Chronicles of Narnia

Children's Literature - Janice DeLong

"Charmed to a certain uneasiness" though he may be, editor Bloom has devoted two titles in his series to the now deceased by-more- than-forty-years author, C.S. Lewis. Avowing in his introduction that the writings of Maurice Sendak and J.K. Rowling will displace those of the Oxford scholar, Bloom nevertheless has collected eleven essays that attest to the timeless themes expressed in The Chronicles of Narnia. Chad Walsh explores parallel worlds in Narnia as they speak to the child-within-adult readers. Margaret Patterson Hannay moves deeper into spiritual implications of the novels as she goes "further up and further in," to use Lewis's own language. Lee D. Rossi observes the shadows of the author's childhood that he envisions reflected in both the Narnia stories and the "Space Trilogy." Lewis researcher Kathryn Ann Lindskoog explores nature in Narnia, and fantasy expert Colin Manlove reflects on religious symbolism innate to any fictional work of the renowned apologist. A treasure for all collectors of Lewis lore with its acknowledged roster of scholarship and variety of viewpoints, this title is part of the "Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations" series.