The Narnian

by: Alan Jacobs

Published by: HarperOne

Reviewed by Bob Pike, CSP, CPAE-Speakers Hall of Fame

Alan Jacobs has done a brilliant job of making C.S. Lewis come alive for his fans. His book covers C.S. Lewis’ entire life, including rich background on his mother and father, and continuing right up to the end of his life.

You quickly learn that at an age four Clive Staples Lewis announced that he would no longer go by his given name but instead would respond only to “Jacksie,” which was later shortened. Through his book, Jacobs helps you develop a real understanding not only of C.S. Lewis, the writer, but also C.S. Lewis the child, the student, the teacher, the writer, as well as brother, friend, and husband.

Jacobs also provides background color for how many of Lewis’ works evolved. You will be fascinated to find that the land of Narnia evolved from a childhood land C.S. and his brother, Warnie, created in their playtime calls “Boxen.”

Another area of Lewis’ life that you will find intriguing is the ongoing challenges presented by the various schools he attended and taught at. Whether it was the bizarre behavior of his headmaster at Wynyard School, being overlooked for a professorship at Oxford because of his strong Christian stance, or the ultimate recognition given him by Cambridge University (which caused Oxford to unsuccessfully try to undo their slight of Lewis and his scholarship), it is obvious that all of the academic pursuits found their ways into his writings.

One of the most fascinating parts of the book is the accurate depiction of Lewis’ marriage to Joy Gresham. This is a far different account than presented in the movie of C.S. Lewis’ life “The Shadowlands.”

This book is a must read for any fan of The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity, or The Chronicles of Narnia.

Armchair Interviews says: Unique look at C.S. Lewis’s life and writings.