Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Indie Next Selection Buzz Books Selection POPSUGAR "Best New Books of October" CountryLiving "Best New Books for This Fall" Atlanta Journal-Constitution "10 Must Read Southern Books This Fall" Booklist Queen "Most Anticipated"From Patti Callahan, the bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis, comes another enchanting story that pulls back the curtain on the early life of C. S. Lewis.
"Where did Narnia come from?"
The answer will change everything.
Megs Devonshire is brilliant with numbers and equations, on a scholarship at Oxford, and dreams of solving the greatest mysteries of physics.
She prefers the dependability of facts--except for one: the younger brother she loves with all her heart doesn't have long to live. When George becomes captivated by a brand-new book called The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and begs her to find out where Narnia came from, there's no way she can refuse.
Despite her timidity about approaching the famous author, Megs soon finds herself taking tea with the Oxford don and his own brother, imploring them for answers. What she receives instead are more stories . . . stories of Jack Lewis's life, which she takes home to George.
Why won't Mr. Lewis just tell her plainly what George wants to know? The answer will reveal to Meg many truths that science and math cannot, and the gift she thought she was giving to her brother--the story behind Narnia--turns out to be his gift to her, instead: hope.
Praise for Once Upon a Wardrobe:
"I advise you to read this book, then wait for a while and then read it again, for while it may not be Narnia, there is magic in it." --Douglas Gresham, C. S. Lewis's stepson
Exquisitely heartfelt, Once Upon a Wardrobe is a love letter to the magic of stories. I call it the Callahan Effect--from the first page to the last, Patti Callahan's wise and beautiful prose draws you in and doesn't let you go. --Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of First Frost and Lost Lake
"Once Upon a Wardrobe is a poignant meditation on the lengths we will go to for our loved ones as well as a fascinating glimpse into the early life of C. S. Lewis. Patti Callahan's beautiful, life-affirming novel is a reminder that literature lives inside us, and that when we read someone else's story, we understand so much more about our own. A gorgeous, compelling book." --Janet Skeslien Charles, award-winning author of The Paris Library
"With a touch of fairy-tale magic, Once Upon a Wardrobe will take you behind the legend and deep into the English and Irish countryside, where you'll encounter not only the inspirations for one of the 20th century's most beloved works, but also a tale of heartache, hope, and discovery that will forever change the Narnia you thought you knew." --Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars
"In this powerful, enchanting tale for all ages, readers uncover the inspiration for Lewis's famous books, while at the same time discovering the way in which stories--and myths--weave through our existences, subtly transforming us in immeasurable ways. Stunning." --Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie
- New York Times bestselling author
- Also by Patti Callahan: Becoming Mrs. Lewis and Surviving Savannah
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs as well as a note from Douglas Gresham, C. S. Lewis's stepson
Synopsis
When college student Megs approaches author C. S. Lewis with her younger brother's request to find out if Narnia is real, he instead takes her on a magical journey through the moments in his life that led to his greatest creation.Megs Devonshire, on a scholarship at Oxford, is brilliant with numbers and equations. She prefers the dependability of facts--except for one: the brother she loves with all her heart doesn't have long to live. When George becomes captivated by a brand-new book called The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and begs her to find out where Narnia came from, there's no way she can refuse.
Despite her timidity about approaching the famous author, who is a professor at her school, Megs soon finds herself taking tea with the Oxford don and his own brother, begging them for answers. What she receives instead are stories . . . little-known tales from different periods in Mr. Lewis's life, which she takes home to George.
Why won't Mr. Lewis just tell her plainly what George wants to know? The answer will reveal to Meg many truths that science and math cannot, and the gift she thought she was giving to her brother--the story behind Narnia--turns out to be his gift to her, instead: hope.
Praise for Once Upon a Wardrobe:
"I advise you to read this book, then wait for a while and then read it again, for while it may not be Narnia, there is magic in it." --Douglas Gresham, C. S. Lewis's stepson
"With a touch of fairy-tale magic, Once Upon a Wardrobe will take you behind the legend and deep into the English and Irish countryside, where you'll encounter not only the inspirations for one of the 20th century's most beloved works, but also a tale of heartache, hope, and discovery that will forever change the Narnia you thought you knew." --Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author
- A marvelous blend of little-known true stories from C. S. Lewis's life that Narnia fans will treasure
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs as well as a note from Douglas Gresham, C. S. Lewis's stepson
- Also by New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan: Becoming Mrs. Lewis and Surviving Savannah
Synopsis
Megs Devonshire sets out to fulfill her younger brother George's last wish by uncovering the truth behind his favorite story. The answer provides hope and healing and a magical journey for anyone whose life has ever been changed by a book.
1950: Margaret Devonshire (Megs) is a seventeen-year-old student of mathematics and physics at Oxford University. When her beloved eight-year-old brother asks Megs if Narnia is real, logical Megs tells him it's just a book for children, and certainly not true. Homebound due to his illness, and remaining fixated on his favorite books, George presses her to ask the author of the recently released novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a question: "Where did Narnia come from?"
Despite her fear about approaching the famous author, who is a professor at her school, Megs soon finds herself taking tea with C.S. Lewis and his own brother Warnie, begging them for answers.
Rather than directly telling her where Narnia came from, Lewis encourages Megs to form her own conclusion as he slowly tells her the little-known stories from his own life that led to his inspiration. As she takes these stories home to George, the little boy travels father in his imagination than he ever could in real life.
Lewis's answers will reveal to Megs and her family many truths that science and math cannot, and the gift she thought she was giving to her brother--the story behind Narnia--turns out to be his gift to her, instead: hope.
- A captivating, standalone historical novel combining fact and fiction
- An emotional journey into the books and stories that make us who we are
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Synopsis
College student Megs Devonshire sets out to fulfill her younger brother George's last wish by uncovering the truth behind his favorite story. What transpires is a fascinating look into the bond between siblings and the life-changing magic of stories.
1950: Margaret Devonshire (Megs) is a seventeen-year-old student of mathematics and physics at Oxford University. When her beloved eight-year-old brother asks Megs if Narnia is real, logical Megs tells him it's just a book for children, and certainly not true. Homebound due to his illness, and remaining fixated on his favorite books, George presses her to ask the author of the recently released novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a question: "Where did Narnia come from?"
Despite her fear about approaching the famous author, who is a professor at her school, Megs soon finds herself taking tea with C. S. Lewis and his own brother Warnie, begging them for answers.
Rather than directly telling her where Narnia came from, Lewis encourages Megs to form her own conclusion as he shares the little-known stories from his own life that led to his inspiration. As she takes these stories home to George, the little boy travels farther in his imagination than he ever could in real life.
After holding so tightly to logic and reason, her brother's request leads Megs to absorb a more profound truth: "The way stories change us can't be explained. It can only be felt. Like love."
- From the New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea
- A captivating, standalone historical novel combining fact and fiction
- An emotional journey into the books and stories that make us who we are
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs