The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis
by Alan Jacobs
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 122)
Read in May, 2008
It feels like a long time since I enjoyed a book as much as I did Alan Jacob's biography of CS Lewis, perhaps the last time was reading The Metaphysical Club by Louis Menand. I love biographers who dispense with too much historical detail (such as the biography two years ago of Oppenheimer, the physicist who led America's discovery of the atomic bomb) and focus on the imaginative and intellectual lives of their subjects, yet make the ideas come alive by tying them to real events. In such books, ...more
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When I heard about the newest biography of C.S. Lewis, I was doubly excited; Lewis is fascinating, and the author, Alan Jacobs, was one of the best professors that I had in college. This book did not disappoint me. Jacobs has a very unique voice, one with which he writes about Lewis as if discussing a dear friend. In The Narnian, as in his lectures, Dr. Jacobs offers many interesting tidbits to make the participant laugh, think, or won...more
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Read in December, 2005
Lewis has long been an author I've admired, and this biography, focusing mostly on what can be known about his rich inner life, was keen and insightful, despite being a bit repetitive and suffering from a touch of what I shall pompously call "foreshadowing syndome." What hit me hardest, however, was Lewis' fascination and devotion to what he called "Joy" but, from what I can tell in this biography, actually seems to be something closer to my own devotion to melancholy: that b...more
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Read in December, 2006
recommends it for:
everyone
an excellent biography of the author of the Chronicles of Narnia and countless other works - this biography gives a comprehensive look at the author from his childhood, through his conversion from atheism, and doesn't shy away from exposing some of the less-than-spotless details about Lewis's past, including the probable decades-long affair with his deceased friend's mother. Instead, the biography portrays C.S. Lewis as a human being, rather than the spotless Christian apologist some migh...more
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I like biographies, and this one was very interesting. I read it because I like Lewis' Christian writings especially. It was a good read, and the author was not afraid to show Lewis' faults. There is a particular part where Lewis describes the night he began to be a Christian that I just found amazing. I read this one about a year ago, but I wanted to add it to my list because I thought it was very good. My list of books is turning into a list of favorites, rather than all the books I read (or w...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone
I'll confess I still have about 30 pages to go on it, but I don't think that will change my opinion much. I think Alan Jacobs is the best Christian academic currently writing in this discipline (English/literature). He has this knack of writing so readably, yet saying so much. This book is an even-handed review of Lewis written from a thoroughly Christian viewpoint. It doesn't make him into a saint, but manages to illustrate to the reader what a remarkable person he was. Best non-fiction bo...more
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Read in April, 2008
This was a really interesting book about someone I find absolutely fascinating. My only complaint is that I thought the author got a little bogged down in some of the writing of Lewis' literary influences. But I loved when he was writing directly about C.S. Lewis and the people in his life, and showed how they are often reflected in his characters and writings. I learned a lot and it definitely made me want to read more C.S. Lewis.
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This biography is NEVER heavy sledding. The prose is buoyant and personal and engaging -- it's really joyous to read. I learned a ton about Lewis, but this book is not simply "about Lewis" -- it's more about the ideas and loves OF Lewis, so that what he lived his life for becomes the focus of Jacobs' writing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone, even if you're not a Lewis fan already.
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A good biography, from a believer's point of view. Jacobson does dig a bit into the Chronicles of Narnia for clues of the author's state of mind. I hadn't read all the Narnia books yet, so it was a bit of a spoiler. Still, a good look at Lewis, our Christian brother. Other biographies maybe more academic and look at Lewis, apologist or scholar, etc.
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I was looking forward to reading this book because I love reading about C.S. Lewis, and then when it arrived at my library I thought it looked familiar, and when I started reading it...sure enough, I'd already read it. It's a good book if you want to know more about the man who created Narnia.
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Read in January, 2008
Fun to learn more about his life and his wicked wit. And in the TMI category -- as I have a friendship that's fallen apart it was somehow comforting to hear that CS Lewis and JJR Tolkien's friendship fell apart. Not such an unusual occurrence after all :-).
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This is the story of C.S. Lewis. He intrigues me as a person. He not only had the imagination to write The Chronicles of Narnia and was also a philosopher whose insights into Christianity are so aligned with my beliefs - he's very quotable for talks.
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Read in April, 2008
I enjoyed this thoroughly. It was well written. Sympathetic without being hagiographical and it dug deeply into Lewis' thought without the nonsense of "psychological interpretation." All and all a very well researched and helpful book.
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Indyrm03 by:
a family friendrecommends it for: anyone who wants to learn and understan CS Lewis
This book is filled with information about Lewis's life and a glimps into his amazing imagination and faith. This is more then just a biography, but it is written as if you were actually sitting and having a conversation with Lewis.
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
Anyone curious about CS Lewis
I just want to squish and hug this book sometimes. It's like being able to open a door and sit inside the creative mind of one of your favorite authors. It really gives some excellent insight into the man behind the Lion.
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Read in January, 2007
I got stuck towards the end of it, distracted by other books I guess... I'll probably go back and read it more closely when I read C.S. Lewis's other works besides the Narnia series (which I love)
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Read in February, 2008
This is the best biography of Lewis I've read so far. Alan Jacobs has a real mastery of his subject and a deep understanding of Lewis.
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Read in February, 2006
I didn't know T.S. Eliot and C.S. Lewis worked together on a committee, something to do with the Book of Common Prayer or the Psalms.
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Copy in Audible library.
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