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26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A surprisingly fascinating book!, September 22, 2005
This review is from: Inside Narnia: A Guide to Exploring The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Paperback)
Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) is remembered for two things - his great works of Christian theology (Mere Christianity, The Great Divorce, and many more) and his Chronicles of Narnia books. Now, many books have been published on the theology of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (TLWW), but this book looks at TLWW as a work of literature. Going through TLWW chapter by chapter, and indeed section by section, Dr. Devin G. Brown (professor of English at Asbury College, Wilmore, Kentucky), gives the reader a fascinating commentary on what is happening and what it means.
I must say that this is a surprisingly fascinating book! The author begins with the dedication at the beginning of TLWW, and goes through the entirety of the book, explaining and clarifying just about everything. Now, don't get the idea that this book is a dry academic work. In fact, the author does an excellent job of hold the reader's interest.
If you are a fan of C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, then this is the book for you. It provides the reader with a deep understanding of this seemingly simple Christian classic, telling you things you never would have guessed. I highly recommend this book.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Walking Tour through the Wardrobe, October 2, 2005
This review is from: Inside Narnia: A Guide to Exploring The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Paperback)
If "The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy" is written for philosophy buffs, "Inside Narnia" is written for literature lovers. Here is the book that English literature professors at colleges everywhere have been praying for - a preface to "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" in the tradition of C. S. Lewis's "Preface to Paradise Lost."
This is a smart, critical guide through Narnia, with Devin Brown dropping glorious bits of "behind the scenes" information and careful analysis. Like any good critic, Brown's book enchants his subject, sending us back to it with renewed interest.
Like any good tour guide, Brown speaks in a clear and accessible style, navigating Lewis's literary and biographical sources with ease - pointing out the similarities to (among others) J. R. R. Tolkien, who was both a literary and real-life influence on Lewis.
A delightful read, for those who identify with Peter, all the way up to those of us a bit more like the Professor.
*****Phil Tallon - St Andrews, Scotland*****
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Commentary on TLWW, January 8, 2006
This review is from: Inside Narnia: A Guide to Exploring The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Paperback)
Since The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was printed in 1950, almost four-dozen books have been published on the Narnian Chronicles, and most of these in the past few years. The danger in writing a book on Narnia today is that so much has already been said. Devin Brown sets the standard in the Preface to Inside Narnia in describing how his book is different: "The strongest reason for any new work must be that is (1) takes an approach not taken before or (2) covers ground which has not been covered. I would offer both these reasons for Inside Narnia." (7)
Many books on Narnia focus mostly on the devotional or spiritual elements of Lewis's books; however, Devin Brown sees value in a literary approach. "By devoting an entire work to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I hope to provide the kind of close literary analysis it warrants and also supply a good deal of supplemental information from Lewis's life and other writings. In addition, I offer a wide selection of comments and opinions from other scholars, here for the first time collected in a single work." (7)
As Brown notes, Inside Narnia is very much like a running commentary on the first of the Narnian Chronicles. Throughout the book, Brown highlights many of the debates and insights that have generated in the past 55 years. Though he draws from a wide range of authors and scholars, he relies heavily on the work of Colin Manlove, Peter Schakel, Donald Glover, and Peter Ford.
This sort of scholarly commentary makes for a book that feels very academic, though the tone and language is far more accessible than most academic works. The insight Devin Brown provides can only come from lengthy research in the field, research that Brown skillfully employs. The result is another unique book on Narnia that should not be missed. Inside Narnia is a valuable introduction to the literary world created by C.S. Lewis with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
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