C.S. Lewis: Creator of Narnia

In C.S. Lewis: Creator of Narnia, author Elaine Murray Stone shares the life story of one of the most notable authors of the 20th century, from his tragic childhood in Ireland to his service in World War I and his short, but love-filled marriage. For any fan of the Narnia series, this is a great introduction to the man behind the fantasies.

I was surprised by some of the things I learned in this biography. For instance, as a child, Lewis read lots of mythological stories, which provoked the Narnia series later in life. He was also an atheist for a portion of his life, and the author explains how his association with Christian authors, including J.R.R. Tolkien of The Lord of the Rings fame, brought him back to Christianity.

What I Like: The author was acquainted with Mr. Lewis, so the book feels personal. Though short (barely 120 pages) the book does a good job at covering major events in Lewis' life that helped mold him into the man who wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, and Mere Christianity.

What I Dislike: Because the book is so brief, the author has to tell a lot of Lewis' life rather than illustrate it. There are, however, several instances of direct narrative, which are generally more interesting than the surrounding sections.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 9 and up per the publisher, but there are a few topics touched on (marital abuse, emotional parental neglect, prostate problems, and breast cancer) I feel a nine-year-old may not understand, so I'd say 12 and up.

Publishing Info: Paulist Press, 2001; ISBN: 0-8091-6672-0; Paperback $8.95

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