The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis (Plus)

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. 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.--publisher's Website. Traces The Life Of The Twentieth-century Christian Literary Master, Drawing On Themes From The Narnia Series To Offer Insight Into Lewis's Experiences, From His Works As A Medieval Scholar To His Role As A Beloved Children's Book Author. Happy, But For So Happy Ill Secured ... -- Coarse, Brainless English Schoolboys -- Red Beef And Strong Beer -- I Never Sank So Low As To Pray -- A Real Home Somewhere Else -- I Gave In -- Definitely Believing In Christ -- Do You Think I Am Trying To Weave A Spell? -- What I Owe To Them All Is Incalculable -- Nobody Could Put Lewis Down -- We Soon Learn To Love What We Know We Must Lose -- Joy Is The Serious Business Of Heaven -- The Future Of Narnia. Alan Jacobs. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 320-332) And Index. 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 childrens 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 childrens 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 an understanding of the way Lewiss experiences, both direct and literary, formed themselves into patternsthemes that then shaped his thought and writings, especially the stories of Narnia. Introduction "Happy, but for so happy ill secured..." "Coarse, brainless English schoolboys" "Red beef and strong beer" "I never sank so low as to pray" "A real home somewhere else" "I gave in" "Definitely believing in Christ" "Do you think I am trying to weave a spell?" "What I owe to them all is incalculable" "Nobody could put Lewis down" "We soon learn to love what we know we must lose" "Joy is the serious business of heaven" Afterword : The future of Narnia When Clive Staples Lewis was four years old, in 1902 or 1903, he quite suddenly announced to his mother, father, and older brother that from that day forth he would no longer be known as Clive, but rather as "Jacksie." Title from ebook title screen (viewed on Oct. 11, 2005).