Adventures in Narnia: film brings new attention to classic series

REVIEWS BY HOWARD SHIRLEY

As a child, whenever I came upon a strange door, stone steps that seemed to lead nowhere, or (of course) a wardrobe, I wondered if they might take me someplace different. And there was always that moment, just before the door swung open or I took the last step, when I sensed that this time, the Narnia I sought might really be there.

The idea that another world could be just beyond the next door has made the Chronicles of Narnia one of the most beloved of all children's series. In December, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe will be released as a big-budget film on a par with The Lord of the Rings movies. Along with new editions of the novels themselves, a blizzard of Narnia-themed books will hit the shelves to coincide with the film's release. We've selected three of the best—books that open new doors into Narnia and the mind of its creator through works of literary criticism, inspirational study and biography.

Just as one cannot separate Narnia from Christianity, one cannot separate this fanciful realm from its creator, C.S. Lewis. His life and faith are masterfully explored in Alan Jacobs' The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis. An English professor at Wheaton College, Jacobs is both a scholar of exceptional ability and a writer of marvelous skill. Throughout the book, he delves deeply into Lewis' developing theology and philosophy, revealing how the experiences of his life shaped his beliefs and writings. Jacobs focuses closely on Lewis' relationships, especially the pivotal friendship with his Oxford colleague J.R.R. Tolkien—whose theory that pagan myths point to the coming of Christ led both to Lewis' conversion to Christianity and Tolkien's own explorations of the theme—and Lewis' marriage at the age of 57 to American divorcée Joy Davidman, whose love and death shaped his remaining years.

Jacobs argues that Lewis had "a willingness to be enchanted," a quality that enabled him to create remarkable books that captivated the imaginations of children worldwide. The author also corrects many misconceptions about Lewis' life and work, successfully disputing the claims of both critics and devotees. The Narnian is thoughtful, intriguing and inspiring—a treasure for Narnia fans, as well as aficionados of fine biography.


Finding faith
Christian themes and philosophy pervade Lewis' works, and the Chronicles are no exception. Jonathan Rogers' The World According to Narnia: Christian Meaning in C.S. Lewis' Beloved Chronicles explores the spiritual truths in each of the seven Narnia books. Rogers has a gift for revealing subtleties of meaning, theme and character that might go unnoticed even after many readings. Whether it is Prince Caspian's theme of seeing the evidence for faith when others don't, or The Silver Chair's message about standing firm for Christ when evidence seems to point the other way, Rogers reveals how the characters of the Chronicles, including the villains, represent aspects of human faith and frailty. The World According to Narnia can be read for both curiosity and inspiration; if it has a flaw, it is that it ends too quickly.


An inside look
For a more literary approach to Lewis' work, take a look at Inside Narnia: A Guide to Exploring The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Devin Brown, which purports to be the first in-depth literary analysis of Lewis' first children's book. Brown proceeds chapter-by-chapter through the novel, examining not only the more obvious mythological, religious and cultural origins of Lewis' story, but also his far subtler genius for using descriptive imagery to highlight character traits and philosophies. In one insightful passage, Brown compares the Beavers' hut and its humble, homey contents to the outwardly grand but inwardly cold and empty palace of the White Witch—a metaphor for the spiritual states of the inhabitants. Inside Narnia is well-written and readable, even for those to whom "literary analysis" brings back horrific memories of freshman English classes.


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