I read the A-Z of C.S. LewisThe A-Z of C S Lewis: A Complete Guide to His Life, Thoughts and Writings, in exchange for review from Litfuse.

wanted to read the book because I love Chronicles of Narnia. I read the entire series over a few days. My mother is also a fan of C.S. Lewis's non-fiction books. She has a whole collection of the non-fiction, plus Narnia and the ScrewTape letters. Some of her books includes Mere Christianity, Words to Live by, A Joyful Christian and a Case for Christianity. She is awaiting me to give her this book because of her collection.

The A-Z Guide is an encyclopedia of C.S. Lewis's books, thoughts, and writings. The book is in alphabetical order.

Each entry provides a description of a book or writing or character in a book, etc. Some entries are related to other entries. Some entries have further reading to expand your knowledge.

For example, I looked up Aslan. In the book, Aslan is:

The creator and ultimate sovereign of Naria.
Aslan is intended to be a symbol of Christ in Christian teaching.
Readers are moved to tears when Aslan dies (yep, I was sad too).
See Allegory ("an extended metaphor, or sustained personification. figurative narrative or description, which conveys a hidden meaning.". See also imagination, Aslan, or Allegory of love.
Imagination: hard to define. fantasy is a power and product of imagination (p. 141).

The book also contains a bibliography of Lewis's work.

If you are a serious student of C. S. Lewis or just want to know more about this influential author — his life, works and thoughts, you need to get The A-Z of C. S. Lewis. Filled with everything you need to know, this book is a well-researched and exhaustive reference. It contains listings for the important people and places in Lewis’ life, the characters and settings of his major works, references to his essays and lectures and the basic beliefs he held. Duriez also includes a detailed bibliography including posthumous works and criticism and biography. This book is a great companion for all your Lewis reading. It certainly opened my eyes to a world beyond Narnia and Mere Christianity.

Recommended.

(Thanks to LitFuse for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

Title: The A-Z of C. S. Lewis (A Complete Guide to His Life, Thoughts, and Writings)
Author: Colin Duriez
Pages: 352
Year: 2013
Publisher: Lion Hudson
Most people know about C. S. Lewis either by reputation, The Chronicles of Narnia or perhaps even through Mere Christianity. What do you know of the man, his life or his writings? Perhaps it is through the stage performance of The Screwtape Letters by Max McLean that continued to sell out or maybe you read it in print. In any event, Clive Staples Lewis who was born in 1898 and died in 1963 left behind a treasure trove of materials used by God to reach or teach each new generation that comes along.
The book known as The A-Z of C. S. Lewis, originally published in 1990 with a different title, is reviewed here as an updated version for an audience of new time. Written with samples of various writings of Lewis it is organized so readers can locate information related to this author, speaker and teacher. In the back of the book is an extensive Bibliography for those in the audience who desire to pursue further knowledge or understanding of topics, people or anything related to Lewis.
The way the book can best be used is like an encyclopedia that helps readers locate different sources to further their understanding. I first read The Chronicles of Narnia when I was in college a couple of decades ago, and now my youngest son is an avid fan of this particular Lewis publication. The Walden Media did an excellent job in the movies they produced as well as Focus on the Family’s CD adaptation of the series.
Yet, there is more here than just a man, author, teacher, widower or a member of The Inklings. Here is a witness to the power of God in a man’s life who at first refused to yield to Christianity. C. S. Lewis’ variety of writings astounds me. Some of it is very intellectual like Mere Christianity. Some find his science fiction series of interest, but no matter what form or genre he used, Lewis pointed to God. To have his various materials being reproduced even 65 years after his death simply is beyond comprehension. The only way to view this isn’t due to the man as much as to his faith in the God he loved, worship and adored.
My rating is 5 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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