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Into the Wardrobe: C. S. Lewis and the Narnia Chronicles, by David C. Downing
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Published 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. Lewis's personal life shows how the content of these classic children's books reflects Lewis's love of wonder and story, his affection for animals and homespun things, his shrewd observations about human nature, along with his vast reading, robust humor, theological speculations, medieval scholarship, and arcane linguistic jokes. A fun glossary of odd and invented words will allow readers to speak with Narnian flair, regaling friends and family with unusual words like cantrips, poltoonery, hastilude, and skirling. 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.
- Sales Rank: #2631427 in Books
- Published on: 2008-05-19
- Original language: English
- Dimensions: 8.20" h x .70" w x 5.10" l, .53 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 256 pages
From Publishers Weekly
This valuable companion volume to C.S. Lewis's Narnia series draws upon several of Downing's previous books on Lewis, including The Most Reluctant Convert and Into the Region of Awe, adding new material. After an excellent biographical essay that takes seriously Lewis's intellectual as well as personal history, Downing offers an equally helpful and detailed chapter on the genesis of Narnia, with book-by-book descriptions of how the stories came into being. Here we learn about the origins of various characters (some of whom mirrored people Lewis knew in his own life, such as a dreaded headmaster) and about unpublished versions of the stories, including the famous "Lefay fragment" that offers an alternate beginning to "The Magician's Nephew." Downing also speculates about some of the literary influences that can be seen in Lewis's Chronicles, from The Voyage of Saint Brendan and Arabian Nights to the myth of Orpheus and the biblical book of Revelation. In subsequent chapters, Downing elaborates on the series' spiritual vision and moral center (including an intriguing section on Edmund's descent into selfishness and sin). But the most original and arresting chapters are the ones on the significance of names and the medieval and Renaissance literary allusions that crop up throughout the Chronicles. These literary feasts will be best enjoyed by fans who have read the entire series, but those who haven't may be so impressed by Downing's exploration of Lewis's deep and sophisticated imagination that they will sneak "into the wardrobe" and devour the Chronicles for themselves.
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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, 13 th 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, 13 th December 2005) " ... fluent and mature ... " ( Church Times, 9 th December 2005)
Review
"[Into the Wardrobe] will be best enjoyed by fans who have read the entire series, but those who haven't may be so impressed by Downing’s exploration of Lewis's deep and sophisticated imagination that they will sneak ‘into the wardrobe’ and devour the Chronicles for themselves."
--Publishers Weekly
"Everyone who has enjoyed the Chronicles of Narnia and anyone who is interested in the writings of C.S. Lewis must read this excellent work…Downing helps the reader understand how the Chronicles reflect not only Lewis’s towering intellect, but also his strong faith and his sensitive heart."
--Armand Nicholi, M.D., author, The Question of God: C. S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life
"Like his previous studies of Lewis’s life and writings, Into the Wardrobe proves again that Downing is a master at weaving essential facts and fresh insights into a smooth narrative…a balanced and satisfying guide for either experienced or first-time readers of Narnia."
--Robert Trexler, editor, CSL: The Bulletin of the New York C. S. Lewis Society
"With lucidity and uncommon good sense, David Downing offers a guide to the Narnia Chronicles that will deepen the reader's appreciation of these perennial favorites while illuminating the origins of Narnia in Lewis's life and work."
--John Wilson, editor, Books & Culture
"What David C. Downing does so well is give us lenses through which Lewis’s myriad works come into sharp focus, revealing the convictions, insights, scholarship, experience, and questions that shaped the man who brought us Narnia."
--Jeffrey Overstreet, film critic, Christianity Today and LookingCloser.org
"David Downing's sprightly study of the Narnia Chronicles provides readers with a fresh interpretation of Lewis's children's books…Read and rejoice."
--Ralph C. Wood, University Professor of Theology and Literature, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, and author, The Gospel According to Tolkien: Visions of the Kingdom in Middle-Earth
Most helpful customer reviews
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful.
Lewis' Ingredients for Creating Narnia
By Roger N. Overton
C.S Lewis is most widely known today for his children's tales, The Chronicles of Narnia. However, David C. Downing notes in Into the Wardrobe: C.S. Lewis and the Narnia Chronicles that, "some of his contemporaries were shocked when the eminent C.S. Lewis started writing children's stories." (XIV) Lewis had written some fiction previously, a sci-fi trilogy, The Great Divorce, and some poetry, as well as some notable literary work, but not fiction for children. So when the Chronicles began to be written, what emerged was not merely fairy tales for children, but a magnificent composition of classical, medieval, and modern ideas filtered through the creative theological imagination of C.S. Lewis.
Into the Wardrobe explores the background of Narnia in the life and thought of C.S. Lewis. As should any book of this nature, Dr. Downing begins in Chapter 1 with a biography of Lewis. In Chapter 2 we are introduced to the writing of the Chronicles in the order they were composed. Here Dr. Downing offers a summary of each book and some explanations of their origins, including the lost Lefay fragment that was a potential beginning of The Magician's Nephew.
The last five chapters examine the content of the series categorically. Chapter 3 takes on the "spiritual vision" of the Chronicles. The spirituality of the series is seen through the perspective of Aslan, who is envisioned as "a Numinous Being," "Supremely Good," "Creator," "Co-Sufferer," "Redeemer," "Comfort and Guide" and "Judge." Next, Dr. Downing examines is the morality taught throughout the series through Edmund's failures, technology, and the virtues of honesty, empathy, privacy, and trust.
Chapter 5 looks into the classical and medieval elements found in the Chronicles including hierarchy, chivalry, magic, and astrology. For those who have wondered where Lewis might have gotten the names for his characters, this is described in detail in Chapter 6. The final chapter deals with the literary legacy of the series and grapples with a few of the criticisms that have been made of them and Lewis himself.
Into the Wardrobe was almost consistently a stimulating read. My favorite chapters were the one on the spiritual roles of Aslan and the one about classical and medieval elements. For the former, as with most Narnia fans I suspect, I can never get enough of informed Aslan discussion. For the latter, the scholarly work of Lewis in classical and medieval studies is usually only a footnote in what I've read. Dr. Downing shows that this area of Lewis' life and study is just as important as the rest and played an influential role in the formation of the Chronicles. The only chapter I didn't care much for was the one on Narnian names. Perhaps due to the subject at hand, at a couple instances I felt like I was reading a genealogy in the book of Numbers
David Downing offers us a thought-provoking behind-the-scenes look at what went into the writing of The Chronicles of Narnia. His knowledge of the subject matter and accessible writing style make this book an educational and enjoyable read at the same time.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
Stands Out in a Crowd
By Rocky Mountain Dan
David C. Downing's INTO THE WARDROBE is one of the best Narnia guides in print. Downing is a leading C.S. Lewis expert and his familiarity with the subject matter gives this book unusual insight and depth.
Those who have just discovered "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" will find here the background information they were looking for but will also discover a thoughtful and and highly readable exploration of Lewis's themes and artistry that they may have overlooked.
And those who are familiar with Narnia from numerous readings and re-readings will find new insights and little known information here. For example, Downing explores the influences on Lewis of the "Arabian Nights" and the obscure "Voyage of Saint Brendan." Downing also dug deep to find the origins of some distinctive Narnian names such as "Puddleglum"
and "Prunaprismia."
Downing's INTO THE WARDROBE will certainly make the reading of the Narnia Chronicles more rewarding and it is a good read in its own right. Highly recommended.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Insight into Narnia
By Christian Book Previews
Into the Wardrobe by David C. Downing offers some unique insights into the Chronicles of Narnia while keeping its scholarly views readable.
Downing begins his book rather unimaginatively with a brief biography of C. S. Lewis, but soon turns to explore the conception of each of the Chronicles in the order Lewis wrote them. The next chapter discusses the books' spiritual vision, focusing on the various aspects of Aslan: creator, redeemer, judge, etc. In "Moral Psychology," Downing points out how Lewis portrayed qualities both positive and negative, with Edmund and Eustace as examples. In "Classical and Medieval Elements", the author demonstrates how Lewis used include hierarchy and chivalry within his series.
The heart of Downing's book delves into the names Lewis gave to characters and places, and researches possible origins. Lucy and Jill were young girls Lewis knew, Aslan means "lion" in Turkish, and an Italian village was once called Narnia. The book ends with a chapter on Lewis's literary abilities, an appendix of terms and allusions used in the Chronicles, extensive notes, bibliography, and index.
While Into the Wardrobe proves Downing's claim of C. S. Lewis expert, one mistake jarred throughout the book. He seemed not to realize Jadis from The Magician's Nephew and the White Witch of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are the same person. He entertains the possibility due to a letter Lewis wrote, but completely ignores the White Witch being called Jadis in the report of Tumnus' arrest.
Apart from this minor point, this book is an excellent resource for all Narnia fans. It offers insight for everyone who loves Narnia - from curious children to literary scholars - although its aim lies more toward the latter. -- Katie Hart, Christian Book Previews.com
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