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A Life Observed: A Spiritual Biography of C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis is one of the most influential Christian writers of our time. The Chronicles of Narnia has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and all Lewis's works are estimated to sell 6 million copies annually. At the fiftieth anniversary of his death, Lewis expert Devin Brown brings the beloved author's story to life in a fresh, accessible, and moving biography through focusing on Lewis's spiritual journey.
Although it was clear from the start that Lewis would be a writer, it was not always clear he would become a Christian. Drawing on Lewis's autobiographical works, works by those who knew him personally, and his apologetic and fictional writing, this book tells the inspiring story of Lewis's journey from cynical atheist to joyous Christian and challenges readers to follow their own calling. The book allows Lewis to tell his own life story in a uniquely powerful manner while shedding light on his best-known works.
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
May 7, 2019
I have no words . . . .
This book was absolutely beautiful and I see C. S. Lewis in a totally different light. (His step-son gives a foreword on the book) I recommend this to anyone who has read C. S. Lewis. It's so eye-opening. And I'm so happy right now!! I can't even express the JOY I feel!! 💕
**Disclaimer** I skim read the whole book for a report.
This book was absolutely beautiful and I see C. S. Lewis in a totally different light. (His step-son gives a foreword on the book) I recommend this to anyone who has read C. S. Lewis. It's so eye-opening. And I'm so happy right now!! I can't even express the JOY I feel!! 💕
**Disclaimer** I skim read the whole book for a report.
Did Not Finish
January 3, 2017Ultimately the biographer spends so much of the page quoting from Lewis's (published) letters and writings that I'd rather read those and draw my own conclusions.
March 17, 2016
Another valuable book on Lewis, this time focused solely on his spiritual journey. Again, it's mostly a reminder of Lewis facts I already know, but I liked the author's voice and enjoyed this refresher.
In some sense this seemed like a reorganization of pre-existing facts and quotes into a very basic narrative. I'm not sure what the argument is (though I'll let that slide since this is a simple biography). But it fell into an easy and enjoyable rhythm as the author supported his claims by immediately diving into varied parts of Lewis's writing for exemplification.
A great book to hand to any Lewis layman. But still, most books on Lewis nowadays leave me wanting more. Specifically, I wish there was more lengthy analysis of Till We Have Faces in here.
While I've wanted to get my hands on the three volumes of Lewis's letters for a while now, this book strengthened that want!
In some sense this seemed like a reorganization of pre-existing facts and quotes into a very basic narrative. I'm not sure what the argument is (though I'll let that slide since this is a simple biography). But it fell into an easy and enjoyable rhythm as the author supported his claims by immediately diving into varied parts of Lewis's writing for exemplification.
A great book to hand to any Lewis layman. But still, most books on Lewis nowadays leave me wanting more. Specifically, I wish there was more lengthy analysis of Till We Have Faces in here.
While I've wanted to get my hands on the three volumes of Lewis's letters for a while now, this book strengthened that want!
June 21, 2022
Much like the previous book Inside Narnia: A Guide to Exploring the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Brown dives into Prince Caspian with a chapter-by-chapter literary breakdown, threading in relevant details from Lewis's life to fill out the context for us. Just as with the first one, I was enthralled by the connections Brown made. I've read Prince Caspian a number of times, and Lewis has always amazed me with how I learn something new each time I read his books. But Brown still made connections that I found fascinating.
Caspian has arguably been my favorite Narnian story since I was a child. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe does compete for the title, but Caspian has always enchanted me and touched something deep in my heart that even the LWW did not. I've never really quite understood why Caspian's story resonated so deeply until now. After reading through Brown's analysis, I see themes and Lewis's brilliance anew. But the connections Brown makes in the literary analysis explained the themes of awakening, maturing, renewal, restoration, return, and growth that hit me square between the eyes. That's why this book has always settled in my heart like an old friend. It gave me all new eyes for one of my favorite books, and that's incredible.
Unlike the first book, Brown included discussion questions at the end of each chapter this time. Though they were a nice addition, I can't say they were my favorite part. Truly, the meat of the book is Brown's analysis and careful consideration of Lewis. It's an excellent source and again, Brown is very methodical, clear, well-organized writer. I greatly anticipate reading his thoughts on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
As mentioned with the first, I must caution that this guide does include spoilers. Don't read this first! It even includes spoilers for the other books in the series, so be aware of that as you begin. If you're at all a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia, I'd most highly recommend this companion guide and its predecessor. An absolutely excellent and worthwhile read.
Caspian has arguably been my favorite Narnian story since I was a child. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe does compete for the title, but Caspian has always enchanted me and touched something deep in my heart that even the LWW did not. I've never really quite understood why Caspian's story resonated so deeply until now. After reading through Brown's analysis, I see themes and Lewis's brilliance anew. But the connections Brown makes in the literary analysis explained the themes of awakening, maturing, renewal, restoration, return, and growth that hit me square between the eyes. That's why this book has always settled in my heart like an old friend. It gave me all new eyes for one of my favorite books, and that's incredible.
Unlike the first book, Brown included discussion questions at the end of each chapter this time. Though they were a nice addition, I can't say they were my favorite part. Truly, the meat of the book is Brown's analysis and careful consideration of Lewis. It's an excellent source and again, Brown is very methodical, clear, well-organized writer. I greatly anticipate reading his thoughts on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
As mentioned with the first, I must caution that this guide does include spoilers. Don't read this first! It even includes spoilers for the other books in the series, so be aware of that as you begin. If you're at all a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia, I'd most highly recommend this companion guide and its predecessor. An absolutely excellent and worthwhile read.
March 27, 2023
I guess I am not the public for this book. It seems to be a help to people who never read Narnia or are maybe not able to understand it- Reading Lewis's book itself seems like better option to me.
August 26, 2023
3.5 stars
My annotations:
Spoilers for the Chronicles of Narnia
“Paul Ford, a leading Narnia scholar, has suggested that Lucy is the character "through whom the reader sees and experiences most of Narnia" and that through her Lewis expresses his own "religious and personal sensibilities" (1994, 275). Colin Manlove notes that Lucy is the most spiritually perceptive and suggests that "not for nothing is her name Lucy," a name which comes from lucidity or lux, meaning light (1987, 135).” “Faith like a child”
“Peter as the upbeat chleader; Susan as sympathetic but also motherly and pretentious; the misen ves Edmund as negative, rebellious, and argumentative; and Lucy as good-natured and seeking to please.” Introductions and how you introduce your characters are just as important as the characters themselves. It sets up your readers initial perception of a character. “Second, we also begin to see some of the motivation that will be a part of Edmund's character. He is described as "tired and pretending not to be tired" (4), and the narrator tells us that this always "made him bad-tempered." like, this about The characters which are brought to life throughout the Narnia books, both the human and the imaginary, will be quite believable. One of the ways Lewis achieves this is by always giving his readers reasons for the ways the characters behave, and thus we can say they are motivated and not simply one-dimensional like characters in some children's stories are.” I like this about Lewis
“Perhaps because Lewis gets to the action so quickly in TLWW and uses the children's own words
and actions rather than descriptive passages to reveal what kind of young people they are strategies which are typically thought of positively-he misses the chance here at the beginning to tell us anything about how the children look.” I really like that because it allows room for reader’s imaginations.
“Each of the early chapters in TWW will end wi the one foot in whatever action comes next, a device which keeps readers reading.” I really enjoyed that.
“All who enter Narnia are called, but none are compelled to stay.”
He also points out how the White Which is only an imitation of human and evil is only an imitation of goodness, not the real thing. He points out “the witches lack of ability to create” and compares it to Tolkiens Sauron. We are told in The Two Towers “Trolls are only counterfeits, made by the enemy in the great darkness in mockery of Ents, as Orcs were of Elves.” We are also told that “The Shadow that bred them can only mock, it cannot make: not real things of its own.” Brown also points out that the Witch’s plan for Edmund is also a false imitation of Aslan’s plan. “However, Aslan’s conception of being king or queen is radically different from the Witch’s. Rather than being a position of endless privilege, Aslan will tell King Frank, Narnia’s first ruler, that to be king means being “first in the charge and last in the retreat”.
“The robin who appears here can be viewed as ‘the first bird of spring’, a small but perceptible evidence that the witch’s power has begun to crack”
“Tolkien used a similar fulfilled-prophecy s within a story in The Hobbit. On the final page of the book, Bilbo exclaims, "Then the prophecies of the old songs have turned out
answers,
to be true, after a fashion!" (Tolkien 1994b, 255). Gandalf a "Of course! And why should not they prove true? Surely you don' disbelieve the prophecies, because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself?"
In his essay "On Stories" Lewis describes a class of stories which "turns on fulfilled prophecies" and mentions The Hobbit as one of them (1982d, 14). According to Lewis, such stories produce "a feeling of awe, coupled with a certain sort of bewilderment such as one often feels in looking at a complex pattern of lines that pass over and under one another. One sees, yet does not quite see, the regularity" (15).”
“Besides borrowings Lewis also included allusions in the Chronicles. These are places where we find a brief, unexplained mention of a literary, historical, or biblical character or event. An allusion seeks to draw upon a commonly shared background knowledge- perhaps one less present in readers today than it was during Lewis's time-to economically evoke an emotional resonance. For example, the use of the terms "Son of Adam" and "Daughter of Eve" are allusions to the creation story found in the first four chapters of Genesis. Lewis's mention of these names may elicit a number of responses from readers who are familiar with the story. They might be reminded of another time when life was lived in a gardenlike world, a time when humans and animals were closer. Or they may remember another world which was created good but which fel under the power of evil.” Very interesting point
“ Readers may find a parallel or an echo between the Witch's attempt to kill the children here before they can take the throne from her as has been prophesied and the biblical account of King Herod's effort to kill the young Jesus, who was also prophesied to become king. In both cases the ruler's henchmen are instructed to carry out widespread killing, and both attempts to stop the prophecy's fulfillment fail.”
My annotations:
Spoilers for the Chronicles of Narnia
“Paul Ford, a leading Narnia scholar, has suggested that Lucy is the character "through whom the reader sees and experiences most of Narnia" and that through her Lewis expresses his own "religious and personal sensibilities" (1994, 275). Colin Manlove notes that Lucy is the most spiritually perceptive and suggests that "not for nothing is her name Lucy," a name which comes from lucidity or lux, meaning light (1987, 135).” “Faith like a child”
“Peter as the upbeat chleader; Susan as sympathetic but also motherly and pretentious; the misen ves Edmund as negative, rebellious, and argumentative; and Lucy as good-natured and seeking to please.” Introductions and how you introduce your characters are just as important as the characters themselves. It sets up your readers initial perception of a character. “Second, we also begin to see some of the motivation that will be a part of Edmund's character. He is described as "tired and pretending not to be tired" (4), and the narrator tells us that this always "made him bad-tempered." like, this about The characters which are brought to life throughout the Narnia books, both the human and the imaginary, will be quite believable. One of the ways Lewis achieves this is by always giving his readers reasons for the ways the characters behave, and thus we can say they are motivated and not simply one-dimensional like characters in some children's stories are.” I like this about Lewis
“Perhaps because Lewis gets to the action so quickly in TLWW and uses the children's own words
and actions rather than descriptive passages to reveal what kind of young people they are strategies which are typically thought of positively-he misses the chance here at the beginning to tell us anything about how the children look.” I really like that because it allows room for reader’s imaginations.
“Each of the early chapters in TWW will end wi the one foot in whatever action comes next, a device which keeps readers reading.” I really enjoyed that.
“All who enter Narnia are called, but none are compelled to stay.”
He also points out how the White Which is only an imitation of human and evil is only an imitation of goodness, not the real thing. He points out “the witches lack of ability to create” and compares it to Tolkiens Sauron. We are told in The Two Towers “Trolls are only counterfeits, made by the enemy in the great darkness in mockery of Ents, as Orcs were of Elves.” We are also told that “The Shadow that bred them can only mock, it cannot make: not real things of its own.” Brown also points out that the Witch’s plan for Edmund is also a false imitation of Aslan’s plan. “However, Aslan’s conception of being king or queen is radically different from the Witch’s. Rather than being a position of endless privilege, Aslan will tell King Frank, Narnia’s first ruler, that to be king means being “first in the charge and last in the retreat”.
“The robin who appears here can be viewed as ‘the first bird of spring’, a small but perceptible evidence that the witch’s power has begun to crack”
“Tolkien used a similar fulfilled-prophecy s within a story in The Hobbit. On the final page of the book, Bilbo exclaims, "Then the prophecies of the old songs have turned out
answers,
to be true, after a fashion!" (Tolkien 1994b, 255). Gandalf a "Of course! And why should not they prove true? Surely you don' disbelieve the prophecies, because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself?"
In his essay "On Stories" Lewis describes a class of stories which "turns on fulfilled prophecies" and mentions The Hobbit as one of them (1982d, 14). According to Lewis, such stories produce "a feeling of awe, coupled with a certain sort of bewilderment such as one often feels in looking at a complex pattern of lines that pass over and under one another. One sees, yet does not quite see, the regularity" (15).”
“Besides borrowings Lewis also included allusions in the Chronicles. These are places where we find a brief, unexplained mention of a literary, historical, or biblical character or event. An allusion seeks to draw upon a commonly shared background knowledge- perhaps one less present in readers today than it was during Lewis's time-to economically evoke an emotional resonance. For example, the use of the terms "Son of Adam" and "Daughter of Eve" are allusions to the creation story found in the first four chapters of Genesis. Lewis's mention of these names may elicit a number of responses from readers who are familiar with the story. They might be reminded of another time when life was lived in a gardenlike world, a time when humans and animals were closer. Or they may remember another world which was created good but which fel under the power of evil.” Very interesting point
“ Readers may find a parallel or an echo between the Witch's attempt to kill the children here before they can take the throne from her as has been prophesied and the biblical account of King Herod's effort to kill the young Jesus, who was also prophesied to become king. In both cases the ruler's henchmen are instructed to carry out widespread killing, and both attempts to stop the prophecy's fulfillment fail.”
February 20, 2024
This is one of those books that so warmly and candidly captures what it's like to have that first big crush. One minute you are on a mountaintop and the next you're in complete agony. Not Exactly Love is written in diary format. I found the narrator, Leda, so endearing. She was full of insecurities while at the same time had clever observations about the relationship dynamics around her. There were also some lovely book references woven throughout the story that made this even more of a book for book lovers. It ends on Valentine's Day and I plan on rereading it then as I want to be back with these characters again.
May 21, 2023
This was a fun middle grade story, told through journal entries.
.
Oh, to be 13 again and to have your biggest worry be whether or not Todd is going to ask you to the Valentine's Day roller skating party!
.
The fact that Leda's crush is named Todd is another reason I loved this book. I was so tickled by all of her pining over Todd, something I know well.
.
I loved seeing Leda come to understand a bit what love is, outside of music lyrics and TV shows, and to see her grow into an even more caring and compassionate gal.
.
This was great fun and something I'll happily pass on to my daughter to read.
.
"One day I've got charisma and feel confident,. And the next day I have the charisma of a yam."
.
"Did I mention that Todd gave me a high-five today and held it slightly longer than usual? It gave me a shiver. The good kind."
.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me this book to read. All opinions are mine. Not Exactly Love is available 8/15/23 from Owl's Nest Publishers.
.
Oh, to be 13 again and to have your biggest worry be whether or not Todd is going to ask you to the Valentine's Day roller skating party!
.
The fact that Leda's crush is named Todd is another reason I loved this book. I was so tickled by all of her pining over Todd, something I know well.
.
I loved seeing Leda come to understand a bit what love is, outside of music lyrics and TV shows, and to see her grow into an even more caring and compassionate gal.
.
This was great fun and something I'll happily pass on to my daughter to read.
.
"One day I've got charisma and feel confident,. And the next day I have the charisma of a yam."
.
"Did I mention that Todd gave me a high-five today and held it slightly longer than usual? It gave me a shiver. The good kind."
.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me this book to read. All opinions are mine. Not Exactly Love is available 8/15/23 from Owl's Nest Publishers.
March 9, 2019
I have no idea why it took me so long to read this book because it was utterly fascinating. Highly recommended to fans of TLWW.
August 2, 2023
Read aloud to my 9 year old daughter (and 7 year old son, even though he pretended he wasn’t interested). What a delightful, heartwarming book. Truly a fantastic middle grade read. The book is told in diary entries starting January first and ending on Valentine’s Day. I just loved being in the main character’s thoughts and hearing her describe her crush; it was innocent and sweet, a truly healthy depiction of a middle school crush. Along the way she defines words for her diary so the reader learns vocabulary in a non-didactic way, plus there is a whole slew of oldies songs mentioned that make a perfect accompaniment playlist. Plus there’s a whole stray cat storyline that weaves different forms of love together in such a perfect, non-saccharine way.
I loved being back in this world, especially the K-8 episcopal school setting is so reminiscent of my kids school. This is a companion book to Not Exactly Normal (which I loved also) but completely stands alone. Where NEN reminded me of Gary Schmidt, NEL reminded me more of Kate DiCamillo and Renee Watson.
I loved being back in this world, especially the K-8 episcopal school setting is so reminiscent of my kids school. This is a companion book to Not Exactly Normal (which I loved also) but completely stands alone. Where NEN reminded me of Gary Schmidt, NEL reminded me more of Kate DiCamillo and Renee Watson.
June 17, 2015
Why of all the biographies of C.S. Lewis, including his own Surprised By Joy, should you read this biography? That's a fair question but rather than try to answer that outright, I will tell you what I liked about this particular biography.
First, it is a sympathetic biography without being a hagiography. Brown accepts Lewis on his own terms while also recognizing his faults and foibles--particularly his priggishness as a young scholar prior to his conversion. The only place where this might be open to criticism is on the subject of his relationship with Mrs. Moore. Some might think he handled Lewis's relationship with his war-time friend's mother with kid gloves. I'd say he was probably being circumspect with regard to matters open to speculation.
Second, this is a good work of scholarship, which exposes the reader not only to writings they would already know, but also to his correspondence, some of which has only recently been released. We hear Lewis in his own words and see the care with which he writes to friends and total strangers. And Brown does all this in a book of modest length.
Third, Brown explores a motif of Lewis's life, his ideas about Joy throughout his life. One sees a person who not only discovered Joy as a signpost to greater realities, but also one who tremendously enjoyed his life--his scholarship, his friends, his wife, appropriately enough named Joy, and even his last years and the anticipation of his own passing. We follow Lewis from boyhood to his last years, which while punctuated by the death of his mother and of Joy, and a horrendous grammar school experience, was a journey into Joy.
Finally, I appreciated some of the new insights this book brought me into his conversion and the role played by friends like Hugo Dyson and J.R.R. Tolkien. It was also delightful to read Brown's account of the Inklings and the ways Lewis and Tolkien in particular encouraged each other in their writing projects--would we have the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings otherwise? Likely not.
First, it is a sympathetic biography without being a hagiography. Brown accepts Lewis on his own terms while also recognizing his faults and foibles--particularly his priggishness as a young scholar prior to his conversion. The only place where this might be open to criticism is on the subject of his relationship with Mrs. Moore. Some might think he handled Lewis's relationship with his war-time friend's mother with kid gloves. I'd say he was probably being circumspect with regard to matters open to speculation.
Second, this is a good work of scholarship, which exposes the reader not only to writings they would already know, but also to his correspondence, some of which has only recently been released. We hear Lewis in his own words and see the care with which he writes to friends and total strangers. And Brown does all this in a book of modest length.
Third, Brown explores a motif of Lewis's life, his ideas about Joy throughout his life. One sees a person who not only discovered Joy as a signpost to greater realities, but also one who tremendously enjoyed his life--his scholarship, his friends, his wife, appropriately enough named Joy, and even his last years and the anticipation of his own passing. We follow Lewis from boyhood to his last years, which while punctuated by the death of his mother and of Joy, and a horrendous grammar school experience, was a journey into Joy.
Finally, I appreciated some of the new insights this book brought me into his conversion and the role played by friends like Hugo Dyson and J.R.R. Tolkien. It was also delightful to read Brown's account of the Inklings and the ways Lewis and Tolkien in particular encouraged each other in their writing projects--would we have the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings otherwise? Likely not.
November 25, 2025
I’ve had the pleasure of diving deep into this book and it is an incredible resource, both as an introduction to poetry and as a way to dive deeper into specific classic poems. Each poem has its own chapter that includes definitions of challenging words or older language, explanation of literary terms, historical connections, details about each poet, plus reflection questions. Author Devin Brown is a literature professor and his expertise and love of teaching is so evident.
I’ve never read anything quite like this book and page after page I learned something new! This is an incredibly valuable resource for anyone looking to explore poetry, but especially for homeschoolers, teachers, and librarians. The conversational tone makes this book accessible to a wide range of ages, though clearly its intended audience is teen and middle grade readers.
Twenty Timeless Poems would make a perfect teacher gift this Christmas! And it is part of the Owl’s Nest Classics line which is truly top notch and like nothing else being published today. Most classic reprints have some sort of updated cover and maybe a brief new introduction, but each Owl’s Nest Classic has literally pages upon pages of extra material via discussion of themes and why we read classics today, footnotes throughout the unabridged texts, and reflection questions designed for young readers.
I hope you considering ordering a copy for your family or gifting this new release this holiday season!
I’ve never read anything quite like this book and page after page I learned something new! This is an incredibly valuable resource for anyone looking to explore poetry, but especially for homeschoolers, teachers, and librarians. The conversational tone makes this book accessible to a wide range of ages, though clearly its intended audience is teen and middle grade readers.
Twenty Timeless Poems would make a perfect teacher gift this Christmas! And it is part of the Owl’s Nest Classics line which is truly top notch and like nothing else being published today. Most classic reprints have some sort of updated cover and maybe a brief new introduction, but each Owl’s Nest Classic has literally pages upon pages of extra material via discussion of themes and why we read classics today, footnotes throughout the unabridged texts, and reflection questions designed for young readers.
I hope you considering ordering a copy for your family or gifting this new release this holiday season!
June 3, 2018
Prob 25% quotes from his books, but strung together in a way that enlightens reader re beloved’s spiritual growth and development. As ever, touched, strengthened and challenged by him.
April 14, 2023
Oh Lewis! How can you not love this man?? Brown does an amazing job connecting the dots of Lewis’ life through his own writings or the the writings of those closest to him. In some reviews here people say they don’t like how many Lewis quotes there are, but to me, that’s what makes Brown’s description of what’s going on in his life actually come to life on the page and get the feeling that you’re there experiencing life with Jack himself!
I learned a lot about the man from this book, from his story of coming to faith, to the inspiration and beginning of each of his major works, to his close bond with Warnie his brother and Tolkien his good friend. He was a man of the deepest sort of faith. Not one that one is born into, or accepts due to social familiarity, but one that was thought out, logical, and yet no less magical—in fact, quite the opposite. Most of his religious doubts came when he experienced his deepest grief at the death of his wife, Joy. In a very human way, he records his anguish, sadness, and anger. But with time, he comes to find that many questions he had in the midst of such deep pain needed no clear answers—that God is above it all and that mystery is part of what makes faith so real while not leaving it unaddressed. That is what Lewis does so well.
After reading this, I feel like I’ve got a much more succinct understanding of Lewis’ life, faith, and works. I will say, I didn’t like how Brown skipped around his life in certain parts. A little bit is totally fine for context, but sometimes it felt like there were whole sections where we skipped ahead by 20 years. Also, Brown threw in some of his own plugs that were fine but some were a little annoying.
Still - would definitely read again!
I learned a lot about the man from this book, from his story of coming to faith, to the inspiration and beginning of each of his major works, to his close bond with Warnie his brother and Tolkien his good friend. He was a man of the deepest sort of faith. Not one that one is born into, or accepts due to social familiarity, but one that was thought out, logical, and yet no less magical—in fact, quite the opposite. Most of his religious doubts came when he experienced his deepest grief at the death of his wife, Joy. In a very human way, he records his anguish, sadness, and anger. But with time, he comes to find that many questions he had in the midst of such deep pain needed no clear answers—that God is above it all and that mystery is part of what makes faith so real while not leaving it unaddressed. That is what Lewis does so well.
After reading this, I feel like I’ve got a much more succinct understanding of Lewis’ life, faith, and works. I will say, I didn’t like how Brown skipped around his life in certain parts. A little bit is totally fine for context, but sometimes it felt like there were whole sections where we skipped ahead by 20 years. Also, Brown threw in some of his own plugs that were fine but some were a little annoying.
Still - would definitely read again!
August 25, 2022
Much like the previous two books, I cannot more highly recommend this analysis of Lewis's classic Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
I so wish Brown had gone on to finish the rest of the Chronicles! I'd love to hear his perspective on The Silver Chair because it's always been my least favorite and felt out of place to me in the series. And on The Last Battle because everything wraps together! And of course the others just because I love them and have so thoroughly enjoyed learning more deeply about this beloved series.
Brown has made connections I never considered, brought in excellent research and perspective from Lewis's life, and he's left the facts and theories on the table for the readers to take what they will from his findings.
I've always enjoyed The Voyage of the Dawn Treader but this analysis has allowed me to grow deeper in my love of the classic and to see it in a new light. As someone who's read these books countless times, it was a pure joy to read three of them again almost as if for the first time. What an incredible feeling of discovery and finding awe at the magic of it all like a child again.
And what a stunning resource as a writer to dig into some of the techniques Lewis used. Some of what he did is so subtle I never would have picked up on it without a guide. So, thank you Dr. Brown for investing the time and energy into these companion guides. I shall treasure them.
I so wish Brown had gone on to finish the rest of the Chronicles! I'd love to hear his perspective on The Silver Chair because it's always been my least favorite and felt out of place to me in the series. And on The Last Battle because everything wraps together! And of course the others just because I love them and have so thoroughly enjoyed learning more deeply about this beloved series.
Brown has made connections I never considered, brought in excellent research and perspective from Lewis's life, and he's left the facts and theories on the table for the readers to take what they will from his findings.
I've always enjoyed The Voyage of the Dawn Treader but this analysis has allowed me to grow deeper in my love of the classic and to see it in a new light. As someone who's read these books countless times, it was a pure joy to read three of them again almost as if for the first time. What an incredible feeling of discovery and finding awe at the magic of it all like a child again.
And what a stunning resource as a writer to dig into some of the techniques Lewis used. Some of what he did is so subtle I never would have picked up on it without a guide. So, thank you Dr. Brown for investing the time and energy into these companion guides. I shall treasure them.
December 10, 2025
What an excellent and enjoyable resource!
I have never read an anthology quite like this before. This is a fantastic resource for any homeschooler, teacher, librarian, or anyone interested in a wonderful introduction to poetry. This would be absolutely perfect for a poetry unit or as a beautiful addition to any literature study.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this wonderful collection of twenty classic poems. Each chapter features a poem, biographical and historical information, explanation of poetic terms and techniques, discussion questions, and interesting and helpful teaching related to the poem’s meaning. Devin Brown is an author and literature professor who presents all of this in a clear, thorough, readable and very interesting manner. Beautifully done!
Twenty Timeless Poems is the latest addition to the Owl’s Nest Publishers line of annotated classic works. Each book in that series is just excellent and unlike anything else being produced for adolescent readers. I highly recommend them all.
I have never read an anthology quite like this before. This is a fantastic resource for any homeschooler, teacher, librarian, or anyone interested in a wonderful introduction to poetry. This would be absolutely perfect for a poetry unit or as a beautiful addition to any literature study.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this wonderful collection of twenty classic poems. Each chapter features a poem, biographical and historical information, explanation of poetic terms and techniques, discussion questions, and interesting and helpful teaching related to the poem’s meaning. Devin Brown is an author and literature professor who presents all of this in a clear, thorough, readable and very interesting manner. Beautifully done!
Twenty Timeless Poems is the latest addition to the Owl’s Nest Publishers line of annotated classic works. Each book in that series is just excellent and unlike anything else being produced for adolescent readers. I highly recommend them all.
October 11, 2015
This edition I had has a fairly cheesy cover (it has since been updated to a more pleasing design), so I could just kick myself that it sat on my shelves unread for so many years. I picked it up as a bargain book, no doubt at Lifeway, perhaps around the time the movies began coming out, and had read several good, but not all that engaging, books on the spiritual allalogies in the Chronicles of Narnia.
This was unlike almost anything else I've read on the subject. Academic but readable, this was a literary approach down to almost every detail Lewis included. Brown drew connections I had never seen, referred to connections with other literature, and deepened my enjoyment and respect for Lewis' intelligence.
Excellent volume, and I immediately ordered Brown's other "Inside" the Chronicles. I hope he publishes the rest of the series.
This was unlike almost anything else I've read on the subject. Academic but readable, this was a literary approach down to almost every detail Lewis included. Brown drew connections I had never seen, referred to connections with other literature, and deepened my enjoyment and respect for Lewis' intelligence.
Excellent volume, and I immediately ordered Brown's other "Inside" the Chronicles. I hope he publishes the rest of the series.
October 11, 2025
Second read with my middle school book club: Enjoyed this just as much. Can’t wait to talk about it with my group! Fabulous. 🛼
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I loved this so much. There aren’t many middle grade books that capture the rollercoaster of emotions of a first crush so accurately and so wonderfully. This book is told in diary form by the main character, Leda, beginning in January and ending on Valentine’s Day. The characters are all so endearing - you just want to keep experiencing life with them. There are so many funny parts, so much to relate to, many references to books and literary characters, and so many wonderful lessons about true love. It’s all just really delightful and so enjoyable to read. I am thrilled to have found this realistic fiction for my middle school book clubs. Highly recommend
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I loved this so much. There aren’t many middle grade books that capture the rollercoaster of emotions of a first crush so accurately and so wonderfully. This book is told in diary form by the main character, Leda, beginning in January and ending on Valentine’s Day. The characters are all so endearing - you just want to keep experiencing life with them. There are so many funny parts, so much to relate to, many references to books and literary characters, and so many wonderful lessons about true love. It’s all just really delightful and so enjoyable to read. I am thrilled to have found this realistic fiction for my middle school book clubs. Highly recommend
March 3, 2024
This is borderline between middle grade and YA in my opinion. This is about a 13 year old girl who gets a diary for Christmas and makes the new years resolution to write in it every night. This book is her diary entries for January 1st- February 14th. She has a crush on one of her guy friends and she's pondering the different kinds of love. Can it be semi-requited love when he cares about her as a friend? Will he ask her to the roller blading party on Valentine's Day? Also, can she capture the stray cat that she instantly falls in love with? I thought this was really wholesome and cute and a vey quick read. Our main character seemed like a pretty authentic 13 year old. I loved all the vocabulary she put in her diary! I would let my tween read this for sure.
November 26, 2025
This is one of the most unique anthologies I have ever read! Author and professor Devin Brown guides the reader through twenty poems—many that are well known but some that will be new to the poetry novice—and breaks each one down conversationally, by poetic devices, by poet biographies, and much more! I learned so much from reading this, and I’m not even the target audience (adolescents are). If you have a teenager interested in poetry, if you homeschool, if you are an educator looking for classroom resources, or if YOU just want to learn more about some classic timeless poems, I highly recommend this text!
June 9, 2023
"Not Exactly love" is a delightful reminder about figuring out relationships and love as a young teenager. It is told through 13 year old Leda's diary entries.
The soundtrack is amazing. The discovery of new words emphasized. There is more than one rescue. What more could you ask for in an unrequited love (or is it) story.
I read an advanced copy of this book and highly recommend it. It comes out in August. Now I need to go read Not Exactly Normal, the prequel!
The soundtrack is amazing. The discovery of new words emphasized. There is more than one rescue. What more could you ask for in an unrequited love (or is it) story.
I read an advanced copy of this book and highly recommend it. It comes out in August. Now I need to go read Not Exactly Normal, the prequel!
June 9, 2019
In the last year or so I have read four books on C.S. Lewis, and each time I start one I wonder how I could possibly learn anything I didn't already know, but this author has done an excellent job of showing us more of the spirituality of Lewis than anyone else. It is well worth reading.
March 18, 2020
I read this book years ago, and I remember it being full of good content but also being really boring for my taste.
September 1, 2022
I do enjoy it when a biographer has a beef with other biographers within the biography 😁
February 20, 2023
4 1/2 stars
January 18, 2025
This book is perfect if you need something to make you sleepy before bed 🙈
April 29, 2015
Fairy Tales have a way of showing another perspective. The way things really are. How we really are. It was the desire of CS Lewis in the Chronicles of Narnia for his readers to know Aslan better, we would come to know the Savior better while walking with the Pevensies children.
All twelve chapters give the reader insight lessons that we ourselves can learn. Each chapter ends with bringing the Narnia home to our own lives. Reflecting our own character and how we perceive life/Gospel in general.
Chapter 1 – Actions we see as small and insignificant can be far more important than we realize. How do we view the bad things that happen? Many times the bad things that happen can be the catalyst for the good. How Edmund by saying one little lie put his brothers and sisters in danger. Everything matters.
Chapter 2-Being a Leader means more than simply being the boss. What makes a good leader? What drives us to desire power over others? Edmund did not want his older brother telling him what to do that he became easily deceived by the White Witch. The contrast in the Chronicles of Narnia was how Aslan lead and the White Witch leads. One lead by using others to get what they wanted. The other ruled with concern for the other known as servant leadership.
Chapter 3-Bad can look beautiful. Miraz was evil in disguise. Miraz the uncle of Caspian who was the good uncle until his own son was born. Edmund was deceived by his own desires that were good in themselves, however, the White Witch deceived Edmund to kill him and his brother and sisters. She drew him in to betray his own siblings. Evil is also deep in our hearts as well. Evil works by hiding the truth beneath lies, disguises, and excuses. (this statement could be a rap song)
Chapter 4-Sometimes help does not look like help until much later. - A lesson that Caspian learned from the Pevensies’. We have expectations of what help should look like and many times the help does not meet our expectations, we turn from it.
Chapter 5-Merriment and Celebration are not just for holidays and birthdays. -Lewis thru his characters and Narnia wrote we should live like it’s always Christmas and never winter. As Christians, we have much to live for. We are to enjoy God’s Creation but not idolize them. We are to go for enjoyment, not enslavement.
Chapter 6 - It takes a village to make a community-Our world would be boring and terrible if we were all the same. We are to celebrate our differences. Narnia would not be Narnia if it was all Badgers. We learn from our differences.
Chapter 7 – There is a way back from every offense-large and small. Grace is the way back from big and large offensives. Aslan reminds Lucy to not misjudge her friends that she has overheard speaking terrible things about her, but to remember the weaknesses of her friend. That it is fear that causes us to offend and to hurt others. It believes the best of others. Grace should always be played forward. God gives us grace while we were yet sinners.
Chapter 8 – Bury the Hatchet and don’t put a marker on the site. An apology goes a long way for an offense. Offense must be dealt with and done with. The scene of Edmund and Aslan is a great reminder of that!
Chapter 9-Only the Good have Fun-When we are freed from our self-centered such as Eustace was from his, can we be free to have joy.
Chapter 10 – A virtuous life is a read adventure and that includes real hardship, but one that you don’t want to miss. . “Yes, evil rulers like Miraz must be resisted and fought, not by all means available but only by all means virtuous. Aslan’s view what is best for them is living a virtuous life, one filled with a commitment to a greater good, rather than merely to one’s self. Yes, it will include real hardship, but it is the only path that will lead to real joy, real community, and real fulfillment.
Chapter 11 - Adventures begin in the most unlikely places-keep that in mind when you are in your next unlikely place . In the Chronicles of Narnia the adventure began with the War. It is usually in hardships that our adventures mean something and we grow in faith. The battle between good and evil is a war that we are in from the day we enter this world and till the day we leave this world.
If you are fan of the Chronicles of Narnia, you will be blessed by this short book. If you are reading this with your children, you may want to have this as a commentary as while to further conversation.
A Special Thank you to Abingdon Press and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
All twelve chapters give the reader insight lessons that we ourselves can learn. Each chapter ends with bringing the Narnia home to our own lives. Reflecting our own character and how we perceive life/Gospel in general.
Chapter 1 – Actions we see as small and insignificant can be far more important than we realize. How do we view the bad things that happen? Many times the bad things that happen can be the catalyst for the good. How Edmund by saying one little lie put his brothers and sisters in danger. Everything matters.
Chapter 2-Being a Leader means more than simply being the boss. What makes a good leader? What drives us to desire power over others? Edmund did not want his older brother telling him what to do that he became easily deceived by the White Witch. The contrast in the Chronicles of Narnia was how Aslan lead and the White Witch leads. One lead by using others to get what they wanted. The other ruled with concern for the other known as servant leadership.
Chapter 3-Bad can look beautiful. Miraz was evil in disguise. Miraz the uncle of Caspian who was the good uncle until his own son was born. Edmund was deceived by his own desires that were good in themselves, however, the White Witch deceived Edmund to kill him and his brother and sisters. She drew him in to betray his own siblings. Evil is also deep in our hearts as well. Evil works by hiding the truth beneath lies, disguises, and excuses. (this statement could be a rap song)
Chapter 4-Sometimes help does not look like help until much later. - A lesson that Caspian learned from the Pevensies’. We have expectations of what help should look like and many times the help does not meet our expectations, we turn from it.
Chapter 5-Merriment and Celebration are not just for holidays and birthdays. -Lewis thru his characters and Narnia wrote we should live like it’s always Christmas and never winter. As Christians, we have much to live for. We are to enjoy God’s Creation but not idolize them. We are to go for enjoyment, not enslavement.
Chapter 6 - It takes a village to make a community-Our world would be boring and terrible if we were all the same. We are to celebrate our differences. Narnia would not be Narnia if it was all Badgers. We learn from our differences.
Chapter 7 – There is a way back from every offense-large and small. Grace is the way back from big and large offensives. Aslan reminds Lucy to not misjudge her friends that she has overheard speaking terrible things about her, but to remember the weaknesses of her friend. That it is fear that causes us to offend and to hurt others. It believes the best of others. Grace should always be played forward. God gives us grace while we were yet sinners.
Chapter 8 – Bury the Hatchet and don’t put a marker on the site. An apology goes a long way for an offense. Offense must be dealt with and done with. The scene of Edmund and Aslan is a great reminder of that!
Chapter 9-Only the Good have Fun-When we are freed from our self-centered such as Eustace was from his, can we be free to have joy.
Chapter 10 – A virtuous life is a read adventure and that includes real hardship, but one that you don’t want to miss. . “Yes, evil rulers like Miraz must be resisted and fought, not by all means available but only by all means virtuous. Aslan’s view what is best for them is living a virtuous life, one filled with a commitment to a greater good, rather than merely to one’s self. Yes, it will include real hardship, but it is the only path that will lead to real joy, real community, and real fulfillment.
Chapter 11 - Adventures begin in the most unlikely places-keep that in mind when you are in your next unlikely place . In the Chronicles of Narnia the adventure began with the War. It is usually in hardships that our adventures mean something and we grow in faith. The battle between good and evil is a war that we are in from the day we enter this world and till the day we leave this world.
If you are fan of the Chronicles of Narnia, you will be blessed by this short book. If you are reading this with your children, you may want to have this as a commentary as while to further conversation.
A Special Thank you to Abingdon Press and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
December 20, 2015
This is an engaging, in-depth analysis of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It covers symbols and allusions, unexplained parts, and inconsistencies. It's well-researched and goes chapter-by-chapter. It also references the other Chronicles of Narnia (spoiler alert!) and many of Lewis’ other works.
Brown makes a few minor criticisms, but is mostly positive and defensive of Lion, Narnia, and Lewis. He explains why reading Lion as the first book in the series preserves its novelty and mystery, and allows readers to share in the children’s sense of curiosity and wonder.
I read this because I’m a fan of Narnia, and curious about its allusions and meanings. There are many references to Tolkien, which I enjoyed (as a huge Tolkien fan).
Brown explains that
Notes
Lewis as author
Lewis met illustrator Pauline Baynes through Tolkien. She had illustrated Farmer Giles of Ham.
During WW2 a group of schoolgirls stayed at Lewis’ home, the Kilns.
The Professor is the character closest to Lewis himself.
The Professor is partially inspired by Lewis’ tutor William Kirkpatrick.
Lewis wrote negatively about schools in Chronicles because of his own bad experiences in his school years.
Words and meanings
“Tumnus” may be from Latin “tumulus,” for “hill.”
Lewis may have gotten the name “Narnia” from an ancient Umbrian city in Latin literature.
Lilith is a demon of Babylonian and Hebrew mythology who kills children.
Lewis left inconsistencies between the Witch’s origin story in Lion and The Magician’s Nephew.
Cair Paravel may come from “kaer,” an old British word meaning “city,” and from “par aval,” Old French for “down,” and “ad vallem,” Latin for “to the valley.” So Cair Paravel is “city in the valley. An alternative explanation is “paravail,” one who is in a position below another but who holds another beneath. In Lion, the kings and queens rule over Narnia, but are in submission to Aslan.
Wooses correspond to Tolkien’s Woses, and orknies (from Beowulf) are similar to Tolkien’s orcs.
Aslan’s breath may represent the Holy Spirit.
Select Narnia books referenced
• Companion to Narnia, by Paul Ford
• Past Watchful Dragons: A Guide to C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, by Walter Hooper
• C. S. Lewis: A Companion and Guide, by Walter Hooper
• The Christian World of C. S. Lewis, by Clyde Kilby
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Patterning of a Fantastic World, by Colin Manlove
• A Guide through Narnia, by Martha Sammons
• Reading with the Heart: The Way Into Narnia, by Peter Schakel
Brown makes a few minor criticisms, but is mostly positive and defensive of Lion, Narnia, and Lewis. He explains why reading Lion as the first book in the series preserves its novelty and mystery, and allows readers to share in the children’s sense of curiosity and wonder.
I read this because I’m a fan of Narnia, and curious about its allusions and meanings. There are many references to Tolkien, which I enjoyed (as a huge Tolkien fan).
Brown explains that
Narnia is intentionally a hodgepodge collection of widely diverging elements, often with no relation to each other, giving it a dreamlike quality. At the same time Narnia is also a blend of more specific, intentionally chosen pairs of opposites: ‘the ordinary and the fabulous, the contemporary and the medieval, the childlike and the adult, and the secular and the religious.’
Notes
Lewis as author
Lewis met illustrator Pauline Baynes through Tolkien. She had illustrated Farmer Giles of Ham.
During WW2 a group of schoolgirls stayed at Lewis’ home, the Kilns.
The Professor is the character closest to Lewis himself.
The Professor is partially inspired by Lewis’ tutor William Kirkpatrick.
Lewis wrote negatively about schools in Chronicles because of his own bad experiences in his school years.
Words and meanings
“Tumnus” may be from Latin “tumulus,” for “hill.”
Lewis may have gotten the name “Narnia” from an ancient Umbrian city in Latin literature.
Lilith is a demon of Babylonian and Hebrew mythology who kills children.
Lewis left inconsistencies between the Witch’s origin story in Lion and The Magician’s Nephew.
Cair Paravel may come from “kaer,” an old British word meaning “city,” and from “par aval,” Old French for “down,” and “ad vallem,” Latin for “to the valley.” So Cair Paravel is “city in the valley. An alternative explanation is “paravail,” one who is in a position below another but who holds another beneath. In Lion, the kings and queens rule over Narnia, but are in submission to Aslan.
Wooses correspond to Tolkien’s Woses, and orknies (from Beowulf) are similar to Tolkien’s orcs.
Aslan’s breath may represent the Holy Spirit.
Select Narnia books referenced
• Companion to Narnia, by Paul Ford
• Past Watchful Dragons: A Guide to C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, by Walter Hooper
• C. S. Lewis: A Companion and Guide, by Walter Hooper
• The Christian World of C. S. Lewis, by Clyde Kilby
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Patterning of a Fantastic World, by Colin Manlove
• A Guide through Narnia, by Martha Sammons
• Reading with the Heart: The Way Into Narnia, by Peter Schakel
January 1, 2017
Devin Brown, professor of English at Asbury University, is a long-time C S Lewis expert. In addition to teaching a course on C S Lewis at Asbury, he has contributed many scholarly articles about Lewis to various publications. He is also a member of the advisory board for the C S Lewis Bible, which is scheduled to be released by HarperOne next month. (For more, see his Bio on the Asbury University website.) Taking advantage of the buzz surrounding the first Narnia movie in 2005, Baker Books published Inside Narnia: A Guide to Exploring The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe just before the film release.
Inside Narnia is more than a cursory look at the themes of the book; that had been done before. As Brown tells us in the Preface, he had certain goals in mind in writing the book that would distinguish it from other Narnia commentaries available at the time. He notes that most books about Narnia were devotional in nature, the ones which were literary in their approach usually devoted only one chapter to each of the seven chronicles.
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. (p.7)
The book is a kind of “running commentary,” giving various views about the details of the book, and letting the readers make up their own minds about the issues. However, Brown’s high view of Lewis’s literary skill is evident, and I found myself coming away with a broader respect for Lewis’s abilities as a writer. For example, the way Lewis gradually introduces important aspects of the story was an eye-opener for me. The concept of “gradualness” also applies to how the characters are developed. Edmund does not just suddenly decide to betray his siblings. He gradually slips to that point, and Lewis shows us how it happens. While not making excuses for Edmund, Lewis helps us to understand “where he’s coming from.”
Brown is extremely thorough, actually taking time to examine the illustrations of Pauline Baynes and the affect they have on the interpretation of the story. His thoroughness will lead to many “spoilers” – not only from this story, but from the other six books as well. With this in mind, I do not recommend this book to a novice. The details will destroy the sense of discovery Lewis has built into the series as it was written.
As Brown indicates in several places in the book, the Chronicles are best read in publication order* the first time through. Which brings up a Catch 22. In order to convince someone they should read the books in the order they were released, you need to provide details which would spoil the surprises. (You’ll just have to take my word for it!) In any event, it would be to the readers’ advantage to read the entire series before reading Inside Narnia if they wish to avoid spoilers. A good knowledge of the seven chronicles will also help in understanding the points Brown makes.
Inside Narnia is more than a cursory look at the themes of the book; that had been done before. As Brown tells us in the Preface, he had certain goals in mind in writing the book that would distinguish it from other Narnia commentaries available at the time. He notes that most books about Narnia were devotional in nature, the ones which were literary in their approach usually devoted only one chapter to each of the seven chronicles.
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. (p.7)
The book is a kind of “running commentary,” giving various views about the details of the book, and letting the readers make up their own minds about the issues. However, Brown’s high view of Lewis’s literary skill is evident, and I found myself coming away with a broader respect for Lewis’s abilities as a writer. For example, the way Lewis gradually introduces important aspects of the story was an eye-opener for me. The concept of “gradualness” also applies to how the characters are developed. Edmund does not just suddenly decide to betray his siblings. He gradually slips to that point, and Lewis shows us how it happens. While not making excuses for Edmund, Lewis helps us to understand “where he’s coming from.”
Brown is extremely thorough, actually taking time to examine the illustrations of Pauline Baynes and the affect they have on the interpretation of the story. His thoroughness will lead to many “spoilers” – not only from this story, but from the other six books as well. With this in mind, I do not recommend this book to a novice. The details will destroy the sense of discovery Lewis has built into the series as it was written.
As Brown indicates in several places in the book, the Chronicles are best read in publication order* the first time through. Which brings up a Catch 22. In order to convince someone they should read the books in the order they were released, you need to provide details which would spoil the surprises. (You’ll just have to take my word for it!) In any event, it would be to the readers’ advantage to read the entire series before reading Inside Narnia if they wish to avoid spoilers. A good knowledge of the seven chronicles will also help in understanding the points Brown makes.
September 6, 2024
I've read Prince Caspian at least 5 times, and when I found this book in the Alkantrant library I wasn't expecting much. Prince Caspian is a fairly straightforward children's story based on a theme common to many fairy tales -- an evil usurping king who suppresses the true heir to the throne, is eventually deposed and the rightful ruler is restored. How much can you say about that that isn't said in the story itself?
But Devin Brown has quite a lot to say about it, and a lot of what he says is quite illuminating. It makes me want to read his earlier book, about The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, if I can find a copy anywhere. At the time I first read it, in September 1965, I was struck by the parallels between the White Witch's rule in Narnia, and the Vorster regime in South Africa (though Verwoerd was Prime Minister, Vorster was Minister of Justice, and was turning South Africa into a police state). The raid of Maugrim the wolf, head of the Witch's secret police, on the home of Tumnus the faun had many parallels with the Security Police raids of those days, and the statues in the witch's castle represented for us the banning and detention without trial of opponents of the National Party regime.
Those themes, while not absent from Prince Caspian, do not appear quite so strongly. What had always struck me most strongly about Prince Caspian was Lewis's attitude towards pagan myths and deities. In Prince Caspian they are not the enemy, but are part of the army of liberation.
What Devin Brown brings out most strongly, however, is Lewis's anti-racism, and the parallels between the policies of the usurper Miraz and the apartheid ideology. Miraz's policy is based on Telmarine supremacy, with all others being banished to the woods (read "homelands").
Brown draws parallels between the anti-colonialism of Prince Caspian and that of the Oyarsa of Malacandra's comments to Weston in Out of the Silent Planet. He also notes many other literary allusions, to Shakespeare, Tolkien, and other authors, .
The themes that Brown brings out most strongly are Lewis's emphasis on diversity and environmentalism before they became popular causes.
But Devin Brown has quite a lot to say about it, and a lot of what he says is quite illuminating. It makes me want to read his earlier book, about The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, if I can find a copy anywhere. At the time I first read it, in September 1965, I was struck by the parallels between the White Witch's rule in Narnia, and the Vorster regime in South Africa (though Verwoerd was Prime Minister, Vorster was Minister of Justice, and was turning South Africa into a police state). The raid of Maugrim the wolf, head of the Witch's secret police, on the home of Tumnus the faun had many parallels with the Security Police raids of those days, and the statues in the witch's castle represented for us the banning and detention without trial of opponents of the National Party regime.
Those themes, while not absent from Prince Caspian, do not appear quite so strongly. What had always struck me most strongly about Prince Caspian was Lewis's attitude towards pagan myths and deities. In Prince Caspian they are not the enemy, but are part of the army of liberation.
What Devin Brown brings out most strongly, however, is Lewis's anti-racism, and the parallels between the policies of the usurper Miraz and the apartheid ideology. Miraz's policy is based on Telmarine supremacy, with all others being banished to the woods (read "homelands").
Brown draws parallels between the anti-colonialism of Prince Caspian and that of the Oyarsa of Malacandra's comments to Weston in Out of the Silent Planet. He also notes many other literary allusions, to Shakespeare, Tolkien, and other authors, .
The themes that Brown brings out most strongly are Lewis's emphasis on diversity and environmentalism before they became popular causes.
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