Into the Wardrobe
C. S. Lewis and the Narnia Chronicles
Published on 19. July 2007
256 pages
978-0-7879-9790-8 (ISBN)
Description
Published in the early 1950s, C. S. Lewis's seven Chronicles ofNarnia were proclaimed instant children's classics and havebeen hailed in The Oxford Companion to Children's Literatureas "the most sustained achievement in fantasy for children by a20th-century author." But how could Lewis (a formidable critic,scholar, and Christian apologist)conjure up the kind of adventuresin which generations of children (and adults) take such delight? Inthis engaging and insightful book, C. S. Lewis expert David C.Downing invites readers to join his vivid exploration of theChronicles of Narnia, offering a detailed look at theenchanting stories themselves and also focusing on theextraordinary intellect and imagination of the man behind theWardrobe.
Downing presents each Narnia book as its own little wardrobe -each tale an opportunity to discover a visionary world of bustlingvitality, sparkling beauty, and spiritual clarity. And Downing'sexamination of C. S. Lewis's personal life shows how the content ofthese classic children's books reflects Lewis's love of wonder andstory, his affection for animals and homespun things, his shrewdobservations about human nature, along with his vast reading,robust humor, theological speculations, medieval scholarship, andarcane linguistic jokes. A fun glossary of odd and invented wordswill allow readers to speak with Narnian flair, regaling friendsand family with unusual words like cantrips, poltoonery, hastilude,and skirling. A masterful work that will appeal to both new andseasoned fans of Narnia, Into the Wardrobe offers a journeybeyond Narnia's deceptively simple surface and into its richlytextured and unexpected depths.
Reviews / Votes
"...in this volume, C.S.Lewis' biography is givenconcisely, yet thoroughly...before you go to the movies thiswinter to see the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, read thisbook..." (The Eternal Night, 13thDecember 2005). "...a masterful work that will appeal to both new andseasoned fans of Narnia, 'Into the Wardrobe' offers ajourney beyond Narnia's deceptively simple surface and intoits richly textured and unexpected depths."(www.eden.co.uk, 13th December 2005) "...fluent and mature..." (ChurchTimes, 9th December 2005)"[Into the Wardrobe] will be best enjoyed by fans who haveread the entire series, but those who haven't may be so impressedby Downing's exploration of Lewis's deep and sophisticatedimagination that they will sneak 'into the wardrobe'and devour the Chronicles for themselves." --Publishers Weekly "Everyone who has enjoyed the Chronicles of Narnia and anyonewho is interested in the writings of C.S. Lewis must read thisexcellent work...Downing helps the reader understand how theChronicles reflect not only Lewis's towering intellect, butalso his strong faith and his sensitive heart." --Armand Nicholi, M.D., author, The Question of God: C. S. Lewisand Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning ofLife "Like his previous studies of Lewis's life and writings,Into the Wardrobe proves again that Downing is a master atweaving essential facts and fresh insights into a smoothnarrative...a balanced and satisfying guide for eitherexperienced or first-time readers of Narnia." --Robert Trexler, editor, CSL: The Bulletin of the New YorkC. S. Lewis Society "With lucidity and uncommon good sense, David Downing offers aguide to the Narnia Chronicles that will deepen the reader'sappreciation of these perennial favorites while illuminating theorigins of Narnia in Lewis's life and work." --John Wilson, editor, Books & Culture "What David C. Downing does so well is give us lenses throughwhich Lewis's myriad works come into sharp focus, revealingthe convictions, insights, scholarship, experience, and questionsthat shaped the man who brought us Narnia." --Jeffrey Overstreet, film critic, Christianity Today andLookingCloser.org "David Downing's sprightly study of the Narnia Chroniclesprovides readers with a fresh interpretation of Lewis's children'sbooks...Read and rejoice." --Ralph C. Wood, University Professor of Theology and Literature,Baylor University, Waco, Texas, and author, The Gospel Accordingto Tolkien: Visions of the Kingdom in Middle-EarthMore details
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
06/2008
Wiley
€12.37
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Book
09/2005
Jossey-Bass
€19.00
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Person
David C. Downing is a leading C. S. Lewis expert, award-winningauthor, and professor of English at Elizabethtown College inLancaster County, Pennsylvania. His articles about Lewis haveappeared in such publications as Christianity Today, Christianityand Literature, Books & Culture, Christian Scholars Review, andnumerous other journals. His books include Planets in Peril, aboutthe Space Trilogy; The Most Reluctant Convert, a biography of Lewisthat was named one of the Top Ten Religion Books of the Year by theAmerican Library Association; and Into the Region of Awe, a studyof the mystical elements in Lewis's life and writings.
Content
introduction: The Child as Father of the Man.
1 The Life of C. S. Lewis.
2 The Genesis of Narnia.
3 The Spiritual Vision of the Narnia Chronicles.
4 Moral Psychology.
5 Classical and Medieval Elements.
6 What's in a Narnian Name?
7 Lewis's Literary Artistry.
appendix: Definitions, Allusions, and Textual Notes.
notes.
bibliography.
acknowledgments.
the author.
index.
