The Narnian

The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis

By: Alan Jacobs

Narrated by: Alan Jacobs

The White Witch, Aslan, fauns and talking beasts, centaurs and epic battles between good and evil -- these have become a part of our collective imagination through the classic volumes of The Chronicles of Narnia. Yet who was the man who created this world? This audio book attempts to unearth the making of the first Narnian, C. S. Lewis himself.

One of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably the most influential religious writer of his day, Lewis was also an Oxford don and a scholar of medieval literature who loved to debate philosophy at his local pub. Yet one of the most intriguing aspects of Clive Staples Lewis remains unanswered. How did a bachelor professor, nearly fifty, and living in a wholly adult world, turn to the writing of stories for children -- stories that would become among the most popular and beloved ever written?

Alan Jacobs masterfully tells the story of C. S. Lewis. From his childhood days in Ireland to his horrific experiences in the trenches of the First World War, to his friendship with J. R. R. Tolkein (and other members of the ""Inklings"") and his remarkable late-life marriage to Joy Davidman, Jacobs traces the events and people that shaped Lewis's philosophy, theology, and fiction. The story of a profound mind and extraordinary imagination, The Narnian is a remarkable tale of a man who knew great loss and great delight, but who knew above all that the world holds far more richness and meaning than the average eye can see.

Excellent Literary Biography of C.S. Lewis

This was a thoroughly enjoyable bio of Lewis. The only thing that frustrated me at times was that the chapters didn’t match the chs. in the book and there was no reference to the actual book chapter titles. Also, many important parenthetical comments within the body of the book were not read. But besides that, this was a wonderful bio read well.

One of the best!

I am a huge C.S Lewis fan and read a few biographies already. This one is very special it covers more than other writers wrote. Narrator was excellent. highly recommend.

A must for CSLewis fans.

What an excellent biography of CS Lewis. He was an amazing individual— so well read. As one who loves The Chronicles of Narnia I highly recommend it.

Great insights on a much-covered author

I most appreciated the author’s literary insights into Lewis’ thinking. Also, the critiques of other Lewis biographies were quite helpful. However, I’m not sure why Professor Jacob’s left out so much of his original text of The Narnian. Perhaps this should be listed as an “abridged” version of the book?

A brilliant and poignant narrative, well read

Alan Jacobs is a treasure! I turn to him first now regarding literary matters. He writes as a careful scholar and as a man who is devoted to his subject with respect and affection.