Will Vaus' Blog

Blackwell's

2012-01-20T14:43:00.000-05:00

Just received a package from my favorite bookshop in the world--Blackwell's of Oxford, founded in 1879. Receiving a package in the mail is not quite as good as being there, but it is the next best thing.

The Norrington Room (above) at Blackwell's is a bibliophile's dream. It contains three miles of shelving and is listed in The Guinness Book of World Records as the largest single room selling books. Blackwell's Broad Street shop in Oxford was originally only twelve feet square but quickly grew to incorporate the upstairs, cellar, and neighboring shops.

Blackwell's was a favorite haunt of C. S. Lewis. Many of the books from his library (now at the Wade Center, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois) bear the neat little Blackwell's sticker on the inside front cover.

The sign in Blackwell's window from Christmastime a year ago says it all: "A book is a gift that lasts a lifetime." I doubt that e-books will ever give the same joy as the smell and feel of a book held in one's hands. Nor will online purchases ever replace the delight of shopping in a physical place like Blackwell's at 50 Broad Street, Oxford. I can hear and feel, at least in my memory, the creak of some of the floors and stairs in that lovely old building, even as I write. Ahhhhh.....

Lion, Witch & Wardrobe on Stage

2012-01-04T18:52:00.002-05:00

C. S. Lewis' Top Ten

2012-01-03T09:39:00.001-05:00

In 1962, The Christian Century magazine asked C. S. Lewis: “What books did most toshape your vocational attitude and your philosophy of life?” In response, Lewis offered the following list:

Phantastesby George MacDonald
The Everlasting Manby G. K. Chesterton
The Aeneid byVirgil
The Temple by George Herbert
The Prelude by William Wordsworth
The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto
The Consolation of Philosophy byBoethius
Life of Samuel Johnson byJames Boswell
Descent into Hell byCharles Williams
Theism and Humanism byArthur James Balfour

I am writing a book about Lewis' Top Ten Books, with one chapter on each of the above. I have already written the Introduction and the chapter on MacDonald. Each chapter will include a section on how the book influenced Lewis, a brief biography of the author and an overview of the book itself. My goal is to write a chapter per month in 2012. So I thought I would share here some of the things I am learning as I am in the midst of the writing process. Next up, some thoughts on George MacDonald....

The King's Speech

2012-01-01T19:34:00.000-05:00

My friend, Ruth Douthitt, told me about King George VI's Christmas Speech of 1939 being on YouTube. So here it is. His quotation of "The Gate of the Year" mentioned in my last post comes at the end of the speech. I agree with Ruth that this is very moving to listen to, considering the situation with Britain descending into WWII, and the personal struggle the King had with his speech impediment. "The King's Speech" was another one of my favorite movies recently. If you haven't seen it, do!

The Gate of the Year

2012-01-01T13:33:00.000-05:00

“I said to the man who stood at the Gateof the Year,

‘Give me a light that I may tread safelyinto the unknown.’

And he replied,

‘Go out into thedarkness, and put your hand into the Hand of God.

That shall be better than light, andsafer than a known way.’”

These lines are part of a poem, written and published by Minnie Haskins in 1908. Haskins was a student and later a teacher at the London School of Economics.

This poem caught the public attention and the popular imagination, when Elizabeth handed a copy to her husband, King George VI, and he quoted it in his 1939 Christmas broadcast to the British Empire.

These words meant a great deal to the British public as their country was descending into the dark days of World War II. These words remained a source of comfort to Elizabeth, the mother of the current Queen Elizabeth, for the rest of her life. The Queen Mother had these words engraved on brass plaques and fixed to the gates of the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the King's body was interred. The Queen Mother was also buried there in 2002, and the words of "The Gate of the Year" were read out at her state funeral.

War Horse Trailer

2011-12-31T20:40:00.000-05:00

Go see it! It's in my Top 5 Best Movies of All Time!!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T13:53:00.001-05:00

In a letter to a young correspondent, written on December 29, 1962, C. S. Lewis said, "Time? Wait till you reach my age and you will find that time doesn't go 'fast' but at space speed!... With all hopes for your success, and best wishes for 1963."

War Horse Book Featurette

2011-12-30T14:05:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year from England 1961-62

2011-12-29T13:00:00.000-05:00

BRRR HAPPY NEW YEAR (aka BRR-R BRITAIN ON ICE)

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This is a fascinating little blast from the past! Video of life in Britain as the year turned from 1961 to 1962, one of the last winters C. S. Lewis experienced in his adopted country.

Lewis' brother Warren wrote this about the weather to a correspondent on 4 January 1962:

"We haven't any central heating here, but for the moment have plenty of coal fires, and a thermostat in the bathroom; but unless the freeze breaks we shall soon be short of coal. Already fresh vegetables have doubled in price, and the shops warn us that very soon we shall have no veg. except out of tins or packets. Which is a gloomy prospect, for we are normally large consumers of vegetables.

"The only person who is enjoying the weather is young Doug. We have a pretty large pond in our garden, frozen solid of course, and he and his pals spend most of the day skating. Short haired dogs do suffer considerably in this sort of weather; our Boxer doesn't get more than six inches from the fire if he can help it."

(Walter Hooper, The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, New York: HarperCollins, 2007, pp. 1309-1310.)

The Queen's Christmas Message

2011-12-28T18:20:00.000-05:00

I was impressed by the Queen's expression of personal faith in Jesus Christ at the end of this video.

The 1662 Book of Common Prayer invites us to pray for the Queen in the following manner:

O Lord our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth: Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth; and so replenish her with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that she may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: Endue her plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant her in health and wealth long to live; strengthen her that she may vanquish and overcome all her enemies, and finally after this life she may attain everlasting joy and felicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And here is an appropriate prayer for the royal family, especially in consideration of Prince Philip's current health condition:

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless Philip Duke of Edinburgh, Charles Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family: Endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

War Horse

2011-12-27T13:17:00.000-05:00

My family and I went to see thismovie yesterday. We found it to be a film of incredible beauty and pathos. Itshows, in a unique way, the suffering that millions endured during WWI,including, not least, the infantrymen who fought in the trenches of France,like C. S. Lewis.

The story is based upon achildren’s book, later turned into a stage-play, written by British author,Michael Morpurgo. According to Wikipedia, “After meeting a World War I veteranwho drank in his local pub Iddesleigh and who had been in the Devon Yeomanry workingwith horses, Morpurgo began to think of telling the story of the universalsuffering of the Great War through a horse’s viewpoint, but was unsure that hecould do it. He also met another villager, Captain Budgett, who had been in theCavalry in the Great War, and a third villager who remembered the army comingto the village to buy horses. Morpurgo thanks the three men in the dedicationof the book, naming them as Albert Weeks, Wilfred Ellis and Captain Budgett.”

The movie depicts with, I think,incredible accuracy the descent into hell that was The Great War. However, atthe same time, the film presents many moments of courage and hope amidst thedarkness. Seldom, if ever, have I been moved to tears while watching a motionpicture. However, this movie had that affect on me. At the same time, I wantedto stand up and cheer by the end.

The film includes gorgeouscinematography true to the beautiful landscape of Devon as well as other placesin England where it was filmed. There is also a moving score provided by JohnWilliams and some splendid acting by some newcomers as well as some well-knowncraftsmen of the British stage and screen.

The movie may be too slow, at thebeginning, for those who prefer more action. However, I deeply appreciated agreat filmmaker like Spielberg being willing to tell a story in a manner trueto its time-period. I felt like I was there in the England and France of1914-1918.

All this is said to urge myreaders to do one simple thing: see WarHorse.

Christmas Day Thought from Henri Nouwen

2011-12-25T08:33:00.000-05:00

"I keep thinking about the Christmas scene that Anthonyarranged under the altar. This probably is the most meaningful "crib"I have ever seen. Three small woodcarved figures made in India: a poor woman, apoor man, and a small child between them. The carving is simple, nearlyprimitive. No eyes, no ears, no mouths, just the contours of the faces. Thefigures are smaller than a human hand - nearly too small to attract attentionat all.

"But then - a beam of light shines on the three figuresand projects large shadows on the wall of the sanctuary. That says it all. Thelight thrown on the smallness of Mary, Joseph, and the Child projects them aslarge, hopeful shadows against the walls of our life and our world.

"While looking at the intimate scene we already see thefirst outlines of the majesty and glory they represent. While witnessing themost human of human events, I see the majesty of God appearing on the horizonof my existence. While being moved by the gentleness of these three people, Iam already awed by the immense greatness of God's love appearing in my world.Without the radiant beam of light shining into the darkness there is little tobe seen. I might just pass by these three simple people and continue to walk indarkness. But everything changes with the light."

Genesee Diary(December 25, 1974). © Henri J.M. Nouwen. Published by Doubleday Religion, adivision of Random House, Inc

O Come, All Ye Faithful!

2011-12-24T09:46:00.000-05:00

I will be listening to this live on the BBC World Service in a few minutes:

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Merry Christmas!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

2011-12-23T19:00:00.002-05:00

The Hobbit

2011-12-21T08:08:00.001-05:00

Yea!

Once in Royal David's City

2011-12-13T18:40:00.000-05:00

Here is a video of the choir of King's College Chapel Cambridge singing "Once in Royal David's City"--the first hymn of "The Nine Lessons and Carols" performed by the choir every Christmas Eve. C. S. Lewis called King's College Chapel "beautiful beyond belief". I think the same could be said of the service of Nine Lessons & Carols. I hope to visit Cambridge some Christmas in my lifetime to be there for this service....

C. S. Lewis First Editions

2011-12-09T07:55:00.001-05:00

Many C. S. Lewis enthusiasts become collectors of first editions of his work. Perhaps the foremost private collector of Lewis' work in the world is my friend, Dr. Ed Brown. Ed's book, In Pursuit of C. S. Lewis, is a fascinating compendium of his unique experiences in collecting Lewis' works and his amazing interactions with many who knew Lewis personally.

Along with the book, Ed has for some time made available a full color insert with 80 mini photos of the dust covers of practically all the Lewis first editions.

Now, signed copies of this intriguing book, as well as the keepsake color insert are made available for purchase more easily than ever before. Just click on the link below for more information:

C. S. Lewis First Editions

Henri Nouwen

2011-12-04T07:06:00.001-05:00

I am often asked if I read any authors other than C. S. Lewis. The answer is "yes". One of those authors is Henri Nouwen. I receive daily devotional emails from Henri Nouwen.org. I thought today's devotional thought for the Second Sunday of Advent was outstanding, so I just had to pass it on....

Something Hardly Noticeable
Second Sunday of Advent—December 4

"A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him . . ." (Isa.11:1-2).

These words from last night's liturgy have stayed with me during the day. Our salvation comes from something small, tender, and vulnerable, something hardly noticeable. God, who is the Creator of the Universe, comes to us in smallness, weakness, and hiddenness.

I find this a hopeful message. Somehow, I keep expecting loud and impressive events to convince me and others of God's saving power; but over and over again I am reminded that spectacles, power plays, and big events are the ways of the world. Our temptation is to be distracted by them and made blind to the "shoot that shall sprout from the stump."

When I have no eyes for the small signs of God's presence - the smile of a baby, the carefree play of children, the words of encouragement and gestures of love offered by friends - I will always remain tempted to despair.

The small child of Bethlehem, the unknown young man of Nazareth, the rejected preacher, the naked man on the cross, he asks for my full attention. The work of our salvation takes place in the midst of a world that continues to shout, scream, and overwhelm us with its claims and promises. But the promise is hidden in the shoot that sprouts from the stump, a shoot that hardly anyone notices.

iGracias! - A Latin American Journal (December 2, 1981) © Henri J.M. Nouwen. Published by HarperCollins. Reprinted with publisher's kind permission.

Tweeting C. S. Lewis

2011-11-29T07:43:00.001-05:00

I started a new Twitter account today @CSLewisToday . I will be tweeting about Lewis' life, a new tweet every day! Follow me there....

C. S. Lewis in California

2011-11-28T18:36:00.001-05:00

The photo above is from an assembly I did a couple of weeks ago at American Martyrs Catholic School in Manhattan Beach, California. I spoke to 4th-8th graders about "My Journey with C. S. Lewis". Before I got started, one of the younger students asked me if I was C. S. Lewis! I had the sad duty of telling her that Lewis died the year I was born. However, she and a few hundred other students seemed to enjoy my presentation anyway and many bought my books and asked for my autograph afterwards....

Out of all the groups, young and old, I have spoken to about C. S. Lewis in the past few years, this group had the most questions, and all of their questions were very interesting. In fact, I didn't have enough time to answer them all!

During my visit to the Los Angeles area I also spoke to Dr. Diana Glyer's C. S. Lewis class at Azusa Pacific University. My topic there was all about the spiritual themes in "The Last Battle".
In addition, I spoke to the Southern California C. S. Lewis Society about "C. S. Lewis and Walter Adams: An Experience in Spiritual Direction".

It was a joy to reconnect with Diana Glyer and all the good folks in the Lewis Society, especially Edie Dougherty and her brother Don and his wife Linda who served as my hosts. I am already looking forward to my next visit to the Society in October 2012!

Stay tuned for a shout-out tomorrow about a new series of C. S. Lewis daily tweets I will be doing....

California Dreaming

2011-11-13T06:49:00.001-05:00

I will be in the Los Angeles area this week speaking about C. S. Lewis in three different locations and signing copies of my newest book, Speaking of Jack: A C. S. Lewis Discussion Guide.

On Tuesday afternoon, November 15, I will be speaking to one of Dr. Diana Glyer's English classes at Azusa Pacific University about spiritual themes in The Last Battle. Then, on the morning of Wednesday, November 16, I will be speaking to fourth through eighth graders at American Martyrs School in Manhattan Beach about "My Journey with C. S. Lewis". And in the evening I will be speaking to The Southern California C. S. Lewis Society, meeting at Azusa Pacific University, about "C. S. Lewis, Father Walter Adams & Spiritual Direction".

For more information about The Southern California C. S. Lewis Society you may visit their web site here: So. Cal. CSL Society.

G. K. Chesterton

2011-10-28T22:44:00.000-04:00

While I've been perusing C. S. Lewis' personal library at the Wade Center this week, I've also come across some of Lewis' favorite quotes from G. K. Chesterton. Here are just a few, underlined in Lewis' copy of Chesterton's Orthodoxy:

"You can make a story out of a hero among dragons; but not out of a dragon among dragons. The fairy tale discusses what a sane man will do in a mad world. The sober realistic novel of to-day discusses what an essential lunatic will do in a dull world."

"Nietzsche started a nonsensical idea that men had once sought as good what we now call evil; if it were so we could not talk of surpassing or even falling short of them. How can you overtake Jones if you walk in the other direction?"

"But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, 'Do it again' to the sun.... It may be that he has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we."

If you happen to be in the area, I will be giving a talk at the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College tomorrow at 11:15 am and signing copies of my new book, Speaking of Jack: a C. S. Lewis Discussion Guide. For more information click here:

Wade Center Event

George MacDonald

2011-10-27T20:43:00.000-04:00

This week I have been at the Marion E. Wade Center in Wheaton, Illinois doing research for a new book I am writing on the top ten authors and books that influenced C. S. Lewis' vocational attitude and philosophy of life. #1 on that Top Ten list is George MacDonald (pictured above) and his book, Phantastes.

As part of my research I have been perusing all the MacDonald books from Lewis' library now part of the collection at the Wade. Here are some of my favorite MacDonald quotes, also favorites of Lewis, that I have come across in my research:

From The Miracles of Our Lord:

"God's greatest work has never been done in crowds, but in closets; and when it works out from thence, it is not upon crowds but upon individuals. A crowd is not a divine thing. It is not a body. Its atoms are not members one of another."

"The man who prays, in proportion to the purity of his prayer, becomes a spiritual power, a nerve from the divine brain, yea, perhaps a ganglion as we call it, whence power anew goes forth upon his fellows."

From Sir Gibbie:

"For the bliss of the animals lies in this, that, on their lower level, they shadow the bliss of those--few at any moment on the earth--who do not 'look before and after, and pine for what is not,' but live in the holy carelessness of the eternal now."

"But every honest cry, even if sent into the deaf ear of an idol, passes on to the ears of the unknown God, the heart of the unknown Father."

"...the time for speaking comes rarely, the time for being never departs."

From Thomas Wingfold Curate:

"... for nothing is so deadening to the divine as an habitual dealing with the outsides of holy things ..."

"He must give us every sort of opportunity for trusting him ... The one he now gives you, is this dulness that has come over you. Trust him through it, submitting to it and yet trusting against it, and you get the good of it."

"I would rather die for evermore believing as Jesus believed, than live for evermore believing as those that deny him."

From Unspoken Sermons:

"No, there is no escape. There is no heaven with a little of hell in it--no plan to retain this or that of the devil in our hearts or our pockets. Out Satan must go, every hair and feather!"

From What's Mine's Mine:

"God only can be ours perfectly; nothing called property can be ours at all."

"Complaint against God is far nearer to God than indifference about him."

"There is such a thing as sacred idleness, the cultivation of which is now fearfully neglected."

Speaking of Jack in the Midwest

2011-10-22T08:23:00.002-04:00

On Sunday I head to the midwest for two "Speaking of Jack" book-signings. The first one will be in Indianapolis on Monday, October 24, 7-9 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian Street, Room 112. This meeting will be with the Central Indiana C. S. Lewis Society. I will be talking about C. S. Lewis' experience of spiritual direction with Father Walter Adams.

Then on Saturday, October 29, at 11:15 am I will be speaking and signing books at the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College (pictured above). For more information click here:

Wade Center News

Interview on the C. S. Lewis Minute

2011-10-05T08:28:00.002-04:00

William O'Flaherty of the "C. S. Lewis Minute" podcast recently interviewed me about my book, Speaking of Jack: A C. S. Lewis Discussion Guide. You can listen to the first part of that interview here:
C. S. Lewis Minute

C. S. Lewis Retreat

2011-09-21T14:55:00.000-04:00

I will be speaking at a retreat hosted by the C. S. Lewis Society of Frederick, Maryland, this Saturday, September 24, from 11 am to 5 pm. The retreat is free and open to all. I will be giving two lectures as well as leading the Evening Prayer Service from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. The topics of the lectures will be Lewis' novel, Till We Have Faces, and C. S. Lewis: A Publishing Phenomenon. I will also be signing copies of my books, including my latest--Speaking of Jack: A C. S. Lewis Discussion Guide.

For more information click here: Frederick CSL Society.

How to Avoid God

2011-08-14T07:00:00.003-04:00

"If God--such a God as any adult religion believes in--exists, mere movement in space will never bring you any nearer to Him or farther from Him than you are at this very moment. You can neither reach Him nor avoid Him by traveling to Alpha Centauri or even to other galaxies. A fish is no more, and no less, in the sea after it has swum a thousand miles than it was when it first set out.

"How, then, it may be asked, can we either reach or avoid Him?

"The avoiding, in many times and places, has proved so difficult that a very large part of the human race failed to achieve it. But in our own time and place it is extremely easy. Avoid silence, avoid solitude, avoid any train of thought that leads off the beaten track. Concentrate on money, sex, status, health and (above all) on your own grievances. Keep the radio on. Live in the crowd. Use plenty of sedation. If you must read books, select them very carefully. But you'd be safer to stick to the papers. You'll find the advertisements helpful; especially those with a sexy or a snobbish appeal."

C. S. Lewis, "The Seeing Eye", Christian Reflections

The Dragon Forest

2011-08-06T12:03:00.003-04:00

One of the joys of traveling to different places around the world and lecturing about C. S. Lewis and his work is the opportunity to meet other talented lovers of Lewis' books. One of those I met recently was R. A. Douthitt, who was inspired by reading Lewis and Tolkien to write The Dragon Forest. Having made my own attempt to write a fairy tale (as yet unpublished) I appreciate the efforts of anyone seeking to write in the spirit of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings.

The Dragon Forest may be purchased from Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/160290281X/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B004XJ4GV8&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1DAVWJ9GJFA6C3TYW4XH

For a full review of the book visit HollywoodJesus.com here:

http://live.hollywoodjesus.com/?p=8291

R. A. Douthitt is also an accomplished artist. You may view Douthitt's work here:

http://artbyruth.homestead.com/artbyruth1.html

The Lizard of Lust

2011-07-27T11:04:00.005-04:00

Here is one of my favorite pieces from all of C. S. Lewis' work. It is taken from The Great Divorce....

I saw coming towards us a Ghost who carried something on his shoulder. Like all the Ghosts, he was unsubstantial, but they differed from one another as smokes differ. Some had been whitish; this one was dark and oily. What sat on his shoulder was a little red lizard, and it was twitching its tail like a whip and whispering things in his ear. As we caught sight of him he turned his head to the reptile with a snarl of impatience. “Shut up, I tell you!” he said. It wagged its tail and continued to whisper to him. He ceased snarling, and presently began to smile. Then be turned and started to limp westward, away from the mountains.

“Off so soon?” said a voice.

The speaker was more or less human in shape but larger than a man, and so bright that I could hardly look at him. His presence smote on my eyes and on my body too (for there was heat coming from him as well as light) like the morning sun at the beginning of a tyrannous summer day.

“Yes. I’m off,” said the Ghost. “Thanks for all your hospitality. But it’s no good, you see. I told this little chap,” (here he indicated the lizard), “that he’d have to be quiet if he came--which he insisted on doing. Of course his stuff won’t do here: I realise that. But he won’t stop. I shall just have to go home.”

"Would you like me to make him quiet?” said the flaming Spirit--an angel, as I now understood.

“Of course I would,” said the Ghost.

“Then I will kill him,” said the Angel, taking a step forward.

“Oh--ah--look out! You’re burning me. Keep away,” said the Ghost, retreating.

“Don’t you want him killed?”

“You didn’t say anything about killing him at first. I hardly meant to bother you with anything so drastic as that.”

“It’s the only way,” said the Angel, whose burning hands were now very close to the lizard. “Shall I kill it?”

“Well, that’s a further question. I’m quite open to consider it, but it’s a new point, isn’t it? I mean, for the moment I was only thinking about silencing it because up here--well, it’s so damned embarrassing.”

“May I kill it?”

“Well, there’s time to discuss that later.”

“There is no time. May I kill it?”

“Please, I never meant to be such a nuisance. Please--really--don’t bother. Look! It’s gone to sleep of its own accord. I’m sure it’ll be all right now. Thanks ever so much.”

“May I kill it?”

“Honestly, I don’t think there’s the slightest necessity for that. I’m sure I shall be able to keep it in order now. I think the gradual process would be far better than killing it.”

“The gradual process is of no use at all.”

“Don’t you think so? Well, I’ll think over what you’ve said very carefully. I honestly will. In fact I’d let you kill it now, but as a matter of fact I’m not feeling frightfully well to-day. It would be silly to do it now. I’d need to be in good health for the operation. Some other day, perhaps.”

“There is no other day. All days are present now.”

“Get back! You’re burning me. How can I tell you to kill it? You’d kill me if you did.”

“It is not so.”

“Why, you’re hurting me now.”

“I never said it wouldn’t hurt you. I said it wouldn’t kill you.”

“Oh, I know. You think I’m a coward. But it isn’t that. Really it isn’t. I say! Let me run back by tonight’s bus and get an opinion from my own doctor. I’ll come again the first moment I can.”

“This moment contains all moments.”

“Why are you torturing me? You are jeering at me. How can I let you tear me to pieces? If you wanted to help me, why didn’t you kill the damned thing without asking me–before I knew? It would be all over by now if you had.”

“I cannot kill it against your will. It is impossible. Have I your permission?”

The Angel’s hands were almost closed on the Lizard, but not quite. Then the Lizard began chattering to the Ghost so loud that even I could hear what it was saying.

“Be careful,” it said. “He can do what he says. He can kill me. One fatal word from you and he will! Then you’ll be without me for ever and ever. It’s not natural. How could you live? You’d be only a sort of ghost, not a real man as you are now. He doesn’t understand. He’s only a cold, bloodless abstract thing. It may be natural for him, but it isn’t for us. Yes, yes. I know there are no real pleasures now, only dreams. But aren’t they better than nothing? And I’ll be so good. I admit I’ve sometimes gone too far in the past, but I promise I won’t do it again. I’ll give you nothing but really nice dreams–all sweet and fresh and almost innocent. You might say, quite innocent….”

“Have I your permission?” said the Angel to the Ghost.

“I know it will kill me.”

“It won’t. But supposing it did?”

“You’re right. It would be better to be dead than to live with this creature.”

“Then I may?”

“Damn and blast you! Go on can’t you? Get it over. Do what you like,” bellowed the Ghost: but ended, whimpering, “God help me. God help me.”

Next moment the Ghost gave a scream of agony such as I never heard on Earth. The Burning One closed his crimson grip on the reptile: twisted it, while it bit and writhed, and then flung it, broken backed, on the turf.

“Ow! That’s done for me,” gasped the Ghost, reeling backwards.

For a moment I could make out nothing distinctly. Then I saw, between me and the nearest bush, unmistakably solid but growing every moment solider, the upper arm and the shoulder of a man. Then, brighter still and stronger, the legs and hands. The neck and golden head materialised while I watched, and if my attention had not wavered I should have seen the actual completing of a man–an immense man, naked, not much smaller than the Angel. What distracted me was the fact that at the same moment something seemed to be happening to the Lizard. At first I thought the operation had failed. So far from dying, the creature was still struggling and even growing bigger as it struggled. And as it grew it changed. Its hinder parts grew rounder. The tail, still flickering, became a tail of hair that flickered between huge and glossy buttocks. Suddenly I started back, rubbing my eyes. What stood before me was the greatest stallion I have ever seen, silvery white but with mane and tail of gold. It was smooth and shining, rippled with swells of flesh and muscle, whinneying and stamping with its hoofs. At each stamp the land shook and the trees dindled.

The new-made man turned and clapped the new horse’s neck. It nosed his bright body. Horse and master breathed each into the other’s nostrils. The man turned from it, flung himself at the feet of the Burning One, and embraced them. When he rose I thought his face shone with tears, but it may have been only the liquid love and brightness (one cannot distinguish them in that country) which flowed from him. I had not long to think about it. In joyous haste the young man leaped upon the horse’s back. Turning in his seat he waved a farewell, then nudged the stallion with his heels. They were off before I well knew what was happening. There was riding if you like! I came out as quickly as I could from among the bushes to follow them with my eyes; but already they were only like a shooting star far off on the green plain, and soon among the foothills of the mountains. Then, still like a star, I saw them winding up, scaling what seemed impossible steeps, and quicker every moment, till near the dim brow of the landscape, so high that I must strain my neck to see them, they vanished, bright themselves, into the rose-brightness of that everlasting morning.

(C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce, London: Geoffrey Bles, 1945, pp. 89-94.)

Love Your Enemies

2011-06-26T05:33:00.003-04:00

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48

"We must try to feel about the enemy as we feel about ourselves--to wish that he were not bad, to hope that he may, in this world or another, be cured: in fact, to wish his good. That is what is meant in the Bible by loving him: wishing his good, not feeling fond of him nor saying he is nice when he is not." C. S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity"

C. S. Lewis's Lost Aeneid

2011-06-02T09:35:00.005-04:00

In 1962 C. S. Lewis was asked by The Christian Century, “What books did most to shape your vocational attitude and your philosophy of life?” In response, Lewis listed ten books. #3 on that list was The Aeneid by Virgil (The Christian Century, 6 June 1962).

Lewis first encountered the great Roman poet of the first century BC while he was a student at Cherbourg Preparatory School in Great Malvern, England, from 1911 to 1913. Lewis was then in his early teens. His first reading of Virgil contributed, indirectly, to his temporary turn to atheism. He described it this way in chapter IV of Surprised by Joy:

This ludicrous burden of false duties in prayer provided, of course, an unconscious motive for wishing to shuffle off the Christian faith; but about the same time, or a little later, conscious causes of doubt arose. One came from reading the classics. Here, especially in Virgil, one was presented with a mass of religious ideas; and all teachers and editors took it for granted from the outset that these religious ideas were sheer illusion. No one ever attempted to show in what sense Christianity fulfilled Paganism or Paganism prefigured Christianity. The accepted position seemed to be that religions were normally a mere farrago of nonsense, though our own, by a fortunate exception, was exactly true. The other religions were not even explained, in the earlier Christian fashion, as the work of devils. That I might, conceivably, have been brought to believe. But the impression I got was that religion in general, though utterly false, was a natural growth, a kind of endemic nonsense into which humanity tended to blunder. In the midst of a thousand such religions stood our own, the thousand and first, labeled True. But on what grounds could I believe in this exception? It obviously was in some general sense the same kind of thing as all the rest. Why was it so differently treated? Need I, at any rate, continue to treat it differently? I was very anxious not to.

Lewis remained fascinated with Virgil, and The Aeneid in particular, throughout his life. His first attempt at translating The Aeneid was undertaken while being prepped for Oxford by his tutor, William Kirkpatrick, in 1915. (Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, Vol. I, pp. 112-113, 157.) When Lewis began work on his classics degree at Oxford (in which he eventually received a "double first") he had to read all of Homer, all of Virgil, all of Demosthenes and all of Cicero, not to mention a number of Greek plays, in addition to studying Logic. (Collected Letters, Vol. I, p. 434.)

The first time Lewis translated the Aeneid apart from his schooling was in August of 1922 (C. S. Lewis, All My Road Before Me, pp. 84-85). By 1935, he reported to his friend, Owen Barfield, that he had translated 200 lines of the Aeneid into riming alexandrines. Work on the Aeneid continued off and on over the next decade. By 1943, Lewis was reading extracts to the Inklings. As late as 1959 Lewis still considered his translation incomplete. It is possible that he considered continuing work on this project in 1963, the last year of his life.

Thanks to Walter Hooper, Lewis’ secretary for a short time in 1963, Lewis’ surviving translation of the Aeneid, along with a number of other unpublished pieces, was rescued from a bonfire at The Kilns, Lewis’ former home, in 1964. Now, due to the excellent scholarly work of A. T. Reyes, Lewis’ translation of portions of Virgil’s epic poem is readily available to the world.

The bulk of C. S. Lewis’s Lost Aeneid consists of Lewis’ English translation in parallel with the Latin text. In addition, Reyes fills in the story of the Aeneid where Lewis has not provided a translation for us. However, one of the best things about the book is Reyes’ Introduction. Reyes reveals to the reader not only the history of Lewis’ translation of Virgil but also Lewis' approach to translation in general, and the reason why the Aeneid remained such an influential book for Lewis throughout his life.

Latin scholars will, of course, judge for themselves how successful Lewis’ translation of Virgil’s epic really is. However, it is my suspicion that even those readers who are new to the Aeneid will find this volume helpful. Furthermore, all Lewis fans should be delighted to discover yet another facet to the literary career of this ever diverse man of letters. The only drawback to this book is that Lewis’ translation of the Aeneid remained incomplete at the end of his life, but that was just like Lewis, leaving his readers wanting more.

Chatting about Jack in Chattanooga

2011-05-21T19:38:00.004-04:00

It was a lot of fun speaking to the Chattanooga C. S. Lewis Society last night. Thanks to all the good people who were in attendance for making it such a good night and special thanks to my gracious hosts, David and Sheila Beckmann. To learn more about the group click here: http://www.cslewischatt.blogspot.com/

The topic last night was my book, Mere Theology, which the group has been discussing for the past three or four months. Great questions were put forward by many in the group, including this one: "What would C. S. Lewis say to Harold Camping?"

Afterwards, I signed copies of my new book, Speaking of Jack: A C. S. Lewis Discussion Guide. I was delighted to connect with a number of friends at the meeting. Sadly I didn't get photos with all of them. One surprise was having Bill and Sarah DeWaters there. They are friends from a church I served in Pennsylvania years ago. Also, Debbie Higgins, resident director at The Kilns, C. S. Lewis' former home in Oxford, was with us. The last time I saw Debbie was when I visited the Kilns last fall. It was also a joy to have Neil Raiford and his son Ben in attendance just like last year when I visited the group. They drove about two hours from Alabama just to attend the meeting. So if you want to know what die-hard C. S. Lewis and Narnia fans look like, see the picture below....

Tales of Rathscar

2011-05-09T16:03:00.005-04:00

Over the past couple of weeks I have been reading to my son Joshua's class a story I have written entitled--Tales of Rathscar: The Tunnel Under Scarborough House. So far the reactions from Josh's fellow students have been very positive to this middle-grade fantasy novel, written in the spirit of C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. One ten-year-old boy told me today, "It's the best story I've ever heard!"

So what's it about? The James Family (Ian, Deirdre and their four children--Tim, Liam, Ryan and Pip), move from America to a 12-bedroom Irish country manor, Scarborough House. 13-year-old Liam, who narrates this story, is the first to discover there are many unusual things about the house where they are living. Not only is it the site of an ancient battle, it is also built atop a faerie mound and has a tunnel running underneath it. Life only becomes weirder and more dangerous for Liam when he meets Tom the Leprechaun who lives, secretly, on the grounds of Scarborough House. While taking his brothers with him to search for Tom’s crock of gold in the tunnel, Liam and his brothers fall down a mineshaft into the strange land of Rathscar. However, that accident is only the beginning of their adventures. Before they are through their sister’s life will be put at great risk, and all four children will discover a truth about one of the members of their family that they never could have imagined.

If you would like to read some sample chapters and comment on them, you can do so here:

http://www.authonomy.com/books/33511/tales-of-rathscar-the-tunnel-under-scarborough-house/

The Book is in Print!

2011-04-26T14:42:00.003-04:00

Speaking of Jack: A C. S. Lewis Discussion Guide is now in print. My copies arrived yesterday and I started shipping signed copies to those who have ordered from me.

I really like the way the book came out. The cover is beautiful, thanks to the work of Winged Lion Press. It also feels great. This cover is different from my other books in that it has a matte finish and so has a velvety feel to it which I like very much. This is also one of my larger books, at 278 pages.

Well, I could go on and on. Authors are always excited when they receive the first copies of their new book, whether it is their first, or as in this case, their fifth.

You can read a sample chapter of the book here:
http://wingedlionpress.com/speaking_of_jack.html

You can order from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Speaking-Jack-Lewis-Discussion-Guide/dp/1936294125/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1303843992&sr=8-6

If you order from Amazon, please write and post a review there as well!

If you want a signed copy you may order directly from me by clicking here: http://willvaus.com/inc/sdetail/1693/1936

Endorsements

2011-04-16T17:02:00.002-04:00

Here are two endorsements just in for my new book....

"With the growing interest in C.S. Lewis, the time has come for a one-volume study guide to 40 of his books. Speaking of Jack is a great resource for individuals and particularly for Lewis reading groups. Simple enough for newcomers, but even experienced Lewisians will benefit from Will Vaus' encyclopedic knowledge."

Dr. Joel Heck

Author of Irrigating Deserts: C. S. Lewis on Education

"Good books. Good friends. Good conversations. Will Vaus has found the perfect way to bring them all together. It's genius. I recommend it."

Dr. Diana Pavlac Glyer
Author of The Company They Keep: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as Writers in Community

The release date for Speaking of Jack: a C. S. Lewis Discussion Guide is April 25, 2011. To learn more about the book and pre-order click here: http://willvaus.com/inc/sdetail/1693/1936

Speaking of Jack

2011-03-31T11:40:00.003-04:00

A friend emailed me the other day and asked if I had given up on blogging since I hadn't posted anything since January. I have been remiss in regard to this blog, but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy. For the past three months I have been writing away. You can learn about my works in progress by visiting my web site here: willvaus.com/in_process.

And now, my newest book is about to be released by Winged Lion Press. It is entitled Speaking of Jack: A C. S. Lewis Discussion Guide. Here is the publisher's blurb all about it:

C. S. Lewis Societies have been forming around the world since the first one started in New York City in 1969. Will Vaus has started and led three groups himself. Speaking of Jack is the result of Vaus' experience in leading those Lewis societies. Included here are introductions to most of Lewis' books as well as questions designed to stimulate discussion about Lewis' life and work.

These materials have been "road tested" with real groups made up of young and old, some very familiar with Lewis and some newcomers. Speaking of Jack can be used in high school and college courses, an existing book discussion group, Sunday school class or small group, to start a C. S. Lewis Society, or as a guide to your own exploration of Lewis' books.

To learn more about the book and read a sample chapter click here: wingedlionpress.com/speaking_of_jack.html.

Prayer Request

2011-01-22T12:57:00.002-05:00

Anne Jenkins, a child correspondent of C. S. Lewis who wrote the preface to The Hidden Story of Narnia, died yesterday after a long battle with cancer. Anne is the one to my immediate left in the photo above. The photo was taken at a book-signing Anne arranged for me at Living Oasis Bookshop in Watford, England, Anne's hometown.

Please be in prayer for Anne's husband Steve and their grown children. As Anne struggled valiantly against cancer we often spoke about how she was "between the paws of Aslan". She is surely there now, with her beloved Lord. But I will miss her until we meet again.

Through the Wardrobe

2011-01-22T05:38:00.003-05:00

Through the Wardrobe is a new collection of essays by young adult fiction writers about their adventures entering "through the wardrobe" into C. S. Lewis' Narnia books. You may read my review of this essay collection at the HarperCollins C. S. Lewis Blog here: http://booksbycslewis.blogspot.com/2011/01/through-wardrobe.html

Nathan Carlisle

2011-01-18T10:52:00.004-05:00

On the first Sunday of the new year we had the blessing of having Nathan Carlisle sing in one of the churches I serve in West Virginia. Nathan is a tenor with the Metropolitan Opera Chorus in New York City. You may listen to Nathan sing "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" by visiting my web site here: www.willvaus.com/messages. You may visit Nathan's web site here: http://nathancarlisle.net.

Dawn Treader 3D

2010-12-28T07:07:00.003-05:00

Yesterday my three sons and I went to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 3D. I definitely enjoyed the movie more the second time around. This time I wasn't so bothered by the changes from book to movie. In fact, I was more aware of the many elements from the book which were retained and enhanced in the movie.

The 3D experience definitely added greater depth and enjoyment to the whole movie-watching experience. This is certainly a movie that everyone should see on the big screen. This second time watching the film I was overwhelmed by the amazing attention to detail in every scene and every set design. One of my sons even noticed Eustace's hygiene award in his room at the beginning of the film! Some of the sets were so well done, especially at the beginning (Eustace's house, the Dawn Treader ship itself) that I wanted to linger awhile and explore.

Seeing the movie a second time I was struck, once again, by Will Poulter's excellent job playing the part of Eustace. The whole friendship between Eustace and the valiant mouse Reepicheep really moved me, especially their heart-wrenching good-bye at the end of the film.

Overall, this is a visually stunning and remarkably beautiful film with many uplifting spiritual messages embedded in it. And even where the filmmakers have changed elements from C. S. Lewis' original book, they have added biblical messages of their own. (Consider the sword that is used to kill the sea serpent in light of Ephesians 6:10-17.)

I hope that many people will continue to see this film in theaters throughout the holiday season. And I also pray that we will see a fourth installment in the Narnia movie franchise, namely The Silver Chair.

The Miracle at the Center

2010-12-24T06:03:00.003-05:00

"And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 (NRSV)

"The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say that God became Man. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this. Just as every natural event is the manifestation at a particular place and moment of Nature's total character, so every particular Christian miracle manifests at a particular place and moment the character and significance of the Incarnation. There is no question in Christianity of arbitrary interferences just scattered about. It relates not a series of disconnected raids on Nature but the various steps of a strategically coherent invasion--an invasion which intends complete conquest and 'occupation.'" C. S. Lewis, Miracles

Dawn Treader Movie Review

2010-12-13T12:08:00.009-05:00

If I were to write a brief review of the new Voyage of the Dawn Treader movie it might go like this....

Return to Magic? Yes, but not C. S. Lewis' magic.

Return to Hope? My hope for the faithful continuation of the Narnia movie franchise is dimmed.

Return to Narnia? Was it even C. S. Lewis' Narnia?

However, I find it impossible to stop with such a brief and too depressing review....

On the positive side, one of my favorite moments in the new movie is the arrival of three children from our world (Edmund, Lucy and Eustace) on the Narnian ship itself. That moment in the film gave me the same feeling I had reading the story as a child—the feeling of wonder and joy at being back in Narnia again.

However, this story isn’t really set in Narnia. Rather it takes place upon the sea, east of Narnia. Furthermore, I kept getting the feeling throughout the movie that I wasn’t in C. S. Lewis’ creation at all. That’s because from the Dawn Treader’s first stop at the Lone Islands to the reaching of Aslan’s Country at the end of the film, so much has been changed from Lewis’ original book. (For those who haven’t seen the movie, which I urge you to do, I warn you that the rest of this review will be a huge spoiler.)

At the beginning, the movie does more to set the scene in England during the Second World War than Lewis’ original book. This is not bothersome but rather helpful and artfully done. The problems, for me, begin once the children from our world reach the Dawn Treader. One of the main difficulties, from my perspective, is that the movie rather drastically changes the sequence of the adventures as they are portrayed in Lewis’ original book….

Book

1. Lone Islands
2. Storm
3. Eustace’s Dragoning and Undragoning
4. Sea Serpent Battle
5. Goldwater (Deathwater) Island
6. Island of the Voices
7. Dark Island
8. Ramandu’s Island
9. The Silver Sea
10. The End of the World

Movie

1. Lone Islands
2. Island of the Voices
3. Eustace’s Dragoning on Goldwater Island
4. Ramandu’s Island
5. Storm
6. Sea Serpent Battle on Dark Island
7. Undragoning of Eustace
8. The Silver Sea
9. The End of the World

Does this change in sequence matter? I believe it does. All of Lewis’ Narnia stories contain symbolism, but The Voyage of the Dawn Treader being, as Lewis said, about the “spiritual life”, is one of the most heavily symbolic of all seven books. Sequence is very important in this story because it gives us a picture of the sequence, or journey, of the spiritual life from beginning to end.

As I point out in my book, The Hidden Story of Narnia, it is significant that this voyage begins with an enslavement story because that is where the Bible says we all start as human beings, enslaved to sin, ever since Adam and Eve.

At least the movie starts in the right place. However, it quickly gets off track. In the book, Lord Bern rescues Caspian from slavery, and in that sense, he is a Christ-like figure. This is completely lost in the movie.

In the book, following the rescue from slavery, there is a time of peace followed by a storm at sea. This too is symbolic of the pattern of the spiritual life. Again, the sequence is changed in the movie.

In the book, it is also significant that Eustace’s dragoning and undragoning happen towards the beginning of the story. Eustace’s story is one of conversion, and conversion is something that happens toward the beginning of the spiritual journey. In the book, we see Eustace transformed and then growing, changing. In the movie, Eustace isn’t undragoned until the end. This is a mistake from a symbolic standpoint.

The book tells of Eustace tearing off one layer of dragon skin after another. This is, in my opinion, depicted rather lamely and incompletely in the movie. In addition, the way the movie shows Aslan “magically” changing Eustace back into a boy again, rather than actually tearing off his dragon skin, fails to depict the pain of spiritual/moral transformation. Furthermore, I was very disappointed that the movie did not show Aslan throwing Eustace into a pool of water after tearing off his dragon skin. I believe that, in the book, this is an important baptismal symbol and so it is a shame that it is completely left out of the movie.

The sequence in the book of undragoning, sea serpent battle and temptation on Goldwater Island is also important. Once again, as I point out in The Hidden Story, I believe Lewis is dealing here with the ancient evil triumvirate of “the world, the flesh and the devil”, though in the story it comes in the order of: the flesh, the devil and the world. Still, in the story the three are linked together. This linking is completely lost in the movie by moving the sea serpent battle to the climatic point in the film simply for dramatic effect.

Does that dramatic effect work from a cinematic standpoint? Yes. However, for my taste it is telling Lewis’ original story in a manner far too different. Lewis once noted two sources of inspiration for his story: Homer’s Odyssey and the legends of St. Brendan the Navigator. Though I have tried to understand, in the end I fail to comprehend why the makers of this movie felt they couldn’t tell Lewis’ story in the same episodic fashion in which he wrote it. If it was good enough for Homer, St. Brendan and for Lewis, why is it not good enough for Hollywood?

I think it is also significant that in Lewis’ story he treats of the Magician’s Book (symbolic of the Bible) after Eustace’s undragoning. The Bible is one of our greatest helps in the spiritual life, most especially after conversion.

I really don’t like the way the movie lumps together Goldwater and Eustace becoming a dragon on the same island. Then there is also the lumping together of the storm, sea serpent battle, Dark Island and undragoning of Eustace.

When we are finally led out of the darkness, thankfully, towards the end of the film, we are led by a bird. (I couldn't even tell if it was an albatross as in Lewis' book, and in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.) However, we don't get to hear Aslan's voice whispering to Lucy from the albatross: "Courage, dear heart!" In the movie one has little sense, as one does in the book, that it is Aslan leading them out of the darkness. No, in the movie the characters must battle their own way out of the Dark Green Island. Sad.

I think Lewis’ depiction of one temptation per island is so much clearer and more meaningful and significantly progressive than the mishmash presented in this film version. If one were to compare Lewis’ map of The Great Eastern Ocean with the map the filmmakers were working with, one would have two completely different maps, and thus we have two rather different stories.

The events on Ramandu's Island, as shown in the movie, are also a disappointment. The sense of the sacramental nature of Aslan's Table, so clear in the book, is muddled in the movie. Furthermore, isn't it rather startling that we get to Ramandu's Island but never meet Ramandu? Did I miss him? In addition, we never see Ramandu being fed by birds with fire-berries from the sun, nor do we see Aslan's Table being renewed. Sigh.

Finally, when we get to the very end of the world, in the movie version, we don’t meet a lamb cooking fish, a lamb that becomes a lion, as we do in Lewis’ book. My eleven-year-old son pointed out this difference to me and said that he felt it was the most important thing the filmmakers got wrong. Why? Because it is the clue Lewis put into the story to guide every child to understand Aslan’s identity.

Yes, the filmmakers thankfully kept in the movie some of Aslan’s important statements from this final chapter in the book. Certainly, the ending as portrayed in the movie is still very emotionally moving. Even the Queen and Liam Neeson shed a few tears when they saw the ending at the premiere in London. One can understand why.

However, in the end I think most lovers of the Narnia books shed a few tears at the end of the movie for a different reason. We could not help but be disappointed with all the things left out of this movie that could easily have been included. Then there were the many things that were added to the movie (green mist, White Witch, seven swords, following the blue star, only to name a few) which were not in the book and could have been left out of the film without detriment. Finally, as we have clearly seen, there are the things which were rearranged from book to movie which could have been left in the order Lewis originally had them … for a reason.

I wouldn’t want to leave my readers thinking there was nothing I liked about the film. It was visually stunning, funny, and even moving at points. Viewers like my wife, who have never read the book, may enjoy the movie immensely, just as she did. Will Poulter as Eustace stole the show at many points with his masterful portrayal of one of C. S. Lewis’ finest characters. I hope we get to see Will in The Silver Chair … and that leads me to my final point….

If you haven’t yet gone to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader in the theater, I hope you will. Despite all the changes the filmmakers have made from book to movie, it is still a wonderful film for the whole family, well worth seeing on the big screen; and it is a film that still retains many of Lewis’ important themes such as courage, honor, valor, the importance of resisting temptation and cultivating a deep desire for “Aslan’s Country”.

Despite my disappointment with many things changed and left out of Lewis’ story, I will go to see the movie again. Most certainly, I will see it in 3D, which I haven’t done yet. Perhaps I will even enjoy it more the second time through, now that I am over the shock of the first viewing. Maybe after seeing it the second time I will even write a happier, more positive blog than this one....

Dawn Treader Interview

2010-12-10T16:18:00.004-05:00

I did an interview about The Voyage of the Dawn Treader yesterday on the program "Issues Etc" out of St. Louis. You can now listen to that interview by clicking on the link:

http://issuesetc.org/podcast/639120910H2S1.mp3

Narnia Code DVD, A Review

2010-12-09T15:07:00.017-05:00

I recently received a review copy of The Narnia Code DVD from Tyndale House Publishers. It is always a delight to review C. S. Lewis related books and products, and especially so in this case as Michael Ward, author of The Narnia Code and Planet Narnia, is a friend of mine.

That said, allow me to get one thing I don't like about this DVD out of the way right from the start, and that is: the title. I really dislike the title: The Narnia Code. The reason I dislike it is because I sincerely doubt that C. S. Lewis would want us to approach the Narnia books as pieces of literature to decode. Lewis makes clear in a number of places that the Narnia books are not an allegory. (See letter of 26 May, 1954 in Letters to Children, pp. 44-45.) Nonetheless, I believe that something Lewis said about allegory in general, in The Allegory of Love, applies to reading the Narnia books. There Lewis wrote that "allegory is not a puzzle. The worst thing we can do is to read it with our eyes skinned for clues, as we read a detective story." (The Allegory of Love, p. 333.) The very title, The Narnia Code, invites us to read the Narnia stories with our eyes "skinned for clues", which I believe Lewis would tell us, is not the way to approach these books. Of course any book which treats of the symbolism in the Narnia stories may have this effect on the reader. My own book, The Hidden Story of Narnia, could, unfortunately, produce this result. However, I prefer to think of a "hidden story" (a phrase Lewis himself uses (see Lewis' letter of 26 October 1963 on page 111 of Letters to Children), rather than a "Narnia code", a phrase rather alien to Lewis' way of thinking.

Now that we have dispensed with what I find to be the most distasteful part of this DVD, let us proceed to some more delectable items....

One of the things I like best about The Narnia Code DVD is that it begins with an excellent mini-documentary of C. S. Lewis' life. There is extensive footage drawn from C. S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia, an earlier production by Narnia Code director, Norman Stone, who also directed the BBC version of Shadowlands. This dramatic footage is used to excellent effect in The Narnia Code.

Another positive aspect of The Narnia Code is that it includes commentary from a wide range of "Lewis experts" in addition to Michael Ward. We are treated here to the powerful insights of scholars James Como, Malcolm Guite, Alan Jacobs, Don King and Eric Metaxes, BBC presenter Brian Sibley, and author Francis Spufford.

A third thing which The Narnia Code does very well is to present the process by which Michael Ward claims to have made his literary discovery, namely that each of the Narnia books corresponds to one of the planets of medieval cosmology. Whether one, in the end, agrees with Ward's thesis or not, one must admit that Ward's presentation of this theory is both cogent and compelling. The Narnia Code DVD does an excellent job of putting Ward's scholarly thesis, presented so well in Planet Narnia, at a popular level. After watching the DVD with me, even my eleven-year-old son was both enthralled and able to articulate Ward's thesis.

When I first read Planet Narnia I had the advantage, some would say, of having the author himself staying in my home. Michael and I were able to discuss his thesis as I was reading the book. By the time I got to, if I remember correctly, the third chapter of Michael's book, I told him I was convinced. However, after Michael left and I finished reading the book, doubts began to arise in my mind. I still have lingering doubts about the full accuracy of Michael's thesis though, once again, I found his presentation of his thesis, to be very persuasive in this DVD. You may read the articulation of my doubts about Planet Narnia in a previous blog here:

http://willvaus.blogspot.com/2009/05/planet-narnia.html.

Despite my doubts about Michael's thesis, I still think Planet Narnia is well worth the read, and The Narnia Code is well worth viewing. One pleasant surprise I had in viewing the DVD was the application of Lewis' medieval-inspired imagination to our view of the cosmos today. Rather than spoil the surprise for my readers I encourage you to see the DVD for yourself.

In closing, let me mention briefly two more special treats included in this DVD. In the Bonus section we get to meet three friends who knew C. S. Lewis personally and hear their comments on Ward's thesis. Also, we get a tour of key locations in Lewis' life story.

In short, I must say that no brief review can do full justice to the riches presented by the BBC, Norman Stone and Michael Ward in this fine DVD on the life and thought of C. S. Lewis.

Hidden Story of Narnia on Eastern Shore

2010-12-08T12:49:00.010-05:00

This was our view on Tilghman Island, Maryland where we were hosted by our friends, Bill and Bette Webb, for a Narnia Weekend.

While there we learned how to shuck oysters.

And more importantly, we learned how to eat them! Yummy!!

On December 4 I spoke at the Tidewater Inn in Easton, Maryland.

The advertising was well done.

And the room where I spoke about The Professor of Narnia and The Hidden Story of Narnia was most elegant.

Easton was all done up for Christmas with even a touch of Narnia.

The next morning I spoke at Shore Harvest Presbyterian Church about my book, My Father Was a Gangster.

All in all it was a most delightful weekend of reunion with old friends, meeting new ones, and being able to take my family along on this leg of the Hidden Story of Narnia Book Tour made it all the better.

Next I hope to do a blog about the Narnia Code DVD. So stay tuned....

Hidden Story of Narnia Tour Continued

2010-11-26T19:15:00.002-05:00

The next stop on my Hidden Story of Narnia Book Tour will be next weekend, December 4-5, in Easton, Maryland. There is a good article about that here:

http://www.stardem.com/article_b1b6dca3-a48d-51c9-b350-e0731fb653de.html.

Also, the third part of my interview with Mark Sommer of Hollywood Jesus.com has been posted here: http://live.hollywoodjesus.com/?p=6584.

C. S. Lewis and His Mice

2010-11-23T10:30:00.003-05:00

The HarperCollins C. S. Lewis Blog recently posted a piece I wrote for children entitled: C. S. Lewis and His Mice. You may read the blog here: http://booksbycslewis.blogspot.com/2010/11/c-s-lewis-and-his-mice.html.

(Illustration above is by Pauline Baynes from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.)

Hollywood Jesus.Com Interview

2010-11-20T11:12:00.002-05:00

Mark Sommer is in the process of publishing an interview he did with me about C. S. Lewis, Narnia, and my book--"The Hidden Story of Narnia". The telephone interview was conducted in the midst of my book tour while I was at the Marion E. Wade Center of Wheaton College. You can read the first part of the interview here: http://live.hollywoodjesus.com/?p=6580.

Last Day in Oxford

2010-11-18T10:11:00.024-05:00

I began my last day in Oxford with a visit to The Victoria Arms Pub in Marston. You may ask: "Why?" The answer is: simply because it is mentioned in Sheldon Vanauken's "A Severe Mercy" and figures in some of the Inspector Morse stories by Colin Dexter.

The heavy frost that morning was especially enchanting. C. S. Lewis wrote to a young correspondent in 1955, "We had our first frost last night--this morning the lawns are all grey, with a pale, bright sunshine on them: wonderfully beautiful. And somehow exciting. The first beginning of winter always excites me: it makes me want adventures."

Oxford was replete that morning with that quality which Reginald Fanshawe once called "grey magic".

"Calm, cold, and sad, the soft mists brooding bathe

In ghostlier glamour chapel, tower, and hall,

Dome, pinnacle, spire; they clasp and subtly swathe

Oxford's grey magic. Cold and calm the pall

On blade and branch, as for life's funeral,

Clings of the crystal rime. No hue, no breath

Marreth the world's white, immaterial,

Motionless beauty, pure as love's last wreath,

Laid on the form austere and solemn lines of death."

I also paid a visit to the Turf Tavern, another favorite of Inspector Morse. Mind you, I didn't eat or drink at the Victoria Arms or the Turf.

But I did enjoy coffee and pastry at the Eastgate along with Jim and Michelle Belcher, my walking companions for the day.

We stopped by Dorothy Sayers' birthplace and even got to see inside the bright blue door.

St. Philip's has to be my favorite secondhand bookshop in all of Oxford. Well worth a visit for every bibliophile.

The Belchers and I continued our Vanauken Tour with a stop at the ancient church of St. Ebbe's and its Romanesque door....

The rest of my day in Oxford consisted of such an embarrassment of riches I shall content myself with captions where necessary since the pictures tell the story so well....

Wesley Memorial Methodist Church

The Trout Inn, Godstowe

And here I am at the Kilns once again, decked out in my wellies for a late afternoon tramp over Shotover Hill.

I am often asked, "What is your favorite C. S. Lewis book?" Perhaps my favorite is the very last book Lewis prepared for the press-- "Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer". In that book he says, "We--or at least I--shall not be able to adore God on the highest occasions if we have learned no habit of doing so on the lowest. At best, our faith and reason will tell us that He is adorable, but we shall not have found Him so, not have 'tasted and seen.' Any patch of sunlight in a wood will show you something about the sun which you could never get from reading books on astronomy. These pure and spontaneous pleasures are 'patches of Godlight' in the woods of our experience." On my walk over Shotover, you can see in the photo above that I experienced just such a patch of "Godlight".

And the view from the top of Shotover Hill was simply spectacular.

I finished the day with supper at The Bird & Baby, site of many a merry meeting of The Inklings. I was treated to a delicious lamb supper by my hosts, Cole Matson and David Baird, leaders of The Oxford C. S. Lewis Society.

Then we gathered for the meeting of the Society in the Old Refectory of Harris Manchester College--a room in which Lewis once lectured on "The Hegemony of Moral Values".

Here I am sharing a word with Richard Jeffries, resident of Oxford since the 1940s.
After delivering my paper on the subject of "C. S. Lewis & Father Walter Adams: An Examination of the Experience of Spiritual Direction" we repaired to the Junior Common Room of Harris Manchester where Peter Miller (left) stood me to a very fine pint of Tetley's Bitter. A perfect way to end a perfect trip!

Sheldon Vanauken Oxford Tour

2010-11-15T17:19:00.010-05:00

The big event today was a tour of Sheldon Vanauken's Oxford with my new friend, Jim Belcher, author of Deep Church. We began the day with a visit to the minute village of Binsey which Vanauken mentions numerous times in his bestselling book, A Severe Mercy.

One of our first stops was St. Margaret's Church where Van and Davy's ashes were scattered.

Our walk in Binsey was a misty one and therefore all the more memorable.

We stopped at The Perch for lunch.

Where Jim consented to pose with my son Joshua's handmade "Aslan". For more about Aslan you may view the other blog I have been doing during this trip. http://aslantoengland.blogspot.com.

We crossed over the "humpbacked" bridge which Vanauken mentions in the book I am holding.

Then it was on to the center of Oxford where Jim introduced me to the most spectacular view of The Radcliffe Camera and The University Church of St. Mary the Virgin. This view can only be seen from The Fellows' Garden in the grounds of Exeter College.

The chapel at Exeter was simply splendid.

Of course we had to nip in for a brief visit at Blackwell's Booksellers.

We concluded our Vanauken tour with a swing past The Martyr's Memorial where Vanauken and Lewis once parted company on a memorable night.

And we took a walk down Pusey Lane to see the former location of The Studio, Van and Davy's beloved flat during their time in Oxford.

If you have no idea what this blog has been about then you need to read A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken!

Sunday in Oxford

2010-11-14T17:29:00.011-05:00

This was the view out my window as I woke up this morning in C. S. Lewis' bedroom at The Kilns. It was a beautiful autumn morning with a mixture of clouds and blue sky with rays of sunshine peeking through.

When I came downstairs the breakfast table was lovingly set for me in the dining room by Dr. Debbie Higgins, Warden of The Kilns. I greatly enjoyed a peaceful breakfast by myself as I gazed out the window at the rose trellis and the moss along the wall with birds flitting about and singing merrily.

Then it was off to worship at Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry, where the Lewis brothers worshiped together for more than thirty years. This was the view from where we sat. It was a very meaningful Remembrance Sunday Service as we remembered and gave thanks for the lives of all those who gave their all for their country in the First World War and all the wars since.

We sat near the Narnia window (above) and paid a visit to the Lewis brothers' grave (below) after the service.

Then it was off to the heart of Oxford to do some shopping. I just love lampposts so I had to snap a photo of this one outside one of the shops we perused.

As darkness fell across Oxford we made our way to Lewis' old college: Magdalen....

There we were greatly moved by a candlelit evensong service and the singing of the young choir boys from Magdalen College School. I felt like I was in one of the scenes from the movie Shadowlands.

We rounded out a very meaningful Sunday with a light supper of cheese, crackers, port and tea. Here's Debbie Higgins toasting with her tea mug....

And me with my glass of port....

And now to bed with a good book....

Hidden Story of Narnia in Watford

2010-11-13T17:03:00.013-05:00

I was in Watford, England today for a book-signing at the Living Oasis Bookshop run by Jill (far left) and Jane (far right). Standing next to me, on the right, is Anne Waller Jenkins who loved the Narnia books as a child, wrote to C. S. Lewis with a question about The Silver Chair, and got a letter back! That letter served as the inspiration for my book, The Hidden Story of Narnia: A Book-by-Book Guide to C. S. Lewis' Spiritual Themes.

It has been wonderful to meet Anne, to sign books at the Rainbow Fayre at her church near Watford, as well as visiting all the delightful people who came out to Living Oasis today to buy my book!

Anne and her husband Steve also took me on a tour of Watford for the past couple of days. Many people probably do not realize that C. S. Lewis first went to boarding school in Watford in 1908. Above is a photo of what the original school building looked like. Below is what the site looks like today. The building has changed but the tall cedar tree out front is still there.

Lewis' experience at Wynyard School was so horrible that in a chapter entitled "Concentration Camp" in his autobiography, Surprised by Joy, he calls the town--Belsen.

However, Lewis' time in Watford was not all bad. He says in Surprised by Joy, "There first I became an effective believer. As far as I know, the instrument was the church to which we were taken twice every Sunday. This was high 'Anglo-Catholic'. On the conscious level I reacted strongly against its peculiarities--was I not an Ulster Protestant, and were not these unfamiliar rituals an essential part of the hated English atmosphere? Unconsciously, I suspect, the candles and incense, the vestments and the hymns sung on our knees, may have had a considerable, and opposite, effect on me. But I do not think they were the important thing. What really mattered was that I here heard the doctrines of Christianity (as distinct from general 'uplift') taught by men who obviously believed them." The church which Lewis attended was Saint John's (pictured above).

Lewis tells us that another good which he found in Watford was that there he first "learned, if not friendship, at least gregariousness." He talks in Surprised by Joy about the times he spent on walks with other boys from his school. "We bought sweets in drowsy village shops and pottered about on the canal bank or sat at the brow of a railway cutting watching a tunnel-mouth for trains." Below you can see The Dog & Partridge pub next door to one of those "drowsy village shops", one of the railway tunnels, and the canal....

This evening I drove from Watford up to Oxford where I am now ensconced in C. S. Lewis' former home, The Kilns. Right now I am looking at the fireplace in Lewis' old bedroom where I will spend the night. Above the mantle is a photo of Lewis with his adopted mother, Janie King Moore and her daughter Maureen. There is also a photo of the face on The Shroud of Turin. This photo is a replica of one given to Lewis by his correspondent and friend, Sister Penelope Lawson. The photo hung in Lewis' bedroom as this one does now.

However, even better than the rest of the view in the bedroom, is the bed itself, which is calling me to sleep....

Reading by the Wardrobe

2010-11-09T08:50:00.010-05:00

On a crisp, clear, autumn Saturday morning, a large crowd gathered at The Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College.

We were all there for the love of Narnia. There were children, youth, college students and adults, but I think all of us were children at heart that morning.

One little blonde-haired boy (pictured below) told me he could feel snow as he reached into the wardrobe hand-crafted by C. S. Lewis' grandfather. And that morning I too believed with joy....

Once we were all settled in our places I read to the group Lewis' tale of Eustace's undragoning from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. After the reading I talked for a bit about how Lewis was a lot like Eustace and how he was undragoned at the age of 33 when he came to personal faith in Jesus Christ.

After a delightful time of question and answer (with many wise questions asked by children and adults of all ages) I signed copies of my book, The Hidden Story of Narnia.

Next, The Hidden Story of Narnia travels to England where I will be signing books at Living Oasis Bookstore in Watford, a suburb of London, on Saturday, November 13, 12 noon. Click here for more info: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=155307641150330.

If you missed my visit to the Wade Center you can still pay a visit yourself if you are in the neighborhood of Wheaton, Illinois. They currently have a Dawn Treader display in their museum as well as actual props from the recent Narnia movies. And anytime you visit the Wade you can see some very special furniture like the Wardrobe and C. S. Lewis' desk upon which he wrote the wonderful Chronicles of Narnia.

If you would like to listen to one of my recent lectures at Wheaton College and learn more about the Wade Center click here: http://www.wheaton.edu/wadecenter/

Hidden Story of Narnia in Wheaton

2010-11-05T19:59:00.004-04:00

What a wonderful time I've had in Wheaton, Illinois this week! Having the better part of the week to sit and soak in the Wade Center (a worldwide repository of materials about C. S. Lewis and six other authors) has been fabulous.

Then today I had the honor of addressing parents and young people visiting Wheaton College for Family Weekend. One of the delights of my lecture was having the Honorable David Beasley, former Governor of South Carolina in attendance (see picture above). I had met Mr. Beasley previously during the years I served as pastor of a church in South Carolina. David was on campus with his family and also giving lectures during his time at the college.

With so many other fine lectures and activities on offer for Family Weekend at Wheaton I was delighted and humbled to speak to a lecture-room packed with Lewis and Narnia devotees. My lecture this afternoon was on the spiritual themes in C. S. Lewis' children's book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Since Wheaton is a mecca for Lewis studies I had the very intimidating job of speaking before a group extremely knowledgeable about Lewis and Narnia. However, that made for a very exciting time of question and answer as well. Some of the young people in attendance at my lecture today were very impressive in the knowledge they displayed of both biblical and other literary allusions in The Chronicles of Narnia.

After a most enjoyable time of Q&A I signed copies of my new book, The Hidden Story of Narnia, for many enthusiastic Narnia fans like the one below.

As good as today was, I am anticipating that tomorrow morning at 11:15 will be the highlight of my week. That's when I will be speaking to children and youth about The Voyage of the Dawn Treader while sitting right next to the real wardrobe in the museum of the Wade Center. What a treat! For more information click here: http://www.wheaton.edu/news/releases/10-11_releases/11.05.10_WadeCtr_Vaus.html.

A Visit to the Wardrobe

2010-10-26T11:16:00.002-04:00

Next week I am on my way to visit THE wardrobe. My first stop en route will be Indianapolis where I will be speaking to the Central Indiana C. S. Lewis Society about Lewis' relationship with Sister Penelope and The Community of St Mary the Virgin in Wantage, England. That event will take place on Monday, November 1, 7-9 pm, at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, 34th & Central in Indianapolis.

Then on Friday, November 5, at 3:30 pm, I will be giving a lecture at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, on the Spiritual Themes in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. That event will take place in the Phelps Room of the Beamer Student Center, lower level, south end. Wheaton College is located at 501 College Avenue, Wheaton, Illinois.

Finally, I will arrive at the wardrobe on Saturday, November 6, at 11:15 am. I will be offering a talk to children and youth, and most likely a reading from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, while sitting right next to the wardrobe in the museum of The Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College. The Wade Center is located at 351 E. Lincoln Avenue in Wheaton. For more information visit: http://www.wheaton.edu/wadecenter/news/news.html.

At all of these events I will be signing copies of The Hidden Story of Narnia.

Hidden Story of Narnia in California

2010-10-22T14:38:00.005-04:00

It was a thoroughly delightful time this past Wednesday night, speaking to the Southern California C. S. Lewis Society about the spiritual themes in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and signing copies of my new book, The Hidden Story of Narnia.

Pictured above is me with Sonny Salsbury, the man who was my youth pastor during the days when I was growing up at La Jolla Presbyterian Church in La Jolla, California. This was the first time that Sonny and I were able to meet in over 25 years. What a great time!

Sonny is one of the biggest Narnia fans I know. He deepened my interest in C. S. Lewis and Narnia during my days in junior high and high school. Sonny opened the evening with the C. S. Lewis Society by singing his song Aslan is Near. For more information about Sonny and his ministry, click on this link: http://www.rembarecords.com/?page=shop/artist_detail&category_id=693e123f16bdba8ae5fb9508bcf6890d&artist_name=Sonny%20Salsbury

Special thanks to my hosts, Doug and Martha Beyer who provided accommodation, and to Edie Dougherty who provided transportation. It's wonderful to have such good friends, old and new, in California.

As I leave to return home I leave you with one nice photo from my visit, on this trip, to my old hometown of La Jolla....

Next stop on the Hidden Story of Narnia Book Tour: Indianapolis, on Monday night, November 1. Check out my web site for more info: www.willvaus.com/events.

Hidden Story of Narnia in Arizona

2010-10-20T18:18:00.003-04:00

I spent three wonderful days in Arizona, speaking about C. S. Lewis and signing copies of my newest book, The Hidden Story of Narnia.

On Sunday, October 17 I preached in two worship services at the First Presbyterian Church of Mesa. I really enjoyed both the traditional and contemporary services there. The people were most friendly and many stopped by my book table between services to chat and get their books signed.

On Monday, October 18, I spoke at Grand Canyon University. In addition to a number of students and faculty from the college, we had 50 high school students from the Community Church of Joy in attendance. These high school students asked some very good questions. I especially appreciated meeting and speaking briefly with some of the foreign exchange students in the group.

Then on Tuesday, October 19 I spoke to a group of about 75 people at Christ Presbyterian Church in Goodyear, Arizona. Wow, what a friendly and gracious group! Great enthusiasm, and again, fantastic questions about C. S. Lewis, his life and work.

Thanks to all my hosts: Brant Baker and Kirk Sexton of First Pres Mesa, Dr. Jim Helfers, Dr. Lisa St. Louis and all the faculty at Grand Canyon who were so helpful, and Bob Simmons, Pastor of Christ Pres in Goodyear. However, the lion's share of my gratitude goes to Bruce and Laurie Johnson who provided very caring and gracious hospitality in their lovely home in Scottsdale for three days and four nights.

Now I am in the Los Angeles area where I will speak to the Southern California C. S. Lewis Society meeting at Azusa Pacific University tonight. I hope to give a report on that meeting in the coming days.....

Austin Texas

2010-10-14T04:45:00.010-04:00

Last week I was in Austin, Texas where I gave the annual C. S. Lewis lecture at Concordia University (pictured above).

One of my hosts was Dr. Joel Heck, Professor of Theology at Concordia. Dr. Heck is the author of Irrigating Deserts: C. S. Lewis on Education. He has a C. S. Lewis related web site here: www.joelheck.com.

In the evening I spoke to The Friends of Fine Arts and Communication at Texas State University San Marcos. My presentation was preceded by wine and h'ors d'oeuvres pool-side at the beautiful home of one of my hosts.

I was introduced by Dr. Steven Beebe, Regents' and University Distinguished Professor, Chair of the Department of Communication Studies and Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at Texas State. In addition to his duties at Texas State, Dr. Beebe teaches a course about C. S. Lewis and Communication at Oxford University.

My power point presentation for the evening was entitled: C. S. Lewis, Master Communicator. The presentation was well received and was followed by a book signing where a number of those gathered snapped up copies of all four of my books.

After the book-signing we retired to the home of Steve Beebe where I enjoyed perusing his wonderful collection of C. S. Lewis first editions, signed letters, and the only signed photo of C. S. Lewis known to exist. Below you can see some of Dr. Beebe's first editions of the Narnia books....

Next stop on the Hidden Story of Narnia Book Tour: Phoenix, Arizona. I will be speaking at First Presbyterian Church, Mesa, Arizona this coming Sunday morning. Then on Monday night I will speak at Grand Canyon University and Tuesday night at Christ Presbyterian Church in Goodyear. From there it is on to California where I will address the Southern California C. S. Lewis Society on Wednesday, October 20. Full details of the Hidden Story of Narnia Book Tour may be found here: www.willvaus.com/events.

Frederick C. S. Lewis Society

2010-09-28T13:59:00.008-04:00

Last night I gave a talk on the spiritual themes in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader to the C. S. Lewis Society of Frederick, Maryland. The meeting took place in the Parish Hall of All Saints Episcopal Church.Before the meeting I was treated to a delicious meal at Brewer's Alley where I imbibed the closest thing to British beer which I have ever tasted outside of England. I highly recommend the India Pale Ale from the cask at Brewer's Alley.

My host for the evening was Corey Kinna, founder of the society.

Corey was sporting a very interesting T-shirt appropriate to the event....

I heartily recommend this friendly group to anyone within the vicinity of Frederick, Maryland. Their blog may be found here: http://frederickcslewissociety.blogspot.com/.

Reading Dawn Treader

2010-09-15T10:51:00.004-04:00

Currently I am reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader to my son Joshua's fifth grade class at Highland Elementary School in Monterey, Virginia. I am also sharing with them Pauline Baynes' color illustrations.

We are reading a chapter a day, which takes about twenty to thirty minutes. Several children have thanked me for reading the story to them. Their favorite chapters so far have been about Eustace being turned into a dragon and then un-dragoned. Personally, I think this is a great way to prepare for the Dawn Treader movie coming out in December.

This is a sort of payback for my fourth grade teacher reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to my class--an event that started me on a life-long journey of reading C. S. Lewis' works. Who knows what results my reading may have on the fifth graders in my son's class?

Hidden Story Book Tour Rescheduled

2010-09-14T08:39:00.003-04:00

We are in the process of rescheduling The Hidden Story of Narnia tour dates for Indiana and Illinois. As it looks now I will be speaking to the Central Indiana C. S. Lewis Society in Indianapolis on Monday, November 1. The signing and talk for the Wade Center at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois (pictured above) has been rescheduled for November 5 and 6. On Friday November 5 I will be addressing an adult gathering at the Wade and on Saturday morning I will be speaking to younger readers about The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Check back here for more details as those dates get closer.

Our Loss, Heaven's Gain

2010-09-12T20:31:00.000-04:00

Sadly, my mother-in-law, Barbara Buckman, died today after a long illness. As I said on Facebook, she will be missed by many who loved her, including me. But our loss is heaven's gain. I would appreciate the prayers of all the readers of this blog for my wife Becky, her father Len, and the rest of the Buckman family.

Unfortunately, this also means that the book-signings I had planned for this week at the Wade Center, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois and with the Central Indiana C. S. Lewis Society in Indianapolis will be postponed to a later date. Check back here for updates on The Hidden Story of Narnia Book Tour.

Thanks to all for your prayers and understanding.

Hidden Story of Narnia Book Tour

2010-09-07T19:15:00.007-04:00

Here is the upcoming schedule for my Hidden Story of Narnia Book Tour:

9/14/2010
3:30 pm
Marion E. Wade Center
Wheaton College
Wheaton, Illinois
Click here for more info:
www.wheaton.edu/news/events/events_10_11/09.14.10_Vaus_WadeCenter.html

9/17/2010
7 pm
Central Indiana C. S. Lewis Society
Indianapolis
For more info email: dchintz@sbcglobal.net

9/27/2010
7 pm
Frederick C. S. Lewis Society
Frederick, Maryland
For more info email: fredericklewissociety@yahoo.com

Blog: http://frederickcslewissociety.blogspot.com/

10/7/2010
Austin, Texas
Concordia University
For more info email: Joel.Heck@concordia.edu

San Marcos, Texas
Texas State University
For more info email: sb03@txstate.edu

10/17/2010

First Presbyterian Church

Mesa, Arizona

For more information on the Arizona portion of my tour you may contact: bruce@scottsdalechurch.com

10/20/2010
Southern California C. S. Lewis Society
Meeting at Azusa Pacific University
For more information email: jprothero@cox.net

11/13/2010

9 am

Rainbow Fayre

Watford, England

Contact: gillhulme@btinternet.com

12 pm

Living Oasis Bookstore

Watford, England

Contact: Jane Collier at watford@livingoasis.co.uk

11/16/2010

Oxford University C. S. Lewis Society

Oxford, England

Web Site: http://sites.google.com/site/lewisinoxford/

11/19/2010
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community
For more info call: 888-564-VMRC

Hollywood Jesus.Com Review

2010-09-05T12:50:00.003-04:00

Mark Sommer has given a good review of The Hidden Story of Narnia at

http://live.hollywoodjesus.com/?p=6103. Check it out!

Web Site Update

2010-08-06T19:00:00.002-04:00

My web site has a whole new look. You can check it out here: www.willvaus.com.

Dawn Treader Trailer

2010-06-19T13:31:00.004-04:00

I can't wait!

L. A. Confidential

2010-06-12T13:20:00.004-04:00

I am traveling to Los Angeles on Tuesday for a television interview on a new program being produced for the Discovery Channel. The title of the program is James Ellroy's Los Angeles. As you may know, Ellroy is the bestselling author of L. A. Confidential as well as a number of other crime novels. Mr. Ellroy will be interviewing me about my book, My Father Was a Gangster: the Jim Vaus Story, and my father's involvement in organized crime in the late 1940s.

Hidden Story Signing in Lynchburg

2010-05-24T19:41:00.003-04:00

This Saturday, May 29, 3 pm, I will be at the Inklings Bookshop & White Hart Cafe in Lynchburg, Virginia signing copies of my new book, The Hidden Story of Narnia. I will also be offering a powerpoint presentation on the spiritual themes in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Here is the link to the Inklings Bookshop & White Hart Cafe web site for directions: www.inklingswhitehart.com.

I hope to see all of my Lynchburg friends there, and make some new ones....

Hidden Story on Amazon!

2010-04-30T16:55:00.003-04:00

The Hidden Story of Narnia is now available for purchase on Amazon! Just click here to go there: http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Story-Narnia-Book-Book/dp/1936294028/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272660805&sr=8-1.

Of course, if you would like a signed copy, then you can purchase directly from my web site by clicking here: http://www.willvaus.com/inc/sdetail/1768.

New Covenant Schools

2010-04-29T14:21:00.004-04:00

I was at New Covenant Schools in Lynchburg, Virginia on Tuesday, April 27. You may learn more about New Covenant Schools here: www.newcovenantschools.org.

My time in the chapel service with middle school and high school students there was most enjoyable. The topic for the day was the spiritual themes in C. S. Lewis' The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The students' deep familiarity with the book was a joy to hear; one could almost argue that they told me more about the book than the other way around!

Afterwards I signed copies of my new book, The Hidden Story of Narnia for a number of interested students and faculty. (By the way, the young man in the second row above, with the dark hair and big smile, Travis Elliott, contributed an endorsement which appears on the back cover of my book.)

The students on the other side of the room were just as bright and good looking! As you can see below....

If you would like me to come and do a presentation on The Hidden Story of Narnia in your school you may contact me by e-mail: will@willvaus.com. I look forward to linking up.

And speaking of linking up, I will be in Lynchburg, Virginia again on Saturday, May 29, 3 pm at the White Hart Cafe on Main Street for another presentation and signing of The Hidden Story. You may learn more about the White Hart Cafe here: www.inklingswhitehart.com.

(Special thanks to my hosts in Lynchburg, Ernie & Gail Mitchell, who are always a delight and on this visit took me to the best Mexican Restaurant I have eaten at since moving away from San Diego, California many years ago!)

Chattanooga C. S. Lewis Society

2010-04-24T19:40:00.006-04:00

Last night I was in Chattanooga, Tennessee speaking to the C. S. Lewis Society there and signing copies of my new book, The Hidden Story of Narnia. And no, I did not take the "choo choo" to get there. I just couldn't resist including the picture above.

We had a great group last night, meeting at The Camp House (the storefront meeting place of a contemporary Anglican church--way cool!). We had folks travel to the event from as far away as Nashville and Alabama!

There was an enthusiastic response to my presentation on the spiritual themes in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader followed by an engaging time of Q&A.

We even had some young boys present who are currently reading the Narnia books and are the same age I was when I first stepped through the wardrobe door. That was neat! Here's a picture of me with the dad (Neil) who brought them....

Thanks to all who came and made it such an enjoyable evening, and special thanks to two of the greatest hosts south of the Mason-Dixon: David and Sheila Beckmann. To learn more about the Chattanooga C. S. Lewis Society click here: http://cslewischattanooga.org.

Hidden Story of Narnia in Monterey, VA

2010-04-21T10:40:00.004-04:00

We had a great beginning to The Hidden Story of Narnia book tour last night in Monterey, Virginia. There was quite a variety of people present from young singles to parents to grandparents. Some were long time fans of the Narnia stories. Others were encouraged by my presentation on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader to read the Narnia books for the first time.

After my presentation and a wonderful time of Q&A I signed books for a number of folks....

If you would like The Hidden Story of Narnia to come to your area, e-mail me at will@willvaus.com.

Hidden Story of Narnia Signings

2010-04-19T16:25:00.003-04:00

There are a number of booksigning events coming up for The Hidden Story of Narnia. I will be at the Highland County Public Library in Monterey, Virginia on Tuesday, April 20 at 7 pm. You can find directions to the library here: http://highlandlibrary.homestead.com/.

On Friday, April 23, I will be speaking to the Chattanooga C. S. Lewis Society and signing books in Chattanooga, Tennessee. You can find out more information on their web site here: http://cslewischatt.blogspot.com/.

And on Tuesday, April 27, I will be speaking in chapel at New Covenant Schools in Lynchburg, Virginia. You may find out more about them here: http://www.newcovenantschools.org.

If you would like me to do a presentation on The Hidden Story of Narnia and/or sign books for your book club, bookstore, school, church or other group virtually anywhere in the world I'd love to talk with you. E-mail me at will@willvaus.com.

C. S. Lewis: His Literary Achievement

2010-04-14T07:58:00.004-04:00

My review of the new edition of Colin Manlove's book, C. S. Lewis: His Literary Achievement, is now posted on the HarperCollins C. S. Lewis blog. Simply click here to read it:

http://booksbycslewis.blogspot.com/2010/04/c-s-lewis-his-literary-achievement.html

Hidden Story of Narnia in Print!

2010-04-12T11:57:00.003-04:00

The Hidden Story of Narnia is now in print and available to order online from my web site using PayPal. Simply click here to order: www.willvaus.com/store.

Here is more information about the book from the back cover:

When ten-year-old Anne Waller from Suffolk England wrote to C. S. Lewis in 1961 with a question about The Chronicles of Narnia she never expected to receive a reply. However, not only did Lewis answer her letter, he also outlined the spiritual themes in each of the Narnia books. That letter served as inspiration for Will Vaus to write The Hidden Story of Narnia. Nearly 50 years later, Anne Waller Jenkins has written a preface for The Hidden Story, praising the author's "gift of clarity" and the "sheer joy and merriment" of his style.

"This book gives great motivation and inspiration to live out my faith. It is a chance to become a true Narnian. What greater charge than--'To Narnia and the North! For Aslan!' I highly recommend this book."

Sophie Heinsohn, 12 years old, Maryland, USA

"Whether you have just stepped from the threshold of Narnia, fresh from The Last Battle, or you are a veteran traveler who has journeyed beside the Pevensies many a time, you will certainly enjoy this journey through the wardrobe...."

Travis Elliott, 17 years old, Virginia, USA

"A clear and concise analysis of the spiritual architecture that undergirds each of the Chronicles, written in a manner that should prove equally challenging and accessible to academics, non-academics, college and high school students, and even well-read children."

Louis Markos, Professor in English and Scholar in Residence at Houston Baptist University

C. S. Lewis on the Resurrection

2010-04-05T08:55:00.003-04:00

"As this qualification suggests, to preach Christianity meant primarily to preach the Resurrection. Thus people who had heard only fragments of St. Paul's teaching at Athens got the impression that he was talking about two new gods, Jesus and Anastasis (i.e. Resurrection) (Acts xvii. 18). The Resurrection is the central theme in every Christian sermon reported in the Acts. The Resurrection, and its consequences, were the 'gospel' or good news which the Christians brought: what we call the 'gospels', the narratives of Our Lord's life and death, were composed later for the benefit of those who had already accepted the gospel. They were in no sense the basis of Christianity: they were written for those already converted. The miracle of the Resurrection, and the theology of that miracle, comes first: the biography comes later as a comment on it. Nothing could be more unhistorical than to pick out selected sayings of Christ from the gospels and to regard those as the datum and the rest of the New Testament as a construction upon it. The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection. If they had died without making anyone else believe this 'gospel' no gospels would ever have been written."

Miracles, pp. 171-172.

Easter

2010-04-04T21:20:00.003-04:00

The Garden Tomb

"In the earliest days of Christianity an 'apostle' was first and foremost a man who claimed to be an eye-witness of the Resurrection. Only a few days after the Crucifixion when two candidates were nominated for the vacancy created by the treachery of Judas, their qualification was that they had known Jesus personally both before and after His death and could offer first-hand evidence of the Resurrection in addressing the outer world (Acts i. 22). A few days later St. Peter, preaching the first Christian sermon, makes the same claim--'God raised Jesus, of which we all (we Christians) are witnesses' (Acts ii. 32). In the first Letter to the Corinthians St. Paul bases his claim to apostleship on the same ground--'Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen the Lord Jesus?'"

C. S. Lewis, Miracles, London: Geoffrey Bles, 1947, p. 171.

He Descended into Hell

2010-04-03T15:03:00.005-04:00

'Only the Greatest of all can make Himself small enough to enter Hell. For the higher a thing is, the lower it can descend--a man can sympathise with a horse but a horse cannot sympathise with a rat. Only One has descended into Hell.'

'And will He ever do so again?'

'It was not once long ago that He did it. Time does not work that way when once ye have left the Earth. All moments that have been or shall be were, or are, present in the moment of His descending. There is no spirit in prison to Whom He did not preach.'

'And some hear him?'

'Aye.'

(C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce, London: Geoffrey Bles, 1945, p. 114)

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison ..."

1 Peter 3:18-19

Good Friday

2010-04-02T12:21:00.002-04:00

"God, who needs nothing, loves into existence wholly superfluous creatures in order that He may love and perfect them. He creates the universe, already foreseeing--or should we say 'seeing'? There are no tenses in God--the buzzing cloud of flies about the cross, the flayed back pressed against the uneven stake, the nails driven through the mesial nerves, the repeated incipient suffocation as the body droops, the repeated torture of back and arms as it is time after time, for breath's sake, hitched up. If I may dare the biological image, God is a 'host' who deliberately creates His own parasites, causes us to be that we may exploit and 'take advantage of' Him. Herein is love. This is the diagram of Love Himself, the inventor of all loves."

C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Movieguide on The Hidden Story of Narnia

2010-03-31T08:15:00.002-04:00

More endorsements of The Hidden Story of Narnia keep pouring in. I received this one just this morning from Ted Baehr at Movieguide....

"The Hidden Story of Narnia is amazing -- clear, brilliant, interesting, enlightening, and profound. I highly recommend it for everyone and anyone who has read any of the CHRONICLES OF NARNIA books. I have written NARNIA BECKONS about the same subject, I will concede that The Hidden Story of Narnia is the most comprehensive and captivating book on the great series by CS Lewis. It must be read! Bravo!"

The Real Test

2010-03-30T14:41:00.004-04:00

For me, the real test of success for my new book, The Hidden Story of Narnia, is whether it can be read and enjoyed, both by academics and by young people. According to the endorsements The Hidden Story has received . . . it has passed the test.

Here is what two younger readers have said about The Hidden Story of Narnia: A Book-by-Book Guide to C. S. Lewis' Spiritual Themes....

“This book gives great motivation and inspiration to live out my faith. It is a chance to become a true Narnian. What greater charge than – 'To Narnia and the North! For Aslan!' I highly recommend this book.”

Sophie Heinsohn, 12 years old, Maryland, USA

“Whether you have just stepped from the threshold of Narnia, fresh from The Last Battle, or you are a veteran traveler who has journeyed beside the Pevensies many a time, you will certainly enjoy this journey through the wardrobe . . .”

Travis Elliott, 17 years old, Virginia, USA

(By the way, the photo above is of me with a group of students from New Covenant Schools in Lynchburg, Virginia, taken during a visit last year. I plan to visit there again this year, on April 27, as part of The Hidden Story of Narnia Book Tour.)

More Friends Saying Nice Things

2010-03-28T13:46:00.002-04:00

This photo is of me and Sanford (Sandy) Schwartz and Michael Ward at the pre-Perelandra Opera dinner at New College, Oxford, in the summer of 2009.

Sandy, who is a professor at Penn State University and author of C. S. Lewis on the Final Frontier has written a very nice endorsement of my new book, The Hidden Story of Narnia:

"Once again Will Vaus proves himself a wise and trusty guide to C.S. Lewis. Drawing on the full range of Lewis' works and on his biblical, literary, and philosophical sources, this volume is an ideal companion for individual readers or discussion groups that are concerned with the spiritual implications of the Chronicles of Narnia and are seeking to understand more fully what it means 'to live like a Narnian'."

Another friend, Robert Velarde, author of Conversations with C. S. Lewis, The Heart of Narnia and The Wisdom of Pixar, has said this about The Hidden Story:

"Experience Narnia like never before as Will Vaus expertly guides you through its deep spiritual themes. Whether you are new to Narnia or a longtime fan, The Hidden Story of Narnia reveals fresh insights that will help you grow in understanding and virtue."

It's good to have such friends who say nice things about one's books.

C. S. Lewis' Letters to Children

2010-03-26T08:12:00.004-04:00

As I have noted before in this blog, out of the hundreds of published C. S. Lewis letters my favorites are the ones Lewis wrote to some of his child readers of the Narnia stories. And out of those letters to children, Lewis' letters to Laurence Krieg (pictured above) and his mother are, perhaps, the most priceless.

Laurence's mother originally wrote to Mr. Lewis because her son was concerned that he was loving Aslan more than Jesus. Lewis wrote back and said, among other things, "Laurence can't really love Aslan more than Jesus, even if he feels that's what he is doing. For the things he loves Aslan for doing or saying are simply the things Jesus really did and said." (Letters to Children, 6 May 1955)

Through the miracle of the Internet I have been in touch with Laurence over the past couple of years. Just recently, Laurence read the manuscript of my new book, The Hidden Story of Narnia, and here is what he had to say about it:

"The Hidden Story of Narnia gives us a wonderful link between the themes of The Chronicles of Narnia and Scripture, both Old and New Testaments. The author is deeply familiar with a broad variety of Lewis's other writings, and adds a lot of depth to the fiction, rooting it in the soil of his more serious material. The questions at the end of each chapter also provide a good springboard for discussion, as well as inspiration for personal reflection."

You may read more about Laurence Krieg and his correspondence with C. S. Lewis here: http://home.comcast.net/~krieg5208/Lewis/index.htm

And here is an image of one of Lewis' letters to Laurence:

Outline of "The Hidden Story of Narnia"

2010-03-21T14:33:00.007-04:00

The outline of my new book, The Hidden Story of Narnia, is based upon a letter that C. S. Lewis wrote to a girl named Anne in 1961. In the letter (pictured above) Lewis wrote:

"The whole Narnian story is about Christ. That is to say, I asked myself 'Supposing there really were a world like Narnia and supposing it had (like our world) gone wrong and supposing Christ wanted to go into that world and save it (as He did ours) what might have happened?' The stories are my answer. Since Narnia is a world of Talking Beasts I thought he would become a Talking Beast there, as he became a Man here. I pictured Him becoming a lion there because (a.) the lion is supposed to be the King of beasts: (b.) Christ is called 'The Lion of Judah' in the Bible: (c.) I'd been having strange dreams about lions when I began writing the books. The whole series works out like this:

The Magician's Nephew tells the creation and how evil entered Narnia.

The Lion etc ________________ the crucifixion and Resurrection

Prince Caspian__________ restoration of the true religion after a corruption

The Horse and his Boy ________ the calling and conversion of a heathen.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader_the spiritual life (especially in Reepicheep)

The Silver Chair__the continued war against the powers of darkness

The Last Battle__the coming of Antichrist (the Ape), the end of the world and the Last Judgement."

A couple of weeks ago, while I was working on the galley proofs for my new book, I decided to try to find Anne. In a matter of days I had an e-mail from her. I asked her if she would mind reading The Hidden Story of Narnia and offering an endorsement if she liked it. She very graciously responded in the affirmative to my request. Within another day she wrote to me again to say that she had read the first few chapters and thought it was "brilliant!" She said, "I wish I had written it myself!"

The end result is that Anne has now written a lovely Preface to The Hidden Story of Narnia. But if you want to read that you will just have to order the book. It is available for pre-order now from my web site (http://www.willvaus.com/) and should be in print in early April.

Here is a photo of Anne when she was eleven years old, just a few months after she received her letter from C. S. Lewis....

And here is the envelope in which she received her letter from C. S. Lewis. According to Douglas Gresham the handwriting on the envelope is that of Lewis' brother, Warnie....

More Endorsements of "The Hidden Story"

2010-03-16T16:09:00.004-04:00

Wayne Martindale and Jerry Root, editors of The Quotable Lewis have both added their endorsements to many others for my forthcoming book, The Hidden Story of Narnia....

"What a delightful—and helpful—book! Readers of Lewis’ Narnia books will enjoy splashing back into the stories and thinking about the enduring truths so freshly evoked by Lewis and highlighted by Will Vaus. Though rooted in solid scholarship and theology, The Hidden Story of Narnia is accessible to those new to both. It will take you back to The Chronicles of Narnia for another look—at the books, at yourself."

Wayne Martindale
Professor of English, Wheaton College

"C. S. Lewis will continue to be read for a long, long time. He always attracts new readers longing for clear and illuminating introductions to his books, his ideas, and his wide world so integrated by his faith. Will Vaus has proved once again that he knows his subject and he knows how to give readers a more robust appreciation of Lewis. The Hidden Story of Narnia, with its clarity and engaging style, is another brilliant example of Vaus’ skill as an expositor."

Jerry Root
Co-editor of The Quotable Lewis

Hidden Story available for Pre-Order!

2010-03-15T13:16:00.002-04:00

My newest book, The Hidden Story of Narnia, is now available for pre-order. The book should be ready to ship by the first or second week of April. But you can learn more about the book and pre-order now by clicking here: www.willvaus.com.

Owen A. Barfield on "The Hidden Story"

2010-03-04T08:12:00.004-05:00

Owen A. Barfield (pictured with me above in Oxford, summer 2009) has called my new book,The Hidden Story of Narnia, "A thoughtful and thought-provoking book."

Barfield is the grandson of Owen Barfield, one of C. S. Lewis' closest friends from Oxford student days to the end of Lewis' life in 1963. Owen A. Barfield is also one of his grandfather's literary executors. You may find out more about the Literary Estate of Owen Barfield and what they are up to by clicking here: http://www.owenbarfield.org/.

Owen A. Barfield's Aunt Lucy was the one to whom C. S. Lewis dedicated The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in these endearing words....

My dear Lucy,

I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say, but I shall still be

your affectionate Godfather,
C. S. Lewis

Lucy was the adopted daughter of Owen Barfield who had this to say about her:

Lucy Barfield was a very lively and happy child--apt for instance to be seen turning somersault-wheels in the garden immediately after a meal. From an early age she showed marked musical taste and ability. After a short-lived ambition to become a ballet dancer, she eventually qualified as a professional teacher of music and was employed for a year or two as such by a well-known Kentish school for girls. But the cruel onset of multiple sclerosis soon obliged her to abandon all idea of living a normal life and she has remained for decades a (now almost) totally disabled patient in a wheel chair. (Walter Hooper,C. S. Lewis: Companion & Guide , New York: HarperCollins, 1996, p. 758)

Sadly, Lucy Barfield passed away in 2003.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which of course is going to appear as a major motion picture in December 2010, was dedicated "to Geoffrey Corbett". "Jeffrey", as he now spells his name, is the foster son of Owen and Maud Barfield, whom C. S. Lewis helped to put through school. Jeffrey changed his last name to Barfield in 1962. Since that time the dedication in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader has read: "To Geoffrey Barfield".

Owen A. Barfield wrote to me in a recent e-mail about his Uncle Jeffrey: "During my aunt Lucy's long illness with Multiple Sclerosis, he would often visit her to read out-loud the Narnia stories from which they both took comfort."

Owen Barfield fans in London will be happy to know that on Thursday, 25 March, 2010, there will be a dramatisation with harp music of Barfield's 1929 novella: The Rose on the Ash Heap. This will take place at St. Ethelburga's, 78 Bishopsgate, London, from 1:30 to 5:30 pm.

Advance Praise for "The Hidden Story"

2010-03-03T18:37:00.008-05:00

My newest book, The Hidden Story of Narnia, is soon to be published by Winged Lion Press. You may click here to learn more about them: http://wingedlionpress.com/.

The book is already receiving some wonderful endorsements:

I am asked again and again by lovers of Narnia if there is a book out there that will help them understand the deeper Christian meanings of The Chronicles of Narnia. I am happy to say that that much desired book now exists. Will Vaus’s The Hidden Story of Narnia offers a clear and concise analysis of the spiritual architecture that undergirds each of the Chronicles, and it does so in a language that should prove equally challenging and accessible to academics, non-academics, college and high school students, and even well-read children. Vaus makes clear all the links between Aslan and Christ and between the Narnia books and the Bible. But he goes far beyond this. He also links the themes of the Narnia books to the vast corpus of Lewis’s other works so as to make clear the unity of Lewis’s Christian worldview. He further challenges his readers to see and wrestle with the greater moral and ethical dimensions of the Chronicles, highlighting the nature of virtue and vice in a manner that would surely have gained Lewis’s hearty approval. He concludes by laying down seven guidelines for living like a Narnian that are practical without being didactic and that will help his readers to carry the message of Narnia into their own lives.

Louis Markos , Professor in English and Scholar in Residence at Houston Baptist University, Author of Lewis Agonistes and The Life and Writings of C. S. Lewis
The Hidden Story of Narnia splendidly connects all seven of the Narnia books with not only their biblical correspondences but also with relevant passages from Lewis's other works, allowing readers to journey further up and further in with their understanding of and their appreciation for this great writer and thinker.

Devin Brown, professor of English at Asbury University and author of Inside the Voyage of the Dawn Treader

In this book, noted C. S. Lewis scholar Will Vaus charts the points of spiritual intersection between the seven Chronicles of Narnia books and the Bible. The Hidden Story of Narnia maps a path into Narnia and back again into our world for those who wish to understand the spiritual ideas and allusions in Lewis’s beloved Narnia tales. Suitable for group study as well as individual benefit.

Michael Travers, Ph.D.
Professor of English
The College at Southeastern, a School of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

Billy Graham on Death and Dying

2010-02-24T08:44:00.003-05:00

A wonderful interview with one of the greatest men I have ever known.... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/janet-kinosian/pilgrims-progress-billy-g_b_472137.html?view=screen

My Brother Won a Grammy!

2010-02-02T12:28:00.002-05:00

From time to time I post things on this blog that have nothing to do with C. S. Lewis or Narnia. This is one of those times, the etcetera part of this blog.

On Sunday night my brother, Steve Vaus, also known as cowboy singer, Buck Howdy, won a Grammy award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children. Here is a news story all about it....

Mourne Mountains

2010-01-22T09:41:00.002-05:00

This photo, which appeared in the Belfast Telegraph on January 13, 2010, makes one believe that the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland did indeed inspire C. S. Lewis' description of the landscape of Narnia.

For more, click here: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/the-reallife-land-of-narnia-northern-irelands-mourne-mountains-14633381.html

The Trout Inn at Godstow

2010-01-20T18:48:00.008-05:00

The photo above fell out of an old picture album the other day and has been lingering in my desk ever since. The picture is of some friends and I at the Trout Inn at Godstow, Oxfordshire in 1997.

Coincidentally I came across this lovely article about Snowdrops at Godstow online today: http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/4861662.Snowdrops__at_Godstow/

Walter Hooper notes on page 790 of Volume III of The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis: "The Trout Inn, one of Lewis's favourite places, is a few miles outside Oxford on Godstow Road and faces the Thames. It was built in the sixteenth century and by 1625 it was serving as an inn. The two-storey building was rebuilt in 1757. Its interior is very cosy with flagstone floors, beamed ceilings and log fires. The Inklings went there often in the summer when they could have their drinks outside by the river."

Here is a photo of Lewis with James Dundas-Grant, Colin Hardie, R. E. Havard and Peter Havard at the Trout:

Walter Hooper also notes, "Dr. R. E. Havard and James Dundas-Grant often took Lewis to the Trout Inn at Godstow after meetings of the Inklings. Dundas-Grant said in 'From an "Outsider"', Remembering C. S. Lewis, p. 371: 'Sometimes, in the summer, after we had dispersed, Havard would run Jack and me out to The Trout at Godstow, where we would sit on the wall with the Isis flowing below us and munch cheese and French bread.'" (Collected Letters, Volume III, p. 1481.)

Sounds good to me! Pub crawl anyone?

CSL Colloquium at Taylor University

2010-01-11T16:30:00.002-05:00

There is a call for papers for the C. S. Lewis & Friends Colloquium at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. The colloquium takes place June 3-6, 2010. Taylor is well worth the visit to see the C. S. Lewis Collection there as well as a portion of Ed Brown's recreation of the Eagle & Child pub (pictured above)!

To learn more about the colloquium click here: http://www.taylor.edu/academics/supportservices/cslewis/colloquium/2010/index.shtml

The Nativity

2009-12-25T06:57:00.004-05:00

Among the oxen (like an ox I'm slow)

I see a glory in the stable grow

Which, with the ox's dullness might at length

Give me an ox's strength.

Among the asses (stubborn I as they)

I see my Saviour where I looked for hay;

So may my beastlike folly learn at least

The patience of a beast.

Among the sheep (I like a sheep have strayed)

I watch the manger where my Lord is laid;

Oh that my baa-ing nature would win thence

Some woolly innocence!

C. S. Lewis, Poems, p. 122.

Fourth Sunday in Advent

2009-12-20T10:01:00.003-05:00

"We had our first frost last night--this morning the lawns are all grey, with a pale, bright sunshine on them: wonderfully beautiful. And somehow exciting. The first beginning of the winter always excites me; it makes me want adventures."

C. S. Lewis, Letters to Children, 16 October 1955.

Screwtape Illustrated

2009-12-19T06:11:00.004-05:00

My review of The Illustrated Screwtape Letters has been posted on the C. S. Lewis Blog here:

http://booksbycslewis.blogspot.com/2009/12/illustrated-screwtape.html

Third Sunday in Advent

2009-12-13T09:16:00.003-05:00

The Nativity by Gerard van Honthorst (1590-1656)

"Yes," said Queen Lucy. "In our world too, a Stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world."

C. S. Lewis, The Last Battle, chapter 13.

Second Sunday in Advent

2009-12-06T11:28:00.004-05:00

Two thousand years go by while on the Cross

Our Lord is suffering still--there is no end

Of pain: the spear pierces, nails rend--

And we below with Mary weep our loss.

The chilling edge of night crawls round the earth;

At every second of the centuries

The dark comes somewhere down, with dreadful ease

Slaying the sun, denying light's rebirth.

But if the agony and death go on,

Our Lady's tears, Our Lord's most mortal cry,

So, too, the timeless lovely birth again--

And the forsaken tomb. Today: the dawn

That never ended and can never die

In breaking glory ushers in the slain.

Advent by Sheldon Vanauken

from A Severe Mercy, Davy's Edition, p. 122.

First Sunday in Advent

2009-11-29T18:59:00.004-05:00

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 1:14 (NIV)

"The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say that God became Man. Every other miracle prepares for this or exhibits this, or results from this. Just as every natural event is the manifestation at a particular place and moment of Nature's total character, so every particular Christian miracle manifests at a particular place and moment the character and significance of the Incarnation. There is no question in Christianity of arbitrary interferences just scattered about. It relates not a series of disconnected raids on Nature but the various steps of a strategically coherent invasion--an invasion which intends complete conquest and 'occupation'. The fitness, and therefore credibility, of the particular miracles depends on their relation to the Grand Miracle; all discussion of them in isolation from it is futile."

C. S. Lewis, Miracles, Chapter XIV, paragraph 1.

The Hidden Story of Narnia

2009-10-31T09:38:00.003-04:00

My newest book, The Hidden Story of Narnia: A Book-by-Book Guide to C. S. Lewis' Spiritual Themes, will be published by Zossima Press in the new year! More information coming soon. Stay tuned. . . .