What an excellent book this is. The author offers both those who love the Narnia series and know them well and others who may not have read them an insightful look at The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. This was the first of the seven books written by C.S.Lewis and Brown works his way through the whole book endeavoring to show most of the allusions, borrowings and parallels to be found there. Inevitably there are plenty of comments on aspects of the stories contained in the other six books on Narnia and the way all connects together is a joy to consider. Lewis himself said that his books were not allegories but more in the style of fairy stories where both the real and the imaginary come together. This book is a guide to discovering the world of Narnia. Devin Brown has been writing and speaking on these things for at least ten years and this shows. Insights abound as he conducts us into deepening discoveries of the rich tapestry of symbols, easily missed details and Christian allusions that abound throughout what might seem to some to be a children’s story with a bit of a Christian flavor. What a pleasure it is to see Brown bring out the beauty and symmetry Lewis’s writing. Lewis used words, lists, phrases and sentences with a brilliance and symmetry that was writing at its best. The things that Brown brings to light make it distinctly refreshing to read these children’s stories again and to understand the intentions of the author the more. It is enriching to see the way he contrasts the person, work, kindgom and ways of the white witch and those of Aslan. There is so much to ponder and it will only stir people to a re-reading of the Narnia series with mind and heart more attuned to catch the nuances and hidden meanings. This is pretty exhaustive, systematic and with plenty of help for the reader.
