The Way into Narnia: A Reader's Guide - Paperback

by Peter J. Schakel (Author)

The practical companion you need for your journey through C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia

How did a middle-aged professor with no children write books that have become beloved classics of children's literature? What is the best order for reading the Chronicles of Narnia? Whatever one's question, The Way into Narnia offers valuable guidance for first-time visitors to Narnia and fresh insights for those who have already traveled there often.

Exploring ideas from Lewis's friend J. R. R. Tolkien, Peter Schakel shows that the best way to enter Narnia is to read the Chronicles as fairy tales. After walking readers through each of the books, he concludes the tour with a unique section of annotations that clarify unfamiliar words and unusual passages.

Author Biography

Peter J. Schakel (1941-2024) was Peter C. and Emajean Cook Professor of English at Hope College, where he taught for forty-eight years. He was honored in 2013 with the Hope Outstanding Professor Educator (H.O.P.E.) Award, an honor presented by the graduating class to the professor whom they feel exemplifies the best qualities of Hope College teachers. An internationally respected student of C. S. Lewis's work, he published multiple books on Lewis's fiction and its relationship to faith, imagination, and the arts.