CS Lewis Narnia letter for Queen’s University

A handwritten letter by CS Lewis, explaining the whole meaning of the Narnia story was being donated to Queen’s University today.

Anne Jenkins, from Hertfordshire, was just 10 years old when she wrote to Lewis asking him to explain the meaning behind a passage in his novel ‘The Silver Chair’.

Although the reply failed to answer her question, it did give a fascinating insight into the background of the Narnia story.

Anne said she chose Queen’s as the home for her letter after speaking to Belfast author Derick Bingham whom she met at the unveiling of the CS Lewis statue at Holywood Arches in 1998.

She said: “I’m very glad that I called him, because when he told me of all the work Queen’s had put into their fundraising campaign for the new library and its plans for the CS Lewis reading room, it all clicked into place and I knew Queen’s would be the right home for my letter”.

Professor Ken Bell, Pro-Vice- Chancellor who was accepting the letter, said: “Queen’s is honoured to have been chosen as the home for this precious correspondence and is indebted to Anne Jenkins for her generosity and public spiritedness.

“In donating the letter she has ensured that future generations will be able to view this wonderful part of Northern Ireland’s literary past.”

The valuable collector’s item, written in 1961, will be displayed in the university’s CS Lewis Reading Room, part of the university’s £44m library due to open in 2009.