
The Narnian
The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis
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Narrated by:
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Alan Jacobs
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By:
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Alan Jacobs
One of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably the most influential religious writer of his day, Lewis was also an Oxford don and a scholar of medieval literature who loved to debate philosophy at his local pub. Yet one of the most intriguing aspects of Clive Staples Lewis remains unanswered. How did a bachelor professor, nearly 50, and living in a wholly adult world, 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 C.S. Lewis. From his childhood days in Ireland to his horrific experiences in the trenches of the First World War, to his friendship with J.R.R. Tolkein (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 story of a profound mind and extraordinary imagination, The Narnian is 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.
©2005 Alan Jacobs (P)2005 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
"Amidst a sea of entry-level Lewis portraits being published this fall, this more substantive book is for hard-core Lewis lovers eager to soak up historical minutiae and savor salient Lewis quotes for years to come."(Publishers Weekly)
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One of the best!
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A must for CSLewis fans.
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Great insights on a much-covered author
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A brilliant and poignant narrative, well read
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A Positive Vision
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Occasionally, however, the book sounds like C.S. Lewis for Dummies--Jacobs will cite a passage of Lewis (quite well expressed by itself) then explain it in his own words. Jacobs assumes the listener is unfamiliar with early/mid century British culture and details the school system etc. that would be familiar to even occasional readers of Brit lit. There are also short digressions about Chesterton, Housemen and others who influenced Lewis--not enough to bore someone familiar with them, but enough to situate a reader who isn't. It's very much a conversion story and an exposition of Lewis' attacks on moral relativism, instumentalism and conformity, but the bio ends with the older, wiser Lewis transcending the words and doctrines of the middle-aged apologist with images.
Overall an enjoyable listen, neither heavy nor lightweight, a bio skilfully and lovingly written and narrated by Jacobs so as to surprise with joy even a tepid fan of CS Lewis like me.
portrait of a very human Lewis
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Outstanding!
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Any additional comments?
CS Lewis gave us the best he had to offer. i have often returned to Narnia as an adult to learn about GOD. Aslan is not safe. He is a wild Lion. But, He is good. and so it is about GOD. GOD is not safe, but, He is good.The Real CS Lewis
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At the start, Alan Jacobs deviates a bit too much from biography toward analysis of the Narnia books (containing spoilers). However, the analysis stems from Jacobs desire to take clues about Lewis's life from his writings. The exercise is often quite revealing.
Jacobs also touches on how Aslan came to be the hero of Narnia... stating that the Christian allegory -- in at least "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" -- came forth during the writing process and not by C.S. Lewis's conscious design. Lewis was just trying to tell a good story -- a great fairy tale -- that would grab children's attention.
C.S. Lewis, lover of fairy tales
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Great Subject, Great Listen
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