While there are many books to help you enjoy The Chronicles of Narnia or the individuals stories, one fairly recent work that has generated a lot of attention is The Narnia Code by Dr. Michael Ward. Although there are those who have questioned whether such a secret code exists, many have found the book to be helpful in understanding the already admitted hidden Christian layer.
After having the privilege of doing a single interview with Dr. Ward about The Narnia Code several months ago on my All About Jack podcast show I approach him about doing an in-depth special on it. Out of this discussion has come a special short-term series taking a chapter-by-chapter look at the book that are between 15-20 minutes long each. So far seven shows have been released of the originally planned twelve-part program. However, an additional episode is being produced to answer common questions Dr. Ward has received about the book.
If you want to have an easy way to catch-up with what’s already available, I’ve created a special release that contains the first three shows on my other blog, the C.S. Lewis Minute. For those reading this weeks or months after the series is posted you can visit my central site, EssentialCSLewis.com to learn where to go to listen to it.
On the subject of books fans of the World of Narnia might be interested to know of an article that appeared on The Telegraph online website here in the U.K. on 30 July 2012. As a regular viewer of this website I did not chance upon this article but nonetheless found it interesting. The article concerns the views of the present day Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams who is retiring at the end of 2012. Take a look also at the numerous hostile comments posted on the comment board underneath. The website address is
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/9429139/Rowan-Williams-Aslan-is-on-the-knife-edge-of-the-erotic.html#
I am not a great fan of Williams, but I’d defend the views he expressed in that article. My reading of Lewis’ views suggests that, whether or not he agreed with Williams’ “almost erotic” remark, he wouldn’t have been offended by the notion. (Lewis himself was far from a caricature “puritan”.) Besides, that was one phrase in otherwise very favourable comments on the books.
I am enjoying the Narnia Code Podcasts very much. Thank you. Michael Ward has made a great discovery. I recommend the BBC DVD as a good place for people to start.