Description
Book SynopsisPublished in the early 1950s, C. S. Lewis''s seven
Chronicles of Narnia were proclaimed instant children''s classics and have been hailed in
The Oxford Companion to Children''s Literature as the most sustained achievement in fantasy for children by a 20th-century author. But how could Lewis (a formidable critic, scholar, and Christian apologist)conjure up the kind of adventures in which generations of children (and adults) take such delight? In this engaging and insightful book, C. S. Lewis expert David C. Downing invites readers to join his vivid exploration of the
Chronicles of Narnia, offering a detailed look at the enchanting stories themselves and also focusing on the extraordinary intellect and imagination of the man behind the Wardrobe.
Downing presents each Narnia book as its own little wardrobe - each tale an opportunity to discover a visionary world of bustling vitality, sparkling beauty, and spiritual clarity. And Downing''s examination of C. S. Lewi
Trade Review
“…in this volume, C.S.Lewis’ biography is given concisely, yet thoroughly…before you go to the movies this winter to see the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, read this book…” (The Eternal Night, 13th December 2005).
“…a masterful work that will appeal to both new and seasoned fans of Narnia, ‘Into the Wardrobe’ offers a journey beyond Narnia’s deceptively simple surface and into its richly textured and unexpected depths.” (www.eden.co.uk, 13th December 2005)
“…fluent and mature…” (Church Times, 9th December 2005)
Table of ContentsA C. S. Lewis Time Line.
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.
