The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of fantasy novels for children by C.S. Lewis, published during the 1950s. The seven books in the series are The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950), Prince Caspian (1951), The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952), The Silver Chair (1953), The Horse and His Boy (1954), The Magician's Nephew (1955), and The Last Battle (1956).
J.R.R. Tolkien on at least two occasions expressed his dislike of the Narnia books,[1][2] giving the reason that it depended on "merely a difference in taste".[3] George Sayer has remarked that Tolkien's dislike of the novels derived from "assembling figures from various mythologies" and that the books "were carelessly and superficially written."[4] On the other hand, his granddaughter Joanna Tolkien remembers that her grandfather directed her to reading his copies of The Chronicles of Narnia before The Lord of the Rings, suggesting that it was "perhaps an indication of his humility".[5][6]
Pauline Baynes, an artist Tolkien appreciated and frequently used[7], made the original cover and interior illustrations for the books in the The Chronicles of Narnia series.
Daniel Reeve, an artist who worked in the production of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, also worked for the Narnia movies.
The Magician's Nephew shows Aslan creating Narnia while singing, like Arda and Eä. Lewis was perhaps inspired or influenced by the Ainulindalë.[8]
External links[edit | edit source]
- The Chronicles of Narnia at Wikipedia
- WikiNarnia - The Chronicles of Narnia Wiki
- Atlantis and Ettinsmoor, two names that exist both in Narnia and Arda.
Further reading[edit | edit source]
- Richard Abanes, Harry Potter, Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings
- Rolland Heins, Christian Mythmakers: C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, J.R.R. Tolkien, George MacDonald, G.K. Chesterton, & Others
- Josh B. Long, "Disparaging Narnia: Reconsidering Tolkien's View of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", in Mythlore 121/122
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 265, (dated 11 November 1964)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Letter to Eileen Elgar (24 December 1971)" (letter)
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: I. Chronology, p. 758
- ↑ George Sayer, Jack: A Life of C.S. Lewis (2nd ed., 1994), p. 313)
- ↑ Joanna Tolkien, "Joanna Tolkien Speaks at the Tolkien Society Annual Dinner, Shrewsbury, April 16, 1994", in Digging Potatoes, Growing Trees (ed. Helen Armstrong), p. 34
- ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: II. Reader's Guide, p. 507
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 235, (dated 6 December 1961)
- ↑ Colin Duriez, The Tolkien and Middle-earth Handbook
