Read e-book The Lions World: A journey into the heart of Narnia

Sep 15, Lillian Shuff rated it liked it Shelves: I felt a sort of home-coming reading this, looking again at all Narnia offers and examining the why behind many aspect of the tale. Rowan Williams is, of course, remarkable and I think the only reason I didn't give this book more stars is that, while it is very easy to get into and does open the mind, it involves less soul searching and brings less soul piercing wisdom than some of his other books.

Still well worth the pg read! Lewis was a master at this, and I thought that the best way to learn more about this religious undertones was to read literary criticism from someone who has a lot of knowledge about Christianity. This made for a full portrayal of Lewis's beliefs, which I really appreciated.

What I didn't like: The title is a bit misleading on that front. Similarly, the writing didn't flow as well as it could have. While not an example of fantastic writing, I think that this is an interesting book for those who are a fan of the Narnia books and want to learn about an expert's opinion on the religious meaning and lessons that provide the backbone of this series. Also posted on Purple People Readers. Nov 28, Ann rated it really liked it Shelves: I was interested to read what Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, would write about the well-known fiction series by C.

Though the books are known as children's literature, they are popular with adults as well. Williams points out that the series has its share of critics. Apparently Lewis' friend JRR Tolkien hated them because of the books' "random mixture of mythologies. The book I was interested to read what Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, would write about the well-known fiction series by C. The books can be harsh. Lewis, according to Williams, showed his belief in the impossibility of forcing anyone to accept love. I found Williams' views themselves a fresh approach and, as might be expected, more intellectual.

Seeing the series as a whole gave me an appreciation for the broad themes Lewis developed. I reread The Magician's Nephew, chronologically the first in the series one I had not liked as well as some others, but now found more appealing. Such themes as "not a tame lion" exemplifies the risk inherent in faith, when we allow ourselves a relationship with a God who may lead us into unknown territory.

Sep 12, Christian McKay rated it really liked it. If anyone could convert me, it's C. His stories ring with a brightness. I'll just borrow his phrase. They're like "mouthwash for the imagination. Rowan Williams has framed the importance of the Narnia series in this short but vital essay. The author is a deeply relig If anyone could convert me, it's C.

The author is a deeply religious man, but he's no literary slouch. He's explored His Dark Materials and other atheistic arguments and is prepared to cut Lewis down to size where needed. Still, he's given us a comprehensive analysis of the children's series that regardless of the reader's background, will give them a taste of what it's like to believe.

I've read quite a few books about Lewis and Narnia and this was one of the absolute best. I loved that focus and think Rowan Williams has found the heart, which of course also makes this a very moving book. I would probably also count it as one of the best books I've read, period, but I'd also say I'm sure that would not be the case for anyone that hasn't already read th I've read quite a few books about Lewis and Narnia and this was one of the absolute best. I would probably also count it as one of the best books I've read, period, but I'd also say I'm sure that would not be the case for anyone that hasn't already read the series and pondered the deeper meaning s.

But if you've read them and want to find "the heart" I can't think of a better guide. This treasure of a book has a chapter entitled 'Bigger inside than outside' and that neatly sums up this examination of the Narnian world, holding as it does more depth of experience and insight into life than one might expect of pages. Reading it gave me the same sense of joy I also received from Williams' longer book on Dostoevsky. It is not easy to let go of the stories we tell about ourselves and to embrace the narrative that the Great Storyteller has in mind for us but the lasting outco This treasure of a book has a chapter entitled 'Bigger inside than outside' and that neatly sums up this examination of the Narnian world, holding as it does more depth of experience and insight into life than one might expect of pages.

It is not easy to let go of the stories we tell about ourselves and to embrace the narrative that the Great Storyteller has in mind for us but the lasting outcome of doing so is boundless joy. Although it was a bit convoluted at times, and its brevity left many of Williams' insights underdeveloped, I found that it was a pleasant read. Rowan Williams is a first rate theologian whose command of that subject as well as Western literature provides ample fuel for a keen discussion of many of Lewis' themes in the Narnian literature. Even though I have paged through other analyses of Lewis and Narnia and Christian faith, I found this little volume quite illuminating.

I would recommend it as Although it was a bit convoluted at times, and its brevity left many of Williams' insights underdeveloped, I found that it was a pleasant read. I would recommend it as an accessible introduction to thinking critically about Narnia for the serious thinker. Mar 05, Keith Beasley-Topliffe rated it really liked it. An invitation to reflection on the Narnia books for those who have read them. Or, as the subtitle has it, a journey into the heart of Narnia. It would not be a good introduction for someone thinking about reading the series or for someone who only knows the movies.

I've read the series 3 or 4 times and listened to the audiobook set once so I could follow the references and found the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Lewis as storyteller and Christian apologist helpful to deeper under An invitation to reflection on the Narnia books for those who have read them. I've read the series 3 or 4 times and listened to the audiobook set once so I could follow the references and found the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Lewis as storyteller and Christian apologist helpful to deeper understanding.

Dec 05, Roy Howard rated it it was amazing. If you love the Chronicles of Narnia, and want to know more about the stunning imagination of C. Lewis, read this book. Rowan Williams gives an excellent account of the depth of the Narnia tales while providing a positive critical overview of Lewis' imaginative work.

Clearly, Williams has studied Lewis and the Chronicles. He brings out the riches in both even while addressing the critics of Lewis. It's a brief book that contains more wisdom than the brevity suggests.

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Mar 02, Anne Borrowdale rated it really liked it. A short, readable, thoughtful book with delightful new illustrations which examines the meaning of the Narnia books. I know the stories very well, and enjoyed Williams' interpretation of key areas in them. He discusses critics such as Philip Pullman, and identifies what it is that makes the stories powerful for adults as well as children.

References to Lewis's adult science fiction trilogy and Till We Have Faces have made me want to re-read them. Mar 25, Toby rated it it was amazing Shelves: There is little that can be said apart from this little book by Rowan Williams deserves to become a standard text on C.

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. A careful reading of this delightful collection of observations will require several readings for full benefit. I expect to return to it after digging through my library for old copies of Lewis' works.

Rowan Williams has done a great job of promoting deeper reading of each of the tales of Narnia. I read them as a young teenager and then around the time I decided to be a Christian at 16, I re-read them. No books, before or since, have given me the experience of entering another world like these did.

Yet it was not merely escapism. The Narnia stories equipped me with theological reference points which helped anchor my faith during the inevitable ups and downs of teenage life. My bible still has the final paragraph from The Last Battle written in the back:. It is short and sweet — but packed full of deep insights. The subtitle describes it perfectly: The message is not simply conveyed by clunky allegory but embedded and woven within the story. Williams particularly explores the themes of self-deception and the inescapable challenge of encountering divine truth. The self-deception of Edmund and Eustace is challenged and overcome through encounter with Aslan.

Susan however, despite her earlier heroism in the first two books, travels in the other direction: None of us can ultimately avoid an encounter with divine truthfulness — and a positive outcome from this encounter cannot be forced. This is part of what makes him such an attractive and powerful character.

As Williams points out this, uncomfortably for some, includes more than a hint of pagan revelry as both the god Bacchus and a drunken Silenus make appearances to celebrate the liberation Aslan brings. Of course the Narnia stories are not without weaknesses and famous contemporary critics of its themes and messages include Philip Pullman and J. Williams adds his own, for example:. Before I finished reading this little book pages , I came to learn that Rowan Williams is not a fool, and not a false prophet out to subvert the Christian faith.

This is a wise book by a man who loves the Lord and has delight in others who love God. It's written with feeling, in clear and simple language not often achieved by academics at Williams' level. Not to make too much of it, but I have learned a lesson-judge no one by what you read about him in the papers. The stories might be true, but they won't be the whole truth.

It seems to me now that Williams was simply the wrong man for the job. Being Archbishop of Canterbury from to was going to be a challenge and a minefield for anyone who dared to try it. I find it makes me surprisingly happy to have to change my mind about him. In his Preface, Williams writes, "I can only confess to being repeatedly humbled and reconverted by Lewis in a way that is true of few other modern Christian writers" p.

We applaud Williams for keeping the focus tightly fixed on C. Lewis and his seven books about the fantasy world of Narnia-written for children, and loved also by adults the world over. In these books, writes Williams, "Lewis is trying to recreate for the reader what it is like to encounter and believe in God" p.

Because, "The point of Narnia is to help us rinse out what is stale in our thinking about Christianity" p. What could be a bigger problem in Christianity than simply taking it for granted? But in the Narnia books, Lewis tried to put his readers in a position of seeing Christ for the very first time, as something new and fresh and strange-strange enough to make us hungry to know much more.

Lewis invited his readers to encounter Jesus Christ in an unfamiliar form-Aslan, the great lion who sang the world of Narnia into existence. Writes Williams, "[T]he essential thing is this invitation to hear the story as if we had never heard it before. And for a growing number of readers who actually haven't , the effectiveness can be measured" p.

Have we here encountered something new?