I found the book useful, though there is no substitute for reading the books. For those who have already read the Chronicles it gives some interesting facts. I have loved the Chronicles from an early age and I would hope that the Companion to Narnia is useful to all friends of Narnia.

I received Companion to Narnia, as well as a boxed set of the Chronicles themselves, as a birthday gift. I must say it was one of the best gifts I have ever received.

I initially read the Chronicles as a young child, then again in Jr. High. I'm afraid I let my passion for the stories slip through my high school years, just when I needed them most, but now, after my third year of college, I have renewed my interest in the works of Mr. Lewis.

The Companion is easy to use, extremely informative, and actually fun to read straight through, even without using it as a reference. The entries are encyclopedia-style, alphabetically listed, with the page numbers the entry appears on in the Chronicles, related entries, and often very extensive footnotes referring the reader to books and articles by Mr. Lewis and other renowned Fanstasy and Religious authors, as well as background into what specific uses could have meant to the author, or his inspirations for them.

There are annexes at the end on everything to how old the Pevensie children and others are in the books, Narnia time vs Earth time, the age of Lewis during the writing of the Chronicles, maps of Narnia and more. Wonderful illustrations are distributed throughout the book, just waiting to surprise you when you turn the page.

I would HIGHLY recommend this book to any lover of Narnia, whether it's your first time around or your fortieth. A lot of questions I remember having when I was younger are answered, and you gain a deeper meaning of what it "behind everyone's story".

If you think that the Chronicles of Narnia ought to be required reading for children, then the Companion to Narnia ought to be required reading for us adults that fell in love with Narnia as children. Yes, I'm sure that if you had to write a paper or do a report on any of the Chronicles for school, this book would be invaluable. But the fact is, it goes far beyond that to a much broader audience...

C.S. Lewis's Chronicles represent some of the finest high-Fantasy novels ever written, period. But for most of us, at least at the first reading, this is all they were. As we grow older, and read the Chronicles again and again, we begin to discover more of the meaning behind the writing; this book guides you further along that path of discovery. It is well-organized and very thorough; I have had little difficulty finding any of the references I wanted to explore.

If you want a person to love the Chronicles, buy the series for them when they are a child. If you want them to appreciate it the way you do, buy them the Companion when they grow a bit older...

Till We Have Faces may have had a message to share but I am afraid I never gave the deeper points of the novel enough time to penetrated my young, ADD mind. I'll admit honestly that I enjoyed this book mostly for it's sparce, but well written, action scenes. I loved the swordfighting. I think C.S. Lewis paints a convincing picture of a dark and dramatic fuedal kingdom, complete with heavy-handed tyrants, oportunist nobles, superstitious peasants, eerie priests, and discontented princesses both beatiful and loathsome. From the very beginning, the book seems to be preparing for a really big adventure, but I spent the whole novel waiting without ever having my thirst for action completely satisfied. Obviously the author had something else in mind. The truly dramatic moments were few and far between, but when they did come they were vivid and believable. Though the philisophical and historical efforts of the author were, for the most part, wasted on me, though I did like the way he portrayed the helenistic lifestyle. When we studied greek mythology in high school english, I thought it was ridiculous that any group of people would have actually believed in the moody and promiscuous Greek gods or their Roman counterparts. I imagined the people back then probably chuckled through their togas as they wrote about Zues, Aphrodite or Apollo. However, C.S. Lewis effectively presents people that do believe in their gods, at least enough to kill for them. Till We Have Faces, a tale told through the eyes of a no-nonsense girl, makes a good case for believing in the unseen. Near the end of the book there is a switch from reality into a vision, or metaphorical dreamland I am not sure what. I feel embarrassed that I got lost near the end. I think a more careful reader might gain some important insights from the abstract portions at the end of the book. As for me, I just had to think too hard. Happy reading!

Save for the science fiction trilogy, this was Lewis's only venture into adult fiction, and he considered it his best work. Unfortunately, reviews at the time were tepid, and, daunted, he did not try again. This is a shame, as the novel is a brilliant read, and should acquire classic status. The story is told by Orual, Psyche's ugly sister, and it is her voice, at once erudite and lucid, that lends the novel its charm and power. Lewis made one mistake: he added a section at the end tying the novel closer to the myth. The first section forms a perfect whole. My advice: read the second section once, but discard it on subsequent readings.

I give this book 5 stars only because there is no 6 star option. From the very beginning, the book grabbed me and pulled me into a deep, but extremely followable plot. C.S. Lewis uses his skillful word choice and masterful story telling to put the reader directly in every situation, action, and thought. The situations presented to you all throughout the book are explored in full detail until it almost feels as if the decisions made were your own and not the character's. Besides being a joy to read, this book also makes you think. Lewis does a good job of putting just enough spin on the old fable until it seems as if the fable really should have been written his way to start off with. You'll find yourself second-guessing old assumptions you have, and re-addressing your thoughts, fears, feelings, and judgments. If you're looking for a book to put you to sleep at night, this is not the book for you. But if you're looking for a book that's fun to read, interesting, and deeply engaging--a book you can treasure forever--Till We Have Faces is what you're looking for.

I recently rented the movie, Shadowlands, which is based on the life story of C.S. (Jack Lewis) and his relationship with Joy Davidson. That movie is what whetted my appetite for this book. I wanted to know more and this book certainly opened up more information about the two of them and their unique relationship. I cried at the movie and I cried reading this book. I intend to read other books about C.S. Lewis. He was a man who never expected to find (or have time for) a wife, but when Joy Davidson came along--all that changed. I'm so glad this author delved more into the lives of these special people. As a woman, I wanted to feel the bonding that went on with *Jack*, and I did. I thank the author for writing this. I would recommend this book to any CS Lewis fan. The next book I plan to read is "Letters to an American Lady."

The film 'Shadowlands' tells the story of one of the more unlikely love matches of the twentieth century, that of C.S. Lewis, famous British scholar and author of the Narnia stories, to American author of Jewish extraction, Joy Davidman. This short, competent biography tells the story of Joy's early life as an atheist and Communist, her first marriage to a writer of thrillers, their two children, her Christian conversion, and her leaving her hard-drinking husband to come to England. C.S. Lewis enters the story as an author who influenced Joy, and later as a friend when she emigrates to England. The civil marriage of a divorcee to a famous Christian bachelor author in his fifties caused some shock back in December 1956, but was accepted by the majority who knew them. The plain authenticity of this book is greatly enhanced by Lyle Dorsett's access to family letters, papers, and also the friends and family who knew them best. It is a recommended read as it fills in details of a period of Lewis's life which is subject to a certain amount of debate and confusion, and is a good supplement to the film.

The first sentence in the author's preface says it all... "There was absolutely nothing ordinary about Joy Davidman Lewis." This book is a testament to the truth of that statement, and is unique in its ability to show us so much about Joy Davidman prior to (or besides) her relationship with C.S. Lewis. In fact, it is only towards the mid-section of the book that she even meets Lewis for the first time in the dining room of the Eastgate Hotel, across from Magdalen College in Oxford. Dorsett does an unparalleled ORIGINAL job of documenting Joy's early family life in New York. (95% of the biography is based upon hitherto untapped primary sources). Growing up in a family where religion was at once respected and deplored, we see her unfold as a reluctant Jewess, an atheist, a militant communist, Christian convert, gifted writer/poet and screenwriter, mother and divorcee. She was a many-splendored critical thinker, and Lewis's brother Warnie tells us that "she liked walking, and she liked beer."

In her search for critical truth, Joy was greatly affected by the writings of Lewis (in particular, his Great Divorce, Miracles, and Screwtape Letters) and in the early spring of 1946 she experienced a profound conversion to Christianity. In the midst of a tumultuous and intolerable marriage, she and her two sons sailed for Liverpool from New York in August of 1952. In early September, Joy met Lewis. Anyone who has seen the Hollywood movie "Shadowlands" starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger will remember the portrayal of this initial meeting, and the relationship that followed. It must be said that the movie, though excellent, is grossly inaccurate of their actual story in many ways. For the clearest picture of one of the most heart-rending love stories of our modern age, you can do no better than to sit down with this book by Dorsett. It is an extraordinary account of two lives that were anything but ordinary.

This is an excellent collection of works by C. S. Lewis. It served as my introduction to Lewis's writings. I had never read anything by him before and was only familiar with his name and the title of one or two of his books. I was awed for the most part by his insight into Christianity and his intellect. As with any other author, there were some points on which I could not wholly agree, but in a far greater number of times, I found myself growing in my faith and deepening my understanding. This set consists of six books in all. The Problem of Pain is an examination of the purpose of pain in the world. The Screwtape Letters is a fictional collection of letters from a demon named Screwtape who counsels his nephew on how to draw a man away from God. The Great Divorce is a fantastic story of a spiritual being after death somewhere between heaven and hell. Miracles is an examination of what miracles really are and how they play a role in this world. Mere Christianity is, as its title suggests, an attempt to point out and explain the most basic tenets of the Christian faith. A Grief Observed is the journal the Lewis kept after the death of his wife. (I have written a more detailed review for each book under its individual listing.) I would highly recommend this collection to anyone. It is filled with spiritual insight and understanding.

CS Lewis is one of the great modern Christian writers. His writings are non-denominational, and can be appreciated by people of any faith. This box set contains some (though not all!) of his best work.

'Mere Christianity' is a great introduction to Lewis's way of thinking. Originally a series of radio addresses, this work details why Lewis is a Christian, and presents a case for Christianity that is compelling, to say the least.

'The Screwtape Letters' is my personal favorite. It is fiction, written from the unique point of view of a master devil named Screwtape. The master is trying to teach his nephew how to win souls for the devil through temptation. This one will definitely change the way you look at sin.

'The Problem of Pain.' -- what is pain? Well, Lewis tackles this subject here, and argues that God gives us pain because he loves us, and in order to mold us to his will.

'A Grief Observed' is a very intimate work, written after Lewis's wife died. It is, quite simply, a very honest and unique look at grieving, which shows this master Christian apologist, who seems to always have all the answers, vulnerable and without a solution.

'The Great Divorce' is Lewis's 'Divine Comedy.' This is a great look at Heaven and Hell, and presents the very compelling idea that people will go to Hell, not because they are forced to, but because they simply won't tolerate Heaven.

'Miracles' examines the question "can miracles occur?" For Lewis, the answer is yes, and this book shows how the Creator of Nature and mankind can work miracles without interrupting the 'natural' flow of things.

Buying these books together in a set is a good way to get these six classics at a great price. This is a wonderful starting point for anyone interested in Christian theology. No one interested in Christian thinker should be without these masterpieces by CS Lewis.

These new editions of Lewis' popular theological works are stunningly designed, both inside and out. The cover art is tasteful, the page layout and type design are quite readable, and of course, the books are timeless. I have owned these books in previous editions, but couldn't resist buying them and reading them all over again. The Great Divorce and Miracles are somewhat lesser known, but among his best writings. I particularly enjoyed the forewords by Kathleen Norris (Mere Christianity) and Madeleine L'Engle (A Grief Observed). The Screwtape Letters still makes me laugh! Lewis remains one of my favorite writers of all time, and this boxed edition makes a wonderful gift for any lover of great spiritual literature.

Sammons explores the themes and structure of the Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis. The book is written simply, without obscure literary terminology; very accessible to the public or by Jr. High and High School students who want to expand their understanding of this critically acclaimed series.

The book is structured as follows: Chapter 1: a discussion of Lewis's life

Chapter 2: how Lewis wrote the series and exposition on Lewis's views on the genre

Chapter 3: synopsis of each book in the series. These summaries were very well written.

Chapter 4: description of the land of Narnia

Chapter 5: in-depth review of the character of Aslan. One of the best chapters in the book, Sammons explores the symbol of Aslan in each book and His role as the moving force in the plot

Chapter 6: discussion of the good/neutral characters of Narnia

Chapter 7: discussion of the evil characters of Narnia

Chapter 8: Christian concepts in the books

The book also includes an index of character and place names, but the reader would be advised to obtain a copy of "Companion To Narnia" by Paul F. Ford instead.

Sammons explores the question whether the Narnia Chronicles are allegory for Christian faith. She is not "preachy" but seems to honestly describe the faith and the symbols within the novels. She does a fine job in providing quotes from C.S. Lewis's writings to back her points.

This book is fantastic. Dr. Sammons does of wonderful job of pinpointing the glorious symbols used by Lewis in the Chronicles. I now have a broader understanding of my favorite series. This is a must for any true Narnian. It was definitely worth the cost of the out of print search. Though, its better to just look at ....

I've seen a handful of copies of this book from a variety of outlets; all of those copies had their white covers soiled. This is unfortunate, because inside those covers is the most beautifully designed book on C.S. Lewis I've ever seen. The many black-and-white photographs of Lewis family life and of the places important to Lewis's youth are striking, and the placement of those photos in the text is well done. The text itself appears to have a few editing glitches, but it comes from someone with a deep appreciation of Lewis's work, and it is hard not to be touched by the story she tells.

I first picked up C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters nearly 50 years ago as a university student and read many of his books since--and have given away dozens. But C. S. Lewis: A Celebration of His Early Life is an equisite visit with a child who became a man of towering stature in Christian literature. The packaging, the graphic design, the many pictures I've never seen before, the artwork done especially for this book, the pictures taken in Ireland and England, all enhance the wonderful reading experience. The letters, the description of hijinks, the portrayal of a difficult period at school in England, the family relationships, all contribute to an understanding of an amazing man. As you see the boy become a man, are exposed to the literary influences on his life, you begin to see what shaped both character and interests. Reading this equisite gift book was as much an aesthetic experience as a reading experience.

this is a powerful book, and for Narnia lovers every where! I urge you to read this Book! it explains alot of the stuff That i didn't understand,like About Aslan creating earth not god. And helped me to basically understand! Thank you!

I am a very big CS Lewis fan, particularly of his non-fiction. I finally read the Narnia series and enjoyed it as everyone said that I would. The Lion of Judah in Never-Never Land gets to the heart of why I liked Narnia. Lindskoog shows the connection between the Narnia series and the rest of Lewis' theology as set forth in his non-fiction and other fictional works. The great thing to me was that she did not stop at the most obvious and transparent religious parallels that are found in Narnia. She digs into Narnia and brings out many insightful and important religious points where you probably missed them when you read Narnia last. After you read this, you'll want to sit down and read Narnia all over again.

In this work, Peter Kreeft portrays a meeting of C.S. Lewis, John F. Kennedy and Aldous Huxley in the afterlife (all three died on November 22, l963). C.S. Lewis engages first Kennedy and then Huxley in a debate on the divinity of Christ. The conversation goes on for 114 pages with C.S. Lewis clearly making his points -- that Christ was either divine or a charlatan or insane. Lewis goes on to debunk any possibility of Christ being a charlatan or insane, ergo Christ is God. Kreeft has wonderful ideas and constructs nice logical proofs. However, I was expecting something deeper than an argument that could be summarized in two sentences.

My strongest criticism of this book is that it completely misses the point where the real-life Lewis's teachings overlap with those of the real-life Huxley: that the one true God is no respecter of persons and that God is equally accessible to all, regardless of culture, upbringing or background. Both men taught that all of mankind comes to God on equal footing; that no religion, culture or class of men has an advantage over the others. At one point in BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL, Kreeft's Lewis actually shoots down arguments that the real-life Lewis propounded.

I felt that Kreeft glossed over some of the greatest religious controversies faced by modern man. In doing so, Kreeft unwittingly undercut the points he was trying to make. I'm turning back to my studies of C.S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley. I strongly recommend Lewis's MERE CHRISTIANITY (upon which Kreeft based his Lewis arguments) and a collection of 28 essays by Huxley called HUXLEY AND GOD. By the way, Kreeft's Kennedy has very little to offer either intellectually or where matters of faith are concerned in this book.

One final note: the last page and a half of this book is stunning in its beauty and truth. Kreeft's epilogue is also worth reading.

John F. Kennedy, C. S. Lewis, and Aldous Huxley all died on November 22, 1963. What if they all met after death, somewhere between heaven and hell? That's the premise of this engaging and intriguing book by philosophy professor Peter Kreeft.

Written in the form of a Socratic dialogue, Kreeft's book casts Lewis as a Christian theist, Kennedy as a modern humanist and Huxley as an Eastern pantheist. The three interact and challenge one another's worldviews, examining and testing each other's beliefs to see what is true about life after death and the meaning of life.

This book is ideal to read with a few other friends, be they believers, skeptics or seekers. It will provide lively discussion and ample food for thought.

Between Heaven & Hell has a subtitle which reads, "A Dialog Somewhere Beyond Death with John F. Kennedy, C.S. Lewis & Aldous Huxley". Yes, this is a fictional trialog in "limbo" of the most important question in human history - Who is Jesus Christ? Many people are unaware that JFK, Lewis and Huxley all died within hours of each other on November 22, 1963. It seems the assassination of President Kennedy from either the grassy knoll or from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository somehow managed to overshadow the deaths of the other two men. Go figure!

Much of the fictional discussion between these three characters revolves around their own writings although Kreeft employs a bit of literary license for the sake of argument. The fact that Kreeft is a Catholic doesn't affect the content of this book since the argument is essentially Lewis' straight, or "mere" Christianity. The position of JFK is that of a humanistic Christian in the sense of emphasizing "horizontal" social activity rather than "vertical" religious experience...religion without revelation. Kennedy portrays his view of Christ as that of a man become god. Huxley doesn't get the air time that Lewis and JFK get, but his contribution is significant. He represents the eastern pantheist position and reinterprets Christianity as a form of the universal philosophy of pantheism. In this view, Jesus was one of the great sages of history along with Buddha, Socrates, Confucius, Mohammed and the rest. Employing the Socratic method of question and answer, Kreeft slowly but surely uses Lewis' arguments to refute the views of Jesus being a lunatic, liar or just a great moral teacher. Once this is done, He argues that Jesus was God in the flesh, just as He claimed to be. Approximately the last third of the book focuses on the reliability of the gospel accounts which record the claims of Christ.

I found this book to be a very enjoyable read, especially the Socratic method that Kreeft employs. Although I don't criticize Kreeft for making the most out of the historical situation, I'll just say that the only theological disagreement I had with this book was the immediate destiny of the three men being "limbo" which I'm sure is only used by Kreeft as a setting for the discussion. The argument from Lewis was very thought-provoking and required honesty with the end result being much clearer thinking concerning the person of Christ, not to mention his inescapable conclusions which were drawn. I found it very interesting how he would ask of the opposition very pointed, yet fair questions. I was glad to find that the rabbit trails were quickly discounted so the reader can follow the arguments more easily. Throughout the discussion, Kreeft continually reminds the reader that as Christians, we don't try to win arguments for ourselves (I use "argument" in the technical sense of presenting evidence in favor of one's position). It doesn't matter who wins or loses. Truth is what we all must submit to, not someone's ability to debate.We present evidence in favor of the truth and truth must win the battle.

I really wanted to like this book. I spent a long time trying to justify Lindskoog. And then I realized I was spending a long time justifying Lindskoog.

I think she's right. Her evidence is overwhelming that Hooper has lied and deceived; has presented forgeries to the public and trodden on the name of Lewis. I don't think I will ever again purchase a Lewis book edited by Hooper- because of his forwards, and the possibilities of changes within the published manuscript itself.

But she goes too far. The tone of the book can only be described as vindictive and paranoid. After reading it, I realized that not once did Lindskoog have a kind word to say about Hooper. She lambasted him throughout, and this is really too much. It would have been a much more convincing argument if she presented the errors he had made, as well as the positive contributions. It seems like throughout that almost everyone is against her, and though she lists some pretty famous people on her side, none of them are presenting arguments in support of her apology. All those who actually argue are against her. And some of her arguments are really quite specist. I really don't see the point of the arguments regarding homosexuality- she doesn't actually lay allegations, but seems to simply bring up that there are gay allusions in books produced by Lewis' posthumous editors. A better editor would really have helped this book- shortening it and making her case much stronger by removing those ideas that don't really relate to the main case of the book.

Her case is well supported, with copious footnotes and evidence: a scholarly work. I believe her. But I would rather have not read this work, because of the tone in it: it was not full of love.

. . .follow-up to Mrs. Lindskoog's earlier work "The CS Lewis Hoax".

Informed hobbits have known for quite some time that there have been serious issues of legitimacy and integrity surrounding the writings and literary legacy of CS Lewis, close friend and fellow Inkling of our own great Professor. In this volume, Mrs. Lindskoog continues to trace the history and lineage of Lewis' literary legacy and demonstrates that there has, in all likelihood, been a great deal of fraud and deceit practiced upon lovers of Lewis by a number of individuals who should have known better. Indeed, going a step further than her earlier work, Mrs. Lindskoog examines in detail several specific "myths" which have arisen concerning the life and legacy of Lewis -- myths which should now be considered "laid to rest".

This hobbit can only hope that Mrs. Lindskoog's book is widely read and disseminated among those of our fellows who truly loved Mr. Lewis and respected his legitimate work.

Mrs. Lindskoog makes a strong case in these pages. Eveyone who reads C.S. Lewis should be made aware of the case presented here...a case that is supported by excellent research and a mountain of evidence...a case that makes Walter Hooper deeply suspect as an editor and introducer of the works of Lewis, and more than that, suspect as a man of integrity. If what the book says is true, the way that Mr Hooper mistreated Warren Lewis and misrepresented people after they had died is truly shameful.

Reading through this book gives excellent insight into one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th Century. The letters are arranged in chronological order, so reading through them gives a perspective on Lewis' life that I found to be better than any biography. This is a very enjoyable collection, and if you are a fan of C.S. Lewis: Read these letters and get inside this great philosopher's mind!

This is fine reading for the tired hours of the day. The little biography by his brother Warren is first rate, and the letters themselves are windows looking into the garden of C.S. Lewis' life and thought. They are varied, usually insightful or edifying, sometimes splendid. This edition, edited and enlarged by Walter Hooper, includes a few marvelous additions but also what appear to be some errors in the text, especially in the (fortunately rare) bits of Greek. Let's hope that the Collected Letters (published by Fount in the UK and apparently available through UK) will become available in the USA.

While standard biographies are the medium people often turn to to find out more about someone, the letters an author pens often more revealing. I thoroughly enjoyed this (much needed) updated version of the letters of C.S. Lewis from 1916 - 1963 to his various correspondents. They are at various times funny, full of good advice, intentional nonsense, great learning, wit, homely (talking about the every day events that go on in life), and all in all intensely interesting. In addition to this fine volume, you might want to try his volume of Letters to Arthur Greeves (originally published as They Stand Together), C.S. Lewis Letters to Children, or The Latin Letters of C.S. Lewis. They are all quite good.