A Field Guide to Narnia

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Summary: Christian Book Previews
Review: In A Field Guide to Narnia, Colin Duriez digs into the worldviews, myths, and people who played important roles in C. S. Lewis' creation of Narnia. This scholarly work is written for adults, but the explanations don't remove the magic of the Chronicles of Narnia.

Beginning with a short biography of Lewis' life, Duriez continues with the books from various periods that influenced Narnia's unique attributes. He points out the parallels between the Chronicles and Christianity, followed by concepts borrowed from other worldviews. The chapter titled "Literary Features of the Chronicles" discusses genre, perception, and the books' sometimes visible but never intruding narrator. The first section of the book ends by further expounding on the themes, concepts, and images found in Lewis' books.

Part Two is an encyclopedia for the Chronicles, giving a brief overview of each book, a history of Narnia (complete with a timeline), and a chapter on its geography. Then Duriez shows Lewis' other writings in the context of Narnia, and the people who influenced Lewis' life and works. Part Three, a dictionary, covers Narnia from Adam to Zardeenah. Extensive notes, a chronology of Lewis, and a detailed bibliography end the book.

Though repetitive in places, A Field Guide to Narnia adds depth to the Chronicles without reducing them to theological tomes or classics merely to be analyzed. Without a hint of overt suggestion, Duriez makes you long to read the Chronicles once more. -- Katie Hart, Christian Book Previews.com