Welcome to the World of Narnia

British author C.S. Lewis and his best-known novels, the seven-volume
The Chronicles of Narnia series, have been readers' favorites for more than 50 years. But nothing has prompted a resurgence of interest in the man and his writing like the upcoming December 9th release of the Disney/Walden Media feature film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. And although the author and the series are especially cherished among Christians, the shelves of general market bookstores are also displaying some of the hundreds of products that have been released or re-released to capitalize on the movie tie-in opportunity.

First published in the 1950s, the series follows the adventures of a group of children who suddenly find themselves in another world --- the world of Narnia, accessible only through the back of an old wardrobe in an elderly professor's home. Although the books were and still are considered a children's series, Lewis was such an accomplished writer that the books appeal to adults every bit as much as they do to children. Even now, a half-century after their release, the books continue to sell at a rate of a million copies a year. And 2005 is undoubtedly going to be a record-breaker.

Leading the publishers in the Lewis/Narnia release competition is HarperCollins (along with its HarperSanFrancisco religion division and its CBA division, Zondervan), with more than 150 distinct products on the market --- not surprising, since the company owns the rights to much of Lewis's work. Official movie tie-in editions of the novels, featuring stills from the film, are joined by an abundance of books about Narnia and Lewis, coffee-table editions, box sets, audio versions, movie soundtracks, specialty items for children such as activity books and "retellings" for very young readers, and, of course, gift items including leather book covers, framed art, replicas of movie props, and toys from Zondervan's Inspirio gift division.

Add to that the plethora of releases from other publishers, and it should be evident that we could not review even a significant percentage of the Narnia/Lewis books out there. So here's a sampling of recent releases, including several Lewis biographies and family-oriented books in addition to books that draw spiritual insights from the Narnia series. But if you've never read The Chronicles of Narnia, start there. Read all seven books for the sheer pleasure of it. As most of the authors on the following list would agree, only then should you read what others have written about the series.

Narnia Books
(all are paperback unless otherwise noted):

(InterVarsity Press)
Mark Eddy Smith's personal, and personable, style of writing does indeed turn this into a "romp through Narnia," as the back cover copy promises. Smith, author of TOLKIEN'S ORDINARY VIRTUES, devotes a chapter to each of the books in the Narnia series, drawing from each book a wealth of insights into both spiritual truth and human nature. Includes a guide for personal reflection and group discussion.


(HarperCollins)
Not surprisingly, a very nicely done oversized coffee-table paperback filled with stunning images from the movie and original illustrations. Sidebars provide tidbits of information, such as the current location of the actual wardrobe from Lewis's home and the titles that were considered before the final book titles were selected for the Narnia series. A beautiful and useful resource.


(Eerdmans)
A hardcover pictorial biography that delivers just what the title promises --- a compilation of photographs that depict the world that Lewis saw. In addition to photos of Lewis, his family, and the places where he lived and studied, the book includes photos of locations that provided inspiration for the settings in his novels as well as drawings done by Lewis and illustrations made by others for his books. The accompanying text offers insight into Lewis through his own words and those of his colleagues and friends, of whom Kilby was one.


(Wiley)
If you know the For Dummies series, you know what to expect from this book --- loads of information that covers the gamut from the life of Lewis to the Narnia books, from his other novels to his nonfiction, from discussions of topics like heaven to the trademark of the Dummies series, "Part of Tens," which provides lists of Narnia/Lewis resources, quotations, authors Lewis recommended, and tips for reading Lewis. Wagner, author of CHRISTIANITY FOR DUMMIES, effectively weaves an understanding of the Christian faith throughout his exploration of Lewis and Narnia.


(Crossway)
This scripture-heavy companion seems to be intended for use by parents in prompting discussions with their children about biblical themes in the novel (not the entire series), since the text is not what I would think of as a "read-aloud." Some of the chapters include brief sections with titles like "Think About It!" and "Did You Know?" Includes recipes for brewing a pot of tea, baking English scones, and making Turkish Delight, plus a half-dozen or so ideas for other activities, a description of the other books in the series, and a brief guide to the characters in the book.


(InterVarsity Press)
Duriez starts off with a chapter on Lewis's life and continues with an exploration of the Narnia books with regard to their orthodoxy, worldview, and literary features. A second section, the heart of the "field guide," provides an overview of the books, separate chapters on the history and geography of the land of Narnia, a look at other Lewis writings through a Narnian lens, and a "who's who" of people who influenced Lewis or were instrumental in the publication of the Narnia series. Includes an alphabetical guide to people, places and things, as well as a Lewis timeline, notes, a bibliography, and (yessss!) an index.


(SaltRiver/Tyndale)
The several dozen thematic reflections in this hardcover book follow the chronological order of the books, starting with THE MAGICIAN'S NEPHEW. (If you're not familiar with the ongoing discussion about the "correct" order in which the books should be read, most of the current crop of Narnia-related books will enlighten you. There's the order in which the books were written and published, starting with THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, and the chronological order according to Narnia time, starting with THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW. Think Star Wars movies and other series that include prequels.) Each reflection begins with a retelling of an incident in one of the books, continues with the authors’ commentary that sheds light on the spiritual connection, and ends with a one-line thought to reflect on. Think of this one as a Narnia devotional. Includes notes and a bibliography.


(W Publishing)
Williams's straightforward text is divided into three sections: "The Story of Narnia," offering a summary and commentary on the series; "Living Like a Narnian," which applies principles gleaned from the books to Christian concepts such as sin, prayer, and the will of God; and "The End and the Beginning," which shows how the world of Narnia parallels the real world, offers a glimpse of heaven, and depicts humanity's longing to know God. Includes discussion questions and notes.


(Baker Books)
If you're looking for a more academic but still accessible book on Narnia, this one's for you. This is a true literary analysis, exploring themes, allusions, metaphors, symbolism, seeming problems or contradictions within the text --- all those things that make former English majors like me salivate. Not surprisingly, Dr. Brown is an English professor. If you really want to dig deeper into Narnia as literature, and you're not put off by a host of parenthetical references like (Ford 1994, 454; Hooper 1996, 420; Sammons 1979, 54), then you should find this one to your liking.


(Jossey-Bass)
Downing, a recognized authority on Lewis, divides his hardcover book into chapters covering Lewis's life, his writing of the Narnia series, the spiritual vision and moral psychology inherent in the books, their classical and medieval elements (an aspect often overlooked by other authors), an examination of Narnian names, and Narnia as literature. Includes a timeline of Lewis's life, an appendix of definitions and allusions, notes, and a bibliography.


(Crossway)
Of the many biographies of C.S. Lewis that have been written since his death, few contain the personal insights that this one does, and for good reason --- George Sayer was both a student and a close friend of Lewis. First released in 1988, this book still holds up as an authoritative and intimate look at Lewis's life. Particularly interesting is the detailed description of Lewis's life and writings as an academic. Includes notes, a bibliography and --- praise the good Lord --- an index.


(Broadman & Holman)
Hinten, an authority on the British Renaissance, shares with Lewis a passion for and understanding of medieval and Renaissance literary symbolism. Chapters cover the many literary, mythological, and scriptural allusions present in the individual books of the Narnia series. Few readers of the series are likely to be aware, for instance, of Lewis's intentional nods to Geoffrey Chaucer, Jonathan Swift, John Milton, Edmund Spenser, and Percy Bysshe Shelley in THE SILVER CHAIR alone. Hinten also sheds light on many of the characters' names by tracing them to their linguistic roots. Includes a brief bio of Lewis, a discussion of the importance of allusion, details on the writing of the series, and a bibliography.


(NavPress)
Velarde organizes his chapters along the lines of the great, universal moral themes, such as "Courage and Cowardice," "Mercy and Cruelty," "Humility and Pride." In each chapter, he shows how those themes are woven into the plot or evident in the lives of the characters. Each chapter ends with several questions for reflection. Includes notes and an appendix that provides plot summaries for each of the books.


(Broadman & Holman)
Ted Baehr fans will discover right away that there's very little content written by him in this oversized coffee-table hardcover. Rather, the text consists of essays and chapters written by more than a dozen other writers and covers Lewis's life, the Narnian world, the specific influence of THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, movie and television adaptations, and reflections drawn from the books. It's not your typical coffee-table book; the photos and illustrations are all black and white, and the footnotes appear at the end of each chapter, an unusual placement for a book that depends so heavily on design.


(Kregel)
A coffee-table paperback that features illustrations from the original series and lots of color and black-and-white photos, including stills from the BBC TV adaptation of the series that aired in the 1980s. The accompanying text covers Lewis's real and fantasy worlds, his faith and his academic life, and his marriage to Joy Davidman. Includes stills from the movie Shadowlands, which featured Anthony Hopkins as Lewis.


(Tyndale)
Edwards's book focuses on the preeminent character of Aslan through six chapters that he accurately describes as "meditations on significant encounters with Aslan, both by native Narnians and by intrepid Sons and Daughters of Eve who cross over from our world, including you and me." Most of the chapters draw from multiple books in the series, and Edwards, another noted expert on Lewis, offers a list of suggested readings from the Narnia books to accompany each meditation. He ends with a delightful --- but of course, imaginary --- online chat between the author and Lewis. Includes a study guide, notes, and a list of recommended books relating to Lewis and Narnia.


(Cumberland House)
This paperback reissue of a 1996 release includes separate sections on Lewis's life, thought and legacy, drawing as much as possible from his own writings. The second section offers as concise and readable a distillation of his thought as you're likely to find anywhere. The 30 chapters in this section cover such topics as sin, hell, morality, friendship, humor, politics and a host of other subjects that crop up in Lewis's work. Includes a chronology of Lewis's life, a list of his writings, notes and a selected bibliography.


(HarperSanFrancisco)
Also available in a standard-sized edition, this handy reference book provides hundreds of entries covering names, places, objects and themes, all arranged in alphabetical order. Especially helpful if you can't remember who in the world Lasaraleen Tarkheena is, or whether Rhindon is an island visited by the Dawn Treader or the name of Peter's sword (it's the latter). Appendices include a comparison of the ages of principal characters in the various books and an atlas abridged from the full-size edition.


(InterVarsity Press)
The authors describe their guide as a resource for "reading THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE with C.S. Lewis," drawing on Lewis's own philosophy of literary interpretation --- and his childlike appreciation of a good story. They believe, as Lewis did, that the pure enjoyment of his stories (or any story) must precede reflection and analysis, and they encourage readers to finish their reading of the novel before proceeding to read their book. Chapters correspond with the novel's chapters and offer a variety of bite-sized, easily digested elements to enhance readers' appreciation of Lewis's book --- a description of the literary devices he used, photographs, insightful quotations, and questions for personal reflection or group discussion.


(Multnomah)
A fun and ambitious effort that offers a wealth of very cool activities that can be adapted for a wide range of ages. Each chapter in the main section corresponds to a chapter in the specific book under discussion and offers quizzes, things to talk over with your children, an explanation of unfamiliar terms --- and even as I'm typing this I realize I'm not doing justice to this marvelous book. Wonderful design, graphics, and artwork; I suggest you find this in a bookstore, open to any page, and see if it isn't something your family would find delightful. Mainly for use by parents with their children, but older children can also use this on their own.


(Victor/Cook)
Veith, an editor at World magazine, opens this hardcover book with a discussion of the value of fantasy, particularly in a Christian context, and continues with a seven-chapter topical exposition of Lewis's book (topics include elements like the White Witch, Aslan, and the stone table). Then Veith widens the scope of his discussion by comparing and contrasting the Narnia series to THE LORD OF THE RINGS and the Harry Potter books, and what he calls an "anti-Lewis…anti-Narnia" children's series, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, who has openly professed his hatred of the Narnia series and, by inference, all things Christian. Includes a readers' guide for personal or group use.


(Eerdmans)
This is the third C.S. Lewis-related book by Schakel, an acknowledged Lewis authority who is especially adept at exploring the series's universal themes, such as faith, longing, freedom, obedience and identity. Includes an extensive annotation to each book in the series, notes that among other things explain archaic or purely British terms and references, a bibliography, and other helpful resources.


(Warner Faith)
Rogers, himself a fantasy novelist, emphasizes the critical role imagination plays in fully understanding the truth of the gospel. He arranges the chapters of his book according to the overarching theme of each of the Narnia books --- "Remembering the Signs," for example, for THE SILVER CHAIR, and "Further Up and Further In" for THE LAST BATTLE. Rogers manages to highlight the biblical elements in the series without loading up the text with scripture references; his is a big-picture view that also sheds light on significant details. Includes a bibliography and notes.

   --- Compiled and reviewed by Marcia Ford