May 24, 2003

Narnia
Lilly

The Narnia books are wonderful, but did you know that Tolkien (Lewis' best friend) disliked them? When Lewis first wrote "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" Tolkien advised him NOT to publish it?

I think it made Tolkien a little mad. I mean, he had worked for years learning about all kinds of different ancient cultures, languages, and mythologies, and also developing cultures, languages, and mythologies of his own. Then, here comes Lewis, mixing nymphs and dwarves, witches, dragons, a sort of India-like area (Calormene) next to a sort of Old-English like country (Narnia), not to mention the cameos made by Baccus and Father Chrismas!! Lewis paid no heed to cultural history when he made this: he put in whatever he liked. That's one reason so many people love the Chronicles...but I think it frustrated Tolkien a little bit. The issue also caused tension among the Inklings.

I personally love the Narnia series; it was the first series I had ever come in contact with. I also love the Christian themes woven into them (another problem Tolkien had with them: he severely disliked Allegory).

What have you heard?

~Lilly