The Lion's World: A Journey into the Heart of Narnia

by Rowan Williams

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams offers fascinating insight into The Chronicles of Narnia, the popular series of novels by one of the most influential Christian authors of the modern era, C. S. Lewis.Lewis once referred to certain kinds of book as a "mouthwash for the imagination." This is what he attempted to provide in the Narnia stories, argues an unfamiliar world in which we could rinse out what is stale in our thinking about Christianity--"which is almost everything," says Williams--and rediscover what it might mean to meet the holy. Indeed, Lewis's great achievement in the Narnia books is just that-he enables readers to encounter the Christian story "as if for the first time." How does Lewis makes fresh and strange the familiar themes of Christian doctrine? Williams points out that, for one, Narnia itself is a strange a parallel universe, if you like. There is no "church" in Narnia, no religion even. The interaction between Aslan as a "divine" figure and the inhabitants of this world is something that is worked out in the routines of life itself. Moreover, we are made to see humanity in a fresh perspective, the pride or arrogance of the human spirit is chastened by the revelation that, in Narnia, you may be on precisely the same spiritual level as a badger or a mouse. It is through these imaginative dislocations that Lewis is able to communicate--to a world that thinks it knows what faith is--the character, the feel, of a real experience of surrender in the face of absolute incarnate love.This lucid, learned, humane, and beautifully written book opens a new window onto Lewis's beloved stories, revealing the moral wisdom and passionate faith beneath their perennial appeal.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theology, Religion, Christianity, Literary Criticism, Christian, Essays

175 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Rowan Douglas Williams, Baron Williams of Oystermouth, is an Anglican bishop, poet, and theologian. He was Archbishop of Canterbury from December 2002-2012, and is now Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge and Chancellor of the University of South Wales.

Reviews

[Skrivena stranica · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of more important and well done researches of Narnia, although it is not very original. Religious themes are central to this study.

[Anne Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This insightful and good-faith commentary on the Chronicles of Narnia (and its place in Lewis's overall oeuvre) reminded me how much I love and have been shaped by CS Lewis's writing. That series is very much due a reread. This was also a nice introduction to Rowan Williams's writing style, which can be a bit convoluted but is mostly very engaging and feels like talking to someone who's both very intelligent and earnestly kind-hearted and genuine.

[Charlotte (Bogrejser) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Williams offer great perspective on many of the topics featured in the Narnia books, and he argues very well for the things that he interprets from the various scenes.

The first four chapters really captured me (the last chapters felt a bit slow - but then again, the whole book is slow compared to the fantasy books that I usually read). I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone finishing the Chronicles of Narnia and who wants to understand more of what's between the lines.

[^ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a lovely handbag/large pocket -sized book to savour with delight, puzzlement, understanding, and above all, curiosity and interest; perhaps pausing periodically to lay the book down so as to quietly and pensively also consider in a greater depth of thought the tremendous experience acquired of life, and wisdom through faith, that flows from the pen of Archbishop Rowan Williams, as he considers and delves into exploring the moral landscape of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia.

Williams doesn’t insult his reader by producing dumbed-down academic arguments. Instead he offers an escape, from what could have been tedious theological reasoning and argument, through approachable, understandable, warm and revelatory writing. By also pulling in evidence from “That Hideous Strength”; he achieves significant progress towards achieving that wonderful “Farther up and farther in!” with which “The Last Battle” ends.

“The Lion’s World” is a thoroughly good read for anyone who has read, re-read, and enjoyed C.S. Lewis’ masterly storytelling throughout the seven books (“The Lion , The Witch and the Wardrobe” through to “The Last Battle”). Christianity in Britain today is, sadly, one of those ‘don’t frighten the horses’ subjects; critics sadly overlook the sheer joy emanating from confidence firmly rooted in a strong and personal Christian faith such as was held by C.S. Lewis, and of which he spent his life sharing with such genius. Coupled with Monica Capoferri’s lovely contemplative illustrations, this book is a real treat to anyone who wants to ‘understand’ Narnia. Here Rowan Williams opens the door that the intelligent and curious may learn with interest a good deal more about practical Christianity than, sadly, they would be exposed to in much present day modern worship in the Church of England.

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Review: The Lion's World: A Journey into the Heart of Narnia by Rowan Williams - a short and helpful book about Lewis, Narnia and how they both point back to Christianity. While I definitely gained new insight into Lewis and Narnia, what most strikes me about the book is how Rowan Williams reads Lewis generously. It is not that he reads Lewis uncritically, Williams is a scholar and is bringing scholarly tools to the task of reading Lewis. But he always gives Lewis the benefit of the doubt when there are alternative readings. He also uses Lewis's other non-Narnia books to give insight into the Narnia books. I have read over 20 books by or about Lewis in the last three years and this is one that is definitely worth picking up. Not that there are many books about Lewis that I think have been bad (but this is one of the better ones.)

It is especially a great deal if you have kindle where it is on sale for $2.51 right now.

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/lions-world/

[Ian Clary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable.

[Dan Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I have to admit that I didn't have high hopes for it considering the fact that I have very often disagreed with the perspectives of it's author. However, Williams really gets at the heart of much of what Lewis wants to reveal about God and ourselves in the Narnia books (and, in broader discussion, his other works). Sometimes I felt the language could have been more definite in its conclusions, but I chalked it up to years of Williams' speaking politically as AB of C and trying to keep all the kids playing nicely together in the sandbox (rather than spanking the bad kids and warning the fence sitters, as he ought to have done). However, all things considered, this was a really good book, even if it was written by an Arch Bish.

Williams draws out three overarching themes from the Narnia books. First, that when we encounter Aslan (or God, in our world), we are invited to join a resistance movement, a rebellion against the power and control systems and value structures that currently hold sway in the world. On this first point, I wish Williams would have been more clear in drawing the connection between the White Witch (and other enemies of Narnia) and included the biblical terms for the equivalent in our world of what is being resisted (sin, evil, Satan, idols, etc.). Not that he avoids it completely, just that he focusses on certain ways those things manifest themselves in the world without always clearly putting them in biblical categories (I know, some of you are thinking, "surprise, surprise"). However, the book has the feel of being intended primarily for lovers of the Narnia books who are not Christians or who might be scared away by a volume too packed with the "language of the church".

The second point is that, as we begin to labour on Aslan's side, we soon realize that one of the things we are resisting and fighting against is our own natural selves which, whether we recognize it or not, are in league with the enemy and in fact is one with the enemy. Williams points out the many meetings characters have with Aslan where just being in his presence or looking into his eyes (or being looked at by his eyes) brings all kinds of realization and true self-knowledge and, ultimately, repentance. This self-knowledge is not that of psychoanalysis, going deeper and deeper into the self to discover who you really are, but rather that of seeing yourself from outside, through Aslan's eyes, for the first time, and knowing that this is the true you, stripped of all excuses which seemed so reasonable but not any longer, under Aslan's gaze. We see this in Peter as he admits that he was too hard on Edmund and that is partly what drove Edmund away, and we see it in Jill Pole, who isn't as brave when the Lion lays between her and the stream as she pretended to be on the edge of the cliff with Eustace, who fell off the cliff ultimately as a result of Jill's pride.

And the third point that Williams makes is that, far from what many expect when they meet Aslan (or God, being convinced that religion is all about rules), joy is the overwhelming response. Whether it is the teacher in the boy's school or the student in the girl's school at the end of Prince Caspian, when Aslan calls you to follow him, the sense that overwhelms is sheer, massive joy. Williams quotes the famous passage from the Screwtape Letters, where Screwtape writes to Wormwood that the enemy (God) is above all a hedonist, and that there are all kinds of things in the world that serve no other purpose other than that they bring enjoyment to people's lives. This was Lewis's own experience with coming to God, as referenced in the title of his autobiographical Surprised By Joy.

Further to the idea of joy, Williams also zeros in on Lewis's concept of "bigger inside than outside". Unlike many people's conceptions of the Christian faith, which is that it is constrictive (as in many false iterations it has been), Williams shows that Lewis saw faith as much less restrictive and much more freeing than unbelief. Whether it is entering Narnia through the wardrobe, entering the true Narnia through the stable (in Last Battle), or entering the walled garden (in Magician's Nephew and Last Battle), we see that each is bigger on the inside than on the outside, and that each successive world is more real, not less (think also Great Divorce), as we grow in our maturity and walk with Aslan or as we move on to the ultimate eschaton from this life.

Williams has a pretty good feel for Lewis. Williams recognizes the debt Lewis owes to Chesterton and is himself familiar enough with Chesterton to recognize similar themes in their writing (incidentally, I'd love to see a book by Williams which dives into G.K.C.'s The Man Who Was Thursday). He also draws on Lewis's personal letters to give further glimpses into Lewis's thinking. And Williams points out how much Charles Williams' thought worked its way into Lewis's thinking and writing as well, knowing enough of C. Williams' own writings to recognize where the cross-polination happens (again, perhaps R. Williams could be enticed to examine C. Williams' novels also, particularly The Place of the Lion, which displays some of the same underlying themes as the Narnia stories, particularly Magician's Nephew and Last Battle).

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Former Arch Bishop Rowan Williams really gets at the heart of much of what Lewis wants to reveal about God and ourselves in the Narnia books (and, in broader discussion, his other works).

Williams draws out three overarching themes from the Narnia books. First, that when we encounter Aslan (or God, in our world), we are invited to join a resistance movement, a rebellion against the power and control systems and value structures that currently hold sway in the world. On this first point, I wish Williams would have been more clear in drawing the connection between the White Witch (and other enemies of Narnia) and included the biblical terms for the equivalent in our world of what is being resisted (sin, evil, Satan, idols, etc.). Not that he avoids it completely, just that he focusses on certain ways those things manifest themselves in the world without always clearly putting them in biblical categories (I know, some of you are thinking, "surprise, surprise", this comes from being in the very political possition of Arch Bishop of a denomination falling apart). However, the book has the feel of being intended primarily for lovers of the Narnia books who are not Christians or who might be scared away by a volume too packed with the "language of the church".

The second point is that, as we begin to labour on Aslan's side, we soon realize that one of the things we are resisting and fighting against is our own natural selves which, whether we recognize it or not, are in league with the enemy and in fact is one with the enemy. Williams points out the many meetings characters have with Aslan where just being in his presence or looking into his eyes (or being looked at by his eyes) brings all kinds of realization and true self-knowledge and, ultimately, repentance. This self-knowledge is not that of psychoanalysis, going deeper and deeper into the self to discover who you really are, but rather that of seeing yourself from outside, through Aslan's eyes, for the first time, and knowing that this is the true you, stripped of all excuses which seemed so reasonable but not any longer, under Aslan's gaze. We see this in Peter as he admits that he was too hard on Edmund and that is partly what drove Edmund away, and we see it in Jill Pole, who isn't as brave when the Lion lays between her and the stream as she pretended to be on the edge of the cliff with Eustace, who fell off the cliff ultimately as a result of Jill's pride.

And the third point that Williams makes is that, far from what many expect when they meet Aslan (or God, being convinced that religion is all about rules), joy is the overwhelming response. Whether it is the teacher in the boy's school or the student in the girl's school at the end of Prince Caspian, when Aslan calls you to follow him, the sense that overwhelms is sheer, massive joy. Williams quotes the famous passage from the Screwtape Letters, where Screwtape writes to Wormwood that the enemy (God) is above all a hedonist, and that there are all kinds of things in the world that serve no other purpose other than that they bring enjoyment to people's lives. This was Lewis's own experience with coming to God, as referenced in the title of his autobiographical Surprised By Joy.

Further to the idea of joy, Williams also zeros in on Lewis's concept of "bigger inside than outside". Unlike many people's conceptions of the Christian faith, which is that it is constrictive (as in many false iterations it has been), Williams shows that Lewis saw faith as much less restrictive and much more freeing than unbelief. Whether it is entering Narnia through the wardrobe, entering the true Narnia through the stable (in Last Battle), or entering the walled garden (in Magician's Nephew and Last Battle), we see that each is bigger on the inside than on the outside, and that each successive world is more real, not less (think also Great Divorce), as we grow in our maturity and walk with Aslan or as we move on to the ultimate eschaton from this life.

Williams has a pretty good feel for Lewis. Williams recognizes the debt Lewis owes to Chesterton and is himself familiar enough with Chesterton to recognize similar themes in their writing (incidentally, I'd love to see a book by Williams which dives into G.K.C.'s The Man Who Was Thursday). He also draws on Lewis's personal letters to give further glimpses into Lewis's thinking. And Williams points out how much Charles Williams' thought worked its way into Lewis's thinking and writing as well, knowing enough of C. Williams' own writings to recognize where the cross-polination happens (again, perhaps R. Williams could be enticed to examine C. Williams' novels also, particularly The Place of the Lion, which displays some of the same underlying themes as the Narnia stories, particularly the Platonism in Magician's Nephew and Last Battle).

This book also does an admirable job, albeit a brief and partial one, of refuting some of Lewis's most recent and strident critics (Phillip Pullman, for example), and showing how much of what moderns don't like about Lewis is really their misunderstanding or misrepresenting him, or their unwillingness to cut Lewis any slack for being a product of a different time and cultural context, one actually far older than even Lewis's own times (Lewis self-identified as one of the last of the Old Western Men, a Medieval - descriptions which are swear words to his critics but which are not the backward and monstrous caricatures that those critics have made them out to be). A good example is Lewis's supposed misogyny, the supposedly classic example of which is Lewis's comments about Susan now only caring about her appearance and social life in Last Battle. As should be apparent to any reader of Narnia, and as Williams points out, Lucy is steadily portrayed as the most faithful, brave and spiritually sensitive (which is to say, wise) of the human characters in Narnia, excelling any of the male human characters. Though not perfect, she consistently shows faithfulness to and trust in Aslan to a greater degree than any of the boys in the Chronicles. Readers and would be critics of Narnia ought to take Lewis's perspective on the sexes more seriously and examine it on its merits rather than firing off salvos of criticism that have to ignore more than they examine of the stories in order to make their points.

Another criticism I have with Williams is his treatment of the theme of the goodness of creation. Williams rightly points out the love and value of creation, of plants and animals, that is a running theme in the Narnia books and that was dear to Lewis's own heart (he was a great lover of plants, animals and the outdoors in general and was never happier than when on a good long walk through uninhabited countryside). He shows how Lewis puts forth a serious idea of stewardship of creation in his stories and how it is the villains that pillage and destroy nature and the heroes who protect it. But Williams goes further in this theme than Lewis does, arguing that in Narnia, people often find themselves on the same level with the animals. While he points out the difference, he doesn't do quite enough digging to expose why Lewis didn't himself treat all the animals in Narnia equally. Of course Aslan, being the Christ figure, is actually above the human characters, but there are many non-talking beasts in Narnia that, while having value because they are Aslan's creations, are also a food source for both the human characters and the talking beasts of Narnia. Williams finds this an odd feature of the story rather than seeing Lewis's theology of creation and his anthropology at the heart of it. The talking beasts are the "people" of Narnia and so, in some ways, are the equals of the human characters, but on the other hand and as is apparent in the stories, Aslan purposes for representatives of the human race to rule over the animal kingdom of Narnia as vice-regents beneath him. So, I'm glad that Williams discusses this theme, but it will be left to others to open it up more fully.

All in all, a good read. For another great study that focusses on other levels and themes, see Doug Wilson's book What I Learned in Narnia. I would not hesitate to recommend either of these books to Christian and non-Christian readers of Narnia alike.

[Kendall Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Williams' typical fashion, he brings out the nuance of Lewis' work with surprising insight and fresh perspective. In particular I enjoyed how he doesn't shy away from criticism of Lewis' Narnia series while also bringing the conversation back to what Lewis is really trying to do with Narnia. Wonderful little book.

[Leaflet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Lewis' wardrobe, this small book is bigger on the inside than the outside. It has depths upon depths.

[Kenyah Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely insight into the world of Lewis’ beloved Narnia

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Rowan Williams' scholarship is very evident, but he conveys the depth of his knowledge and understanding without being obscure or condescending.
He lays out clearly the Christian ideas that were important to Lewis, and which he explored through the Chronicles of Narnia. Some of these ideas are quite challenging to the modern world - even to modern understandings of Christianity - and Williams examines and explains these challenges.
Lewis has been criticised for his attitudes to death, sex, and race, most recently by Philip Pullman, and Williams looks carefully and even-handedly at the aspects of Narnia which can be seen as problematic.
I am a lifelong fan of C S Lewis, and have read most of what he wrote, and many books about him and his writing. In fact, my undergraduate dissertation was about how the theological ideas that Lewis wrote about in his non-fiction are all present, and possibly better-expressed, in Narnia. Obviously, this book is very much to my taste, but I don't think you'd need to be soaked in Lewis to enjoy it. It's very illuminating and thoughtful, and anyone who has read the Narnia books and wants to go 'further up and further in' will gain a great deal from it.

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've tried and failed to read this book three times now since I got it for Christmas and I think I'm just going to give up now. What I wanted from this book was a comprehensive list/accumulation of all of the Christian mythology and symbolism from the Chronicles of Narnia books but this edition failed to capture my attention. It was dense and long winded and I wanted something more straight to the point.

[Toby · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is little that can be said apart from this little book by Rowan Williams deserves to become a standard text on C.S. Lewis' theology as illustrated in his Narnia Chronicles. He is (dare I say) unusually lucid, as befits a study of children's fiction. For those who think the Narnia chronicles straightforward (whether as good or bad fiction), then this book should not only make us think again, but encourage us to go "further up, and further in."

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read 2nd-3rd November 2013.

A very interesting book. I seem to learn new things each time I look at it, which is amazing considering how small it is.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this analysis of what Lewis attempted to achieve in his Narnia stories. "Mouthwash for the imagination" indeed!

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of wondered what the point of this book was besides throwing academic references around and flaunting literary knowledge. The author was the Archbishop of Canterbury and Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and has a soft spot for C. S. Lewis.

However, in the end, it is explained more clearly: "The reader is brought to Narnia for a little in order to know Aslan better in this world. All that we have been trying to do in these pages is to make sure that the doors between the worlds are in reasonably good order, so that we may share that slowly flowering awareness of something constantly discovered and rediscovered and always new."

It's not a biography of C. S. Lewis, but more of an explanation of how the Narnia books can "reconvert" over and over again with their spiritual truths.

There were some really good quotes.

There remains a general cultural memory of the Christian religion. Sharing the good news is not so much a matter of telling people what they have never heard as of persuading them that there are things they haven't heard when they think they have ... it is not true that large numbers of people reject Christian faith - if by 'reject' we meant that they deliberately consider and then decide against it. They are imperceptibly shunted towards a position where the 'default setting' is a conviction that traditional Christianity has nothing to be said for it. People who have settled down in this position are not likely to be moved by argument; they need to be surprised into a realization that they have never actually reckoned with what Christianity is about.

"Lewis wants to persuade us that we are to find our fulfillment in receiving rather than in demanding. But there is no honest way of depicting this in fiction except by portraying its risks, the 'wildness' of a world we have not chosen, not to mention a Creator we have not chosen."

"Things are as they are; our choices have been what they have been and have made us what we now are; there is nowhere else to begin."

"We first hear the kind of self-justification or evasion that any of us would normally offer when a disaster has happened for which we know we share some responsibility: Aslan does not challenge this; he simply waits, holding the speaker's gaze, until it is possible, bit by bit, to say more. The admission of responsibility does not bring punishment. It simply opens up the next stage in a conversation with Aslan that will not move forward until we have forced truth out of our mouths - not because we are being ruthlessly interrogated but simply because we cannot move until this happens."

"Human beings will regularly deceive themselves not only about what they have actually done but about the effects of it."

"The determination to protect the self at all costs leads to a denial of reality, and that denial is basically what hell means, however you dress it up."

"What ultimately matters is a desire for truth, whatever the cost; but that desire is only met in the face of the true God and in letting him tell you your story."

"Once we have left behind our self-centred perspective, what is opened out to us is a fuller, not a smaller field of enjoyment."

"In Lewis's narrative, this is expressed in terms of rebellion, the joyful overturning of a self-contained order in the name of an uncontainable truth. Transcendence is the wildness of joy; and the truth of God becomes a revolution against what we have made of ourselves."

"It is exhilarating to think of ourselves not just as victims of oppression, but as active rebels against it. The catch comes with the second major insight that Narnia offers. We are the occupying forces. We have enslaved ourselves ... We are being invited to a revolution against what we have fairly consistently thought we wanted and who we fairly consistently thought we were."

"Walking away from this encounter because we are afraid of its cost will take us inexorably back towards the boredom and imprisonment of ourselves - back to the occupied territory of a self too concerned to defend its boundaries to be able to contemplate joy."

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an expanded compilation of three lectures given in 2011 by Williams, a former Archbishop of Canterbury. Williams mostly looks at the Narnia stories, uncovering Christian & worldly themes. He also connects some of these themes with several of Lewis's other writings. I found it fascinating and in awe of Lewis's creativity to communicate complex ideas in a children's series. William's concludes that there are three themes that seem most prevalent. First a transcendence to overthrow self contained order for the uncontainable truth of God. Second, we are the ones who have enslaved ourselves. Finally, when we are liberated, what we find is a journey into light and joy, further up and further in! I am wanting to read the Narnia books again.

[R. Spangler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first four chapters were a bit slow for me. That said, they cleared the way for much enjoyment in the last two chapters (and conclusion). Chapters 5 and 6 really open my eyes to more of the beauty in Lewis's writings. Rowan Williams did a fantastic work here.

I was longing for more cross-references to, what seemed to me to be, very clear allusions to passages and motifs in the Bible.

For the reader, it'd be helpful to be familiar with Lewis's other works outside of Narnia; That Hideous Strength was mentioned quite a bit and I've not read this yet.

[Sam Dyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.3) A book analysing the moral and spiritual landscape of the Narnia books, which goes into some detail on Lewis’s theology and purposes in writing the books.

It also deals with and predominantly rebuts critics of Lewis.

I got the sense from Rowan Williams that here is someone who loves Narnia (although he came to it later in life) and greatly respects Lewis.
He also put his finger on a lot of the things Lewis was doing that went completely over my head first time round.

It’s a credit to this book that I think now is the time for a re-read of Narnia.

[Joseph Walliker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be right back, I'm going to need some time to take this book to heart. I don't think this review will even do much justice to it. Please go and read it for yourself, especially if you have read the Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis.
Williams opens up these timeless books with understanding, insight and relatability. And all he does is join with Lewis in revealing the world of the Lion as our own, and invites us to journey "further up, and further in!"
5 stars isn't enough for this book. I thank God for it. ❤️❤️

[Jo Chorlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't honestly say I understood everything that Rowan Williams was trying to say in this book, but as with most books on theology, I found there were one or two 'gems' just for me. This book is written with care, exploring the deeper meaning in the Narnia books, and how it relates to not only C S Lewis's own beliefs, but what he felt was most important to share with others about the Christian faith.

[Chris Callaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read for fans of Narnia (and those who used to be and perhaps those who never were). The cover art is OK, but there are wonderful illustrations inside that I wish would find their way into a new edition of the Chronicles. This book would nicely accompany Laura Miller's excellent, "The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia."

[J Grimsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the Narnia chronicles and a number of books and comments about them I had found a number of criticisms valid but over blown, Rowan Williams explanations are useful and balanced and as one would expect pro-Christian - This was a very useful/helpful book.

[Savannah Petit]

This was such a joy to read! It made me want to reread all of the Narnia stories. Rowan Williams is obviously highly well educated, but he wrote in a really accessible way. Many lines I wanted to underline and return to.

[Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent examination of the Narnia series. Williams is always a pleasure to read and he addresses many of the controversial aspects of the series in a level-headed way.

[Tan Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

God is the wildest greatest form of magic.

[Jon Beadle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Rowan Williams and this was a good read.

[Eileen Pheiffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love the Chronicles of Narnia, you'll enjoy the insights he shares in this book.

[Carl Thomas]

I don't know. Had to read it for a class. Some good stuff but not a CS Lewis reader so much of it was lost on me.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely!