I’m not sure what the fascination is with C.S. Lewis, why we – or many of us – are not content to simply read what he wrote, but also devour books about his life. Lots of books about his life. Having read many of them myself, I feel certain he wouldn’t care for or approve of the attention. He has my sympathy. Some titles slip into voyeuristic questions more suited for People Magazine. (What was the real nature of his relationship with Mrs. Moore? Hmmm???) So far I’ve managed to steer clear of most of those.

But every biography has to ask some pretty nosy questions, or it misses the point altogether. We read about people we admire, for example, because we want to know that they are like us, and conversely, we can be like them.

With so many Lewis biographies out there, you wouldn’t think Alan Jacobs could find anything new or surprising to say. He managed.

In The Narnian, he focuses on the things that made this confirmed bachelor, this richly intellectual Oxford don into the kind of person who would write The Chronicles of Narnia. What were his friendships like? What struggles did he have in his faith? At the risk of sounding like Frank Capra, did he know he was living a wonderful life?

Jacobs does get into some of the back fence stuff about Lewis’ love life, though not as badly as some. But for the wonderful story he uses to wrap up the book, I’ll forgive him.

I listened to the audio book on my iPod, and I found myself taking more walks, cleaning more house, just to hear more.