Planet Narnia

Planet Narnia examines C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia through a new interpretive framework based on medieval cosmology. Ward presents evidence that Lewis structured each Narnia book around one of the seven planets of the medieval solar system. The book traces Lewis's deep knowledge of medieval astronomy and demonstrates how planetary symbolism appears throughout his works. Ward analyzes the tone, imagery, and thematic elements of each Narnia chronicle to reveal its connection to a specific celestial body. Ward draws from Lewis's academic writings, personal letters, and other literary works to support his thesis about the hidden planetary code. The investigation includes detailed textual analysis and historical context about medieval views of the cosmos. This scholarly work offers a fresh perspective on the architectural unity of the Narnia series while exploring Lewis's integration of imagination, faith and reason. The planetary framework provides insight into how Lewis merged classical mythology with Christian themes in his storytelling.

Readers commend Ward's detailed research and scholarly approach in connecting each Narnia book to medieval planetary symbolism. Many note the compelling evidence presented, though some find the connections speculative. Positives: - Adds depth to future readings of Narnia - Clear writing despite complex subject matter - Strong academic foundations and citations - Makes medieval cosmology accessible Negatives: - Too academic/dense for casual readers - Repetitive in proving its thesis - Overreaches in some planetary connections - Could be shorter One reader noted: "Ward convinced me through sheer weight of evidence, though I was skeptical at first." Another wrote: "Sometimes feels like an academic dissertation rather than a book for Narnia fans." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (280+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (150+ ratings) Most critical reviews still rate it 3+ stars, mainly critiquing the writing style rather than the central argument.

The Inklings by Humphrey Carpenter This biography explores the intellectual and creative relationships between C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and their Oxford circle, providing context for the scholarly and mythological elements found in their works.

Medieval Numerology by Vincent Hopper The book examines the medieval understanding of numbers and their symbolic meanings, connecting to the same cultural framework that influenced Lewis's work.

The Discarded Image by C. S. Lewis This study of the medieval worldview presents the cosmological model that Ward argues influenced the structure of the Narnia series.

Surprised by Joy by C. S. Lewis Lewis's autobiography traces his intellectual journey from atheism to Christianity through his engagement with mythology and medieval literature.

The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker This analysis of storytelling patterns reveals the archetypal structures that underpin literature, including the planetary symbolism discussed in Planet Narnia.

🌟 Author Michael Ward discovered his theory about C.S. Lewis's secret planetary code while watching TV in bed and experiencing what he calls his "eureka moment" in 2003. 🌟 The book suggests each of the seven Narnia chronicles was influenced by one of the seven planets of medieval cosmology: Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Luna, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn. 🌟 Ward's thesis was so compelling that it earned him invitations to both Oxford and Cambridge Universities as a speaker, following in C.S. Lewis's own footsteps. 🌟 Before writing Planet Narnia, Ward served as Chaplain of Peterhouse at Cambridge University, the same institution where C.S. Lewis held his final academic post. 🌟 The theory presented in Planet Narnia was so significant that it was made into a BBC documentary called "The Narnia Code" in 2009.