 Roar: A Christian Family Guide to the Chronicles of NarniaBy Heather Kopp with David Kopp The authors, Beliefnet columnists who have written widely about Christian marriage and parenting, tackle Lewis's masterwork in this thick but accessible volume. Chock full of quizzes (called "Narniac Attacks"), concise plot summaries, glossaries, and "grown-up thoughts" about each section of the series, this thorough and engaging book is a great way for parents and children to enjoy Narnia together from a Christian perspective. The "Let's Talk About It" questions that pepper the volume are sure to start conversations and draw out insights from readers young and old.  Buy it More from the Kopps on Narnia |
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 The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. LewisBy Alan Jacobs In this smart biography of Lewis, Jacobs explores how a scholar of medieval literature who liked to debate philosophy at the local pub came to create one of the best-loved series of children's literature ever written. Rather than provide a straight biography of a man and his life, Jacobs, who teaches English at Wheaton College, looks to re-create the development of a great imagination, delving into the events that shaped Lewis' philosophy, theology, and fiction. From his happy childhood spent playing with his brother to his horrific experiences in the trenches of World War I to his late-life marriage to Joy Davidman, Jacobs takes his readers on an enjoyable journey through Lewis's life and mind. Buy it
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 Jack's Life: The Life Story of C.S. LewisBy Douglas Gresham This slim volume, which comes with an author-interview DVD, is written by the son of Joy Davidman and the stepson of C.S. Lewis. Gresham presents a more intimate Lewis than other biographers possibly can, thanks to his personal experiences with the author. Gresham, who was eight years old when his mother married Lewis, provides an intimate account of Lewis's life, from stories of living with Lewis during childhood to Gresham's poignant reflection on his stepfather's death (which fell on the same day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated). Altogether, Gresham weaves a narrative that will leave readers feeling they've gotten to know their beloved author that much better. Read an excerpt Buy it |
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 The C.S. Lewis ChroniclesBy Colin Duriez Duriez, a widely published C.S. Lewis expert, thinks of his book more as "an interactive diary" than a conventional biography. By choosing specific dates in each year of Lewis' life and illuminating the events of those days, he allows readers to enter into Lewis' daily life and measure it in the context of the events shaping the outside world at the same time. Duriez paints a life rich with varied experiences and important moments, sometimes quirky and fun, sometimes tragic, and sometimes wise and noble. Duriez's book is unorthodox in its approach--but so was the life he chronicles. Buy it |
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 The Keys to the Chronicles: Unlocking the Symbols of C.S. Lewis' NarniaBy Marvin D. Hinten "The Chronicles of Narnia" didn't just pop, fully formed, into C.S. Lewis' mind one day, argues Hinten in this slim but complex volume. Lewis turned to literary, linguistic, biographical, biblical, and mythological sources for inspiration and allusion. With chapters devoted to each of the seven books of the Chronicles, Hinten's book delves into the layers of meaning hidden in Lewis' work. Reading Hinten's interpretations will help readers understand Lewis as a reader as well as a writer, and as a follower of medieval and Renaissance traditions of re-telling old stories rather than inventing something entirely new. For Christian readers, the most surprising element of Hinten's book may be his analysis of how Lewis didn't initially intend for his work to be a Christian allegory. Buy it |
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 The World According to Narnia: Christian Meaning in C.S. Lewis' Beloved ChroniclesBy Jonathan Rogers Rogers picks up where Hinten leaves off, focusing exclusively and deeply on the Christian symbolism and meaning in the Chronicles. He explores the "delicious irony" of the series, which he says is the way that Lewis created a world of metaphor in order to illuminate the fact that the Bible is not metaphorical at all. Rogers, a fantasy-adventure author himself, hopes his assessment of the Chronicles will help readers discover the imaginative possibilities of the Gospel. Buy it |
Narnia Beckons: C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"�and BeyondBy Ted Baehr and James Baehr
A photo-rich coffee table book, this collection of essays, information, and images presents "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" as an allegory for the scriptural verse, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). The mixed media of this book�it includes reflections by C.S. Lewis scholars as well as film and television producers who have worked on the new movie and previous adaptations�offers both a deeper understanding of the film and fresh inspiration.
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The Way Into Narnia: A Reader's GuideBy Peter J. Schakel
How did a man with no children become one of the most beloved children's authors of all time? Schakel, a noted C.S. Lewis scholar, asks and answers this question in his insightful book. Rather than reading the Chronicles as allegories or religious treatises, Schakel argues that readers should approach the books as fairy tales. Understood this way, the books come alive as sprightly and enriching stories rather than heavy-handed morality tales�and offer readers a way into a world of magic and meaning.
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