The Narnian

The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis

By: Alan Jacobs

Narrated by: Alan Jacobs

The White Witch, Aslan, fauns and talking beasts, centaurs and epic battles between good and evil: these have become a part of our collective imagination through the classic volumes of The Chronicles of Narnia. Yet who was the man who created this world? This audiobook attempts to unearth the making of the first Narnian, C. S. Lewis himself.

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 Publishers

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)

One of the best!

I am a huge C.S Lewis fan and read a few biographies already. This one is very special it covers more than other writers wrote. Narrator was excellent. highly recommend.

A must for CSLewis fans.

What an excellent biography of CS Lewis. He was an amazing individual— so well read. As one who loves The Chronicles of Narnia I highly recommend it.

Great insights on a much-covered author

I most appreciated the author’s literary insights into Lewis’ thinking. Also, the critiques of other Lewis biographies were quite helpful. However, I’m not sure why Professor Jacob’s left out so much of his original text of The Narnian. Perhaps this should be listed as an “abridged” version of the book?

A brilliant and poignant narrative, well read

Alan Jacobs is a treasure! I turn to him first now regarding literary matters. He writes as a careful scholar and as a man who is devoted to his subject with respect and affection.

A Positive Vision

This book sobered and impacted me deeply. I would highly recommend diving in this story.

portrait of a very human Lewis

While not a simplistic bio of Lewis, it's not overly academic either. Neither is it (thankfully) an interpretation key for Chronicles of Narnia. Although Jacobs' thesis is that Lewis expressed his imaginative world best (consciously or unconsciously) through Narnia, he covers all Lewis' work. Jacobs creates a skilful and entertaining biography, weaving together smoothly discussion of Lewis' fiction and nonfiction with bio details and some interpretation of those life experiences.

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.

Outstanding!

It is a bit abridged from the book but not diminished I think. Well read. Well told. One of the best books on Lewis I know. Pvk

The Real CS Lewis

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.

C.S. Lewis, lover of fairy tales

"The Narnian" gives a glimpse into why C.S. Lewis, Oxford scholar and Christian apologist, wrote fairy tales. It is a fairly complete biography, starting in childhood and ending in Lewis's death in 1963. It also looks into the effects of World War I, the Inklings and more.

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.

Great Subject, Great Listen

A thoughtful, informative, balanced and well-written bio of Lewis read by the author. Jacobs's pleasant voice makes this an enjoyable audio book. The closing anecdote is brilliantly summative of Lewis and quite moving to anyone who has just listened to the entire book.