The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis

Does the world need another biography of C. S. Lewis? Probably not. Jacobs admits even that he did not need to write one -- it was his agent's fault. Still, he does a generally excellent job in this book. As another life-long reader of Lewis, who had already read several biographies and almost everything by Lewis several times over, I learned quite a bit from this biography. Having sampled several Lewis biographies, like a fan of Hamlet who waits impatiently for Polonius to appear on stage, one gets to like and enjoy reading about other characters just as much -- Lewis' brother, Warnie (who wrote at least one pretty good book, too), the dramatic character he married, and all those incredibly bright friends he hung around with and swilled beer. (A reprise, perhaps, of Chesterton's friendships with Shaw & Wells etc.) What I really liked about this book was the good sense Jacobs brings to the project, and his own deep reading in many of the works and people that inspired Lewis. He swerves nimbly around the road-blocks that tumbled Wilson. True, he might have consulted Sayer. But he more than makes up for the occasional error in judgement or lapse in biographical expertise by offering frequent insight into dozens of works that were so much a part of Lewis' thought world. One gets the feeling that Lewis would have enjoyed talking with Jacobs. Jacobs is careful to maintain a critical distance from his subject, (some fail here) though he obviously admires him much, which keeps the book from becoming cloying. One area I did not think that worked was the rather tiresome pages in which he takes Lewis to task for (essentially) failing to conform to 21st Century orthodoxy on sexual equality. Some of us (like Lewis) go to the books of another era precisely to take a break from the stale pieties of our own. And it is ludicrous to identify Orual with Minto -- could any two women be less alike? -- Jacobs almost lapses into cheap psychobabble here. But if a writer sheds important light on a subject, and does so with style, I am inclined to forgive him a few such lapses. An obviously well-informed reviewer below finds more to complain about. I agree the title is a bit deceptive: the book is only occasionally about Narnia. I didn't think Jacobs was that far off, or negative, on the later Tolkien relationship. Nobody can know everything. Jacobs knows a lot, and pours much careful thought into this biography. It's also a pleasure to read.

Alan Jacobs does a great job in his biography of Lewis. A professor at Wheaton College in Illinois, Jacobs is extremely fair in his portrayal of Lewis. He does not gloss over the darker events of Lewis's life. Jacobs helps the reader connect the events that eventually led Lewis to a faith in Christ and to a career as a Christian apologist and writer. Jacobs elaborates on the symbolism of some of Lewis's work, and explores many of Lewis's friendships with other well known people of his day including Tolkien. Tolkien had a great deal of influence on Lewis's journey of faith and to a lesser degree his writing. Another aspect of the book that I appreciated was that Jacobs answered all questions I asked as I read the book. He ties events together clearly to illustrate the way Lewis thought. This biography does not delve much into his childhood or his marriage. Although, the author mentions specific events which he believed help shape Lewis's general outlook on life and his writing.

As a life-long fan of C.S. Lewis, I was delighted to find this biography of the beloved author. Alan Jacobs has dedicated his biography of Lewis to the aspects most important in the author's life; therefore, it is not a straight-forward, chronological telling. Rather it is a mixed dish of biography, criticism and a little speculation into the life of one of the twentieth century's greatest writers and defenders of the Christian faith. This biography gives readers the best opportunity to meet the man who was C.S. Lewis; the Oxford don, the defender of his faith, the man for whom you could "never get a book long enough or a cup of tea big enough to suit" him. There is much about C.S. Lewis that remains an enigma; there are aspects of his life that even those closest to him (such as his older brother Warnie) weren't given access to. And for such a famous, public figure, Lewis was happiest when he was left to himself, with a good book and a cup of tea. Much about him also seems contradictory; Lewis was a devout atheist who gradually came to believe in God and practice the tenets of Christianity, not necessarily because he wanted to, but because (intellectually) he knew that it was true. He would devote the rest of his life to defending his faith and instilling its virtues throughout his writings. Lewis' writings are prolific and diverse and Jacobs has paid homage to all of them in his biography, by intertwining Lewis' life with his writings. Jacobs is frank when he comes to a topic that is mere speculation and thorough when examining the well-known facets of Lewis' life. "The Narnian" is an enjoyable read, best for those who are familiar with the wide array of Lewis' works; not just the Narnia tales, but his apologetics and his science fiction. The writings and the worlds of C.S. Lewis have sparked imaginations the world over, and will continue to do so as long as his legacy lives on; and as long as there is a child reading and encountering another world for the first time, the imagination behind the man will be at work.

The Narnian is a literary/theological biography of C.S. Lewis. Although it covers the basic facts of Lewis' life as competently as any other biography, the real strength of Jacobs' work lies in the fascinating discussions of Lewis' thought processes and religious/literary development. Jacobs makes no bones about his deep admiration for Lewis, which makes his work seem rather defensive when dealing with Lewis' critics. At times this defensiveness seems justifiable, especially when it is employed against critics like Philip Pullman who obviously haven't studied Lewis very thoroughly. At other times it seems rather overdone, as when Jacobs abruptly dismisses J.R.R. Tolkien's (one of Lewis' closest associates) critiques. This is nevertheless a very satisfying work which will illuminate much for people who seek more information on Lewis' life, work, and theology.