Not a Tame Lion: Unveil Narnia Through the Eyes of Lucy, Peter, and Other Characters Created by C. S. Lewis

by Bruce L. Edwards

A study of the spiritual world of Narnia as seen through the main characters' interactions with Aslan the Lion. An introductory chapter focuses on the spiritual world of C. S. Lewis and the origins of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1414303815
• ISBN13: 9781414303819
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 3.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.3" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Fresh Light on Narnia

The vision of Not a Tame Lion is rooted in this thesis: "We most accurately discern the spiritual worlds of Narnia in the biography of Aslan."(xvii) Author Bruce Edwards notes the dangers of becoming occupied with secondary sources, yet he also points to the need C.S. Lewis saw "to consult a map before we set out." In this book Dr. Edwards seeks to provide a map of spiritual and moral qualities in Narnia as seen through the eyes of its characters. Not a Tame Lion begins, after a brief prologue, with a biography of C.S. Lewis, the Inklings and the origins of Narnia. Chapter two dives into the tension between Aslan not being safe, but still being good. Aslan is met as savior and protector in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (LWW) and as creator in The Magician's Nephew (MN). Subsequently, Dr. Edwards explores numerous spiritual traits found in the Narnian chronicles. First is valor, in Chapter 3, in the Pevensie children, Prince Caspian, Jill Pole and Puddleglum in The Silver Chair (SC), and Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer in MN. Next, in Chapter 4, "victory over vanity" explores the transformations of Eustace, Caspian, and Lucy in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," as well as Shasta and Aravis in The Horse and His Boy. Chapter 5 turns to the dark side of Narnia where we meet villainy in Jadis (LWW, MN), the White Witch or self-described "Queen of Narnia," Uncle Andrew (MN), The Queen of the Underland (SC), and Nikabrik (PC). However, vindication is found in the next chapter as it curves to the return and triumph of Aslan in The Last Battle. The epilogue looks "after Narnia" toward the relationship of reason and imagination in light of "Narnian apologetics." The only factor that detracts from this great book is the very last portion of the epilogue in which Dr. Edwards "records" a conversation he had with C.S. Lewis while surfing the Internet. Though the content of the discussion is interesting, it leaves the book on an awkward note, distracting the reader from the rest of the book. Lewis had the power to awaken and fascinate our hibernating longings with few words, and Bruce Edwards follows him in that tradition. In this book, Dr. Edwards brings out the vibrant virtues and vices of Narnia in a manner that amplifies the great truths with which Lewis worked. With the exception of the last segment of the epilogue, Not a Tame Lion is a treasure among the plethora of books on Narnia.

Not a Tame Lion - A Good Book

This was a very enjoyable read. It gave meaningful insight into Lewis' relationship to the genre of fantasy, it drew interesting parallels between revelation and The Chronicles, and was written in very polished prose. If there is one element of the book I found a little difficult, it was the circuitous method in which very disparate parts of The Chronicles were strung together to push forth a common theme. But Edwards finished each chapter with a summary that brought it all together convincingly. The end has a very cool part (was it true?) that is very 21st century. Very interestingly done..... Very enjoyable read, I am glad to have it on a shelf in my home.