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The Chronicles of Transformation: A Spiritual Journey with C.S. Lewis
- GenresReligion
251 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2022
1 person is currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Leonard J. Delorenzo
13 books12 followersLeonard J. DeLorenzo, Ph.D., teaches theology at the University of Notre Dame, where he also directs Notre Dame Vision within the McGrath Institute for Church Life. He was born on the East Coast (New Jersey), spent part of his childhood in the South (Tennessee), grew up for the most part on the West Coast (California), but has lived in the Midwest longer than anywhere else (Indiana). His travel beyond these quarters of the United States includes leading pilgrimages to Italy and Malta, as well as journeying somewhat regularly to the edge of the observable universe in a planetarium where he works collaboratively with a professional astronomer and astrophysicist.
DeLorenzo is the author of Witness: Learning to Tell the Stories of Grace that Illumine Our Lives (Ave Maria Press, 2016) and Work of Love: A Theological Reconstruction of the Communion of Saints (University of Notre Dame Press, 2017). He is currently editing a volume to which he is also a contributor dedicated to Dante, Mercy, and the Beauty of the Human Person (forthcoming from Cascade Books).
DeLorenzo is the author of Witness: Learning to Tell the Stories of Grace that Illumine Our Lives (Ave Maria Press, 2016) and Work of Love: A Theological Reconstruction of the Communion of Saints (University of Notre Dame Press, 2017). He is currently editing a volume to which he is also a contributor dedicated to Dante, Mercy, and the Beauty of the Human Person (forthcoming from Cascade Books).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 3, 2022
“Here, you forget him, and yet—
He knows you still, his name
Bright and real against the pale world.” – Madeline Infantine
The introduction of The Chronicles of Transformation expresses a desire for adults to bask in the renewed enjoyment of reading and experiencing C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. Simply reading and experiencing these works – not analyzing them for theology, and certainly not picking them apart for allegorical purposes (C.S. Lewis would roll in his grave). Ironically, a book of reflective essays that does indeed analyze themes, author intention, and apply theology to the text does exactly what it set out to do: renewed my desire to reread The Chronicles of Narnia as an adult, simply to read and enjoy them.
Even though my childhood set of Narnia paperbacks still sits on my adult bookshelves, I had forgotten them here. The books, though important enough to move from apartment to apartment, have sat collecting dust while I read many of Lewis’s other works for theology classes. I had forgotten Aslan, but The Chronicles of Transformation reminded me that Aslan, in a way, had not forgotten me. Even as an adult, the Narnia books sit waiting to invite me back to Narnia, to enjoy all of Narnia’s adventures. Upon finishing each of the essays, I felt that The Chronicles of Transformation did all of the studious work for me, and piqued my interest enough to reread each novel the essays discussed.
The Chronicles of Transformation is not average “light reading,” nor is it to be read like a textbook. It is a great companion book to rereading The Chronicles of Narnia. I found the essays to be most effective when I read one, set the collection down, and then (with renewed inspiration) read the Narnia novel it discussed. Or, in anticipation of the next essay, read the Narnia novel first then its accompanying essay. As the essays did warn, my adult experience of Narnia has changed since I was a child – although still enjoyable. Even though as a kid, my favorite Narnia book was The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, as an adult and educator, I was especially interested in revisiting Lewis’s subtle commentary on school and education in The Silver Chair (a theme I had not noticed as kid, but was grateful to learn about in Rebekah Lamb’s essay).
I particularly enjoyed Madeline Infantine’s poems woven throughout the collection of essays – reflecting on each essay and Narnia novel, yet binding them all together as one. Even taken out of the context of Narnia, I found myself sitting with the poem and reflecting on how it touched me in my spiritual life and relationship with God. Poetry working at its best.
I would highly recommend The Chronicles of Transformation alongside a reread of The Chronicles of Narnia for all of my adult friends – particularly parents, educators, and aspiring theologians. After reading through The Chronicles of Transformation, I have a strong desire to start a summer book club for an adult reread of The Chronicles of Narnia alongside each coordinating essay in The Chronicles of Transformation. If it comes to fruition, we shall see how it transforms us and how we approach this upcoming school year!
He knows you still, his name
Bright and real against the pale world.” – Madeline Infantine
The introduction of The Chronicles of Transformation expresses a desire for adults to bask in the renewed enjoyment of reading and experiencing C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. Simply reading and experiencing these works – not analyzing them for theology, and certainly not picking them apart for allegorical purposes (C.S. Lewis would roll in his grave). Ironically, a book of reflective essays that does indeed analyze themes, author intention, and apply theology to the text does exactly what it set out to do: renewed my desire to reread The Chronicles of Narnia as an adult, simply to read and enjoy them.
Even though my childhood set of Narnia paperbacks still sits on my adult bookshelves, I had forgotten them here. The books, though important enough to move from apartment to apartment, have sat collecting dust while I read many of Lewis’s other works for theology classes. I had forgotten Aslan, but The Chronicles of Transformation reminded me that Aslan, in a way, had not forgotten me. Even as an adult, the Narnia books sit waiting to invite me back to Narnia, to enjoy all of Narnia’s adventures. Upon finishing each of the essays, I felt that The Chronicles of Transformation did all of the studious work for me, and piqued my interest enough to reread each novel the essays discussed.
The Chronicles of Transformation is not average “light reading,” nor is it to be read like a textbook. It is a great companion book to rereading The Chronicles of Narnia. I found the essays to be most effective when I read one, set the collection down, and then (with renewed inspiration) read the Narnia novel it discussed. Or, in anticipation of the next essay, read the Narnia novel first then its accompanying essay. As the essays did warn, my adult experience of Narnia has changed since I was a child – although still enjoyable. Even though as a kid, my favorite Narnia book was The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, as an adult and educator, I was especially interested in revisiting Lewis’s subtle commentary on school and education in The Silver Chair (a theme I had not noticed as kid, but was grateful to learn about in Rebekah Lamb’s essay).
I particularly enjoyed Madeline Infantine’s poems woven throughout the collection of essays – reflecting on each essay and Narnia novel, yet binding them all together as one. Even taken out of the context of Narnia, I found myself sitting with the poem and reflecting on how it touched me in my spiritual life and relationship with God. Poetry working at its best.
I would highly recommend The Chronicles of Transformation alongside a reread of The Chronicles of Narnia for all of my adult friends – particularly parents, educators, and aspiring theologians. After reading through The Chronicles of Transformation, I have a strong desire to start a summer book club for an adult reread of The Chronicles of Narnia alongside each coordinating essay in The Chronicles of Transformation. If it comes to fruition, we shall see how it transforms us and how we approach this upcoming school year!
September 2, 2022
Chronicles of Transformation. is an excellent companion book providing the reader with a deeper understanding of concepts, themes, characters, and ideas in the Chronicles of Narnia series through illustrations, poetry, and essays about each book.
Do not skip the Preface and Introduction as they give valuable information about why this book was written and how both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien approached their writing. C.S. Lewis did not mean for the tales of Narnia to be read as an allegory, but as a “supposal.”
For me, the following quote from the Introduction explains why I need to re-read the Chronicle of Narnia series
“In the chronicles, Lewis summons us to pass through
our world into Narnia, then to pass through Narnia into
the deeper country, which is our true home. Suppose—
just suppose— a story carved in the hard stone of fairy tale
(supposal literature) could facilitate such an expedition.
That would be worth reading again. And carefully.”
Do not skip the Preface and Introduction as they give valuable information about why this book was written and how both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien approached their writing. C.S. Lewis did not mean for the tales of Narnia to be read as an allegory, but as a “supposal.”
For me, the following quote from the Introduction explains why I need to re-read the Chronicle of Narnia series
“In the chronicles, Lewis summons us to pass through
our world into Narnia, then to pass through Narnia into
the deeper country, which is our true home. Suppose—
just suppose— a story carved in the hard stone of fairy tale
(supposal literature) could facilitate such an expedition.
That would be worth reading again. And carefully.”
September 23, 2024
Seven essays, each one tackling najor themes in one of the Narnia books. The first and the last, about the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and the Last Battle, were very good. The rest were interesting but felt like they reached for conclusions or were dry or otherwise didn't grab my attention.
March 22, 2025
I recently read the entire "Chronicles of Narnia" series with the Toomey Family Book Club and enjoyed it immensely. I wish that I had this book while reading and discussing the series. It contained interesting and valuable insights.
June 24, 2025
I enjoyed reading this slowly in tandem with my reading of the Chronicles. It's easy to forget how profound these books are
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews