English Professor Writes Book About C.S. Lewis’ Narnia Series

Newswise — An Elizabethtown College English professor has written a companion volume to C.S. Lewis's Narnia series just in time for the December release of the Walt Disney film "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe."

David Downing's book, "Into the Wardrobe: C.S. Lewis and the Narnia Chronicles" tells of the genesis of "The Chronicles of Narnia," a seven-book series written by Lewis. The first book in the series, "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe," introduces readers to four London children who are sent to a professor's country home for protection during World War II. There they find a magic wardrobe that leads to a mystical land called Narnia, which is being ruled by an evil witch. To defeat the witch, they must join forces with Aslan, the lion God of Narnia, and fight the great battle between good and evil.

In "Into the Wardrobe," Downing writes about the origins of various characters and about unpublished versions of the stories. He also speculates about some of the literary influences seen in "The Chronicles of Narnia" and elaborates on the series' spiritual vision and moral center. Downing also shares with readers the significance of names and the medieval and Renaissance literary allusions that crop up throughout the Chronicles.

"When Lewis took up children's fiction, he did not cease to be Lewis the Christian, Lewis the Medieval and Renaissance scholar, or Lewis the literary artist," Downing said. "He was able to pour more of his whole self into his writing, including his love of wonder and enchantment, his affection for animals and homespun things, his shrewd observations about human nature and his robust humor, not to mention theological speculations, medieval scholarship, and arcane linguistic jokes."

Publishers Weekly writes of the book, "[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."

The R.W. Schlosser Professor of English at Elizabethtown College, Downing has written numerous articles on C.S. Lewis, and his "Planets in Peril: A Critical Study of C.S. Lewis's Ransom Trilogy" was named one of the five best books yet published on Lewis by the "C. S. Lewis and the Inklings Homepage." His "The Most Reluctant Convert: C.S. Lewis's Journey to Faith" was named one of Booklist's Best Religion Books for 2002 and was a 2003 Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Gold Medallion finalist. Downing was also awarded the Clyde S. Kilby Research Grant for 2000 by the Marion E. Wade Center in support of his research.

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