Planet Narnia

The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C. S. Lewis

By: Michael Ward

Narrated by: Nigel Patterson

For over half a century, scholars have labored to show that C. S. Lewis' famed but apparently disorganized Chronicles of Narnia have an underlying symbolic coherence, pointing to such possible unifying themes as the seven sacraments, the seven deadly sins, and the seven books of Spenser's Faerie Queene. None of these explanations has won general acceptance, and the structure of Narnia's symbolism has remained a mystery.

Michael Ward has finally solved the enigma. In Planet Narnia, he demonstrates that medieval cosmology, a subject which fascinated Lewis throughout his life, provides the imaginative key to the seven novels. Drawing on the whole range of Lewis' writings, Ward reveals how the Narnia stories were designed to express the characteristics of the seven medieval planets - Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Luna, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn - planets which Lewis described as "spiritual symbols of permanent value". Using these seven symbols, Lewis secretly constructed the Chronicles so that in each book the plot-line, the ornamental details, and, most important, the portrayal of the Christ-figure of Aslan, all serve to communicate the governing planetary personality.

Planet Narnia is a groundbreaking study that will provoke a major revaluation not only of the Chronicles, but of Lewis' whole literary and theological outlook.

©2008 Oxford University Press, Inc. (P)2019 Tantor

great commentary on C.S. Lewis's works.

An insightful look into the process of Lewis's writing style, and immensely useful for upcoming writers looking into weaving mythology into their own works.

Beautiful and Academic

This is a beautifully done examination of Lewis! While this book is noticeably academic, it is performed well, and progressed smoothly between sections. If I had a critique, it would be that I wanted to hear more! I am looking forward to my next reading of the Narnia septet and delving into Lewis further.

Just wow!

I think Lewis would be pleased at such an inspired interpretation of his fiction writings, made even more meaningful by the process of the author's discovery. An absolutely delightful book that becomes the beam by which we see anew the Narnia books and Space Trilogy stories. A must read for Lewis fans!

this book was phenomenal

It paints an incredibly imaginative picture of the meaning woven into the Narniad. Imagination heightened and sharp. Not frivolous fancy. Worth thought, researchlh, and discussion.

Fascinating

I first heard a version of the theory of this book from professor Ryan Reeves. But there’s so much more to hear from Mr. Ward. The book was enjoyable and I was eager to hear what planet each Narnian book corresponded to. Mr. Ward seems to have a command of the Lewis corpus and if there were a counter to his theory, I imagine his interlocutor would need to be of like or greater knowledge of Lewis’s thought and writings, which seems unlikely.