reading about him.” Edward Mendelson, author of Early Auden and Later Auden
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“Jacobs provides a fluent and sensible re-telling of the main outlines of Lewiss life...” Richard Jenkyns, The New Republic
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“Jacobs has written[...]not onlya portrait of a dazzling writer but also a defense of Lewis as aseeker and thinker...” Minneapolis Star Tribune
Synopsis
C.S. Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably the most influential Christian writer of his day. Yet among his poetry, literary history and criticism, novels and Christian apologias stands a unique, delightfully imaginative children's series called The Chronicles of Narnia, which has become an enduring classic.
Alan Jacobs takes the imaginary world of Narnia, which has captivated children and adults alike for years, and uses the themes and stories found within to explore the imaginative life of Lewis. Eschewing a conventional biographical structure, Jacobs instead seeks a more elusive quarry: an understanding of the way Lewis's experiences, both direct and literary, formed themselves into themes that then shaped his thoughts and writings, especially the stories of Narnia.
It is in the Narnia stories that we see the most of C.S. Lewis, and this illuminating biography delivers a true picture of his life and imagination.
Alan Jacobs is a professor of literature at Wheaton College. He is the author of several collections of essays, including the recent Shaming the Devil: Essays in Truthtelling. A cultural critic and journalist, his work appears in such publications as First Things, Christianity Today, The Weekly Standard, Books and Culture, and The Oxford American.
"As C. S. Lewis helped make sense of so much for so many, Alan Jacobs helps make sense of C. S. Lewis. The most influential Christian apologist of the last hundred years has found a worthy biographer."
- Richard John Neuhaus, Editor-in-Chief of First Things
--Frederick Buechner, author of Beyond Words
Synopsis
A journey into the imagination of C.S. Lewis explores the themes and life events that contributed to The Chronicles of Narnia, the most enduring classics of children's literature
C.S. Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the 20th century and arguably the most influential Christian writer of his day. Yet among his poetry, literary history and criticism, novels and Christian apologetics stands a unique, delightfully imaginative children's series called The Chronicles of Narnia, which have become enduring classics. Alan Jacobs takes this imaginary world of Narnia and uses the themes and stories found within to explore the imaginative life of C.S. Lewis. Not just a conventional, straightforward biography of Lewis, Jacobs instead seeks a more elusive quarry: an understanding of the way Lewis's experiences, both direct and literary, formed themselves into patterns--themes that then shaped his thought and writings, especially the stories of Narnia.
About the Author
Alan Jacobs is professor of English at Wheaton College in Illinois. He is the author of several books, including most recently The Narnian, a biography of C. S. Lewis. His literary and cultural criticism has appeared in a wide range of periodicals, including the Boston Globe, The American Scholar, First Things, Books & Culture, and The Oxford American.