Author Alan Jacobs will discuss “The Narnian: C. S. Lewis and the Culture Wars” at Cambridge Forum Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at 3 Church St. in Harvard Square.
Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the 20th century and arguably the most influential Christian writer of his day. Holiday box office receipts for the major motion picture based on his beloved children’s series, “The Chronicles of Narnia,” indicate that his work continues to speak to audiences today. But if you’ve kept up with the movie reviews, you know that Lewis and his kingdom of the imagination have been caught up in our contemporary culture wars. How did this happen? And how would Lewis react to the controversy his work and thinking are generating in America today? Jacobs explores these questions in his new biography, “The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis,” as he illuminates the way Lewis’ experiences were transformed by imagination into writings that continue to touch and challenge us.
Jacobs is a professor of literature at Wheaton College and author of several collections of essays, including “Shaming the Devil: Essays in Truth Telling.” He is a regular contributor to the Weekly Standard and other publications.
Cambridge Forums are free and open to the public. Open discussion follows speaker presentation. Events are taped and edited for public radio broadcast throughout the nation. Edited CDs are available by calling 617-495-2727. Select forums can be viewed in their entirety on demand by visiting www.cambridgeforum.org and clicking on the WGBH Forum Network.