Paths in the Snow - by Jem Bloomfield (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Step beyond the wardrobe--discover the stories behind Narnia.

"A real delight, and full of illumination." --Rowan Williams, author, The Lion's World: A Journey into the Heart of Narnia

"Crammed with beguiling, often surprising, insights." -- Brian Sibley, bestselling author of Harry Potter Film Wizardry and The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey Official Movie Guide

What's really lurking beneath the magic of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? In the first book of this exciting series, Jem Bloomfield invites readers on a captivating and wide-ranging journey through the hidden influences that shaped this beloved classic. From Dante's epic visions to the enduring charm of The Wind in the Willows, from medieval dream poetry to the sharp satire of Dorothy L. Sayers and a dash of folk horror, Bloomfield uncovers the rich tapestry of stories, myths, and ideas woven into Narnia's snowy landscape.

Packed with insight, curiosity, and plenty of "wait, really?" moments, this is a joyful deep dive for the devoted--and ever-growing--legions of Narnia fans across North America.

Review Quotes

"In many ways, C. S. Lewis continues to serve as both a door and a doorway for generations of delighted readers. We find in Lewis at once an object worthy of careful attention and also a wise and inviting guide to other authors, beckoning us to explore the incredibly rich literary roots beneath so much of what he has written, including his beloved The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. With warm style and a well-informed intellectual hospitality, Jem Bloomfield in his generously insightful Paths in the Snow digs deeply into those jewel-laden literary lands underpinning Lewis's novel, offering us treasures we can take along with us as we go."

-- "Andrew Lazo, Independent C. S. Lewis Scholar and Episcopal priest, and editor and contributor for Rediscovering C. S. Lewis and Mere Christians: Inspiring Encounters with C. S. Lewis"

"This is a book that will delight all Narnians."

-- "Katherine Langrish, author of Troll Fell"

"Crammed with beguiling, often surprising, insights."

-- "Brian Sibley, bestselling author of Harry Potter Film Wizardry and The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey Official Movie Guide"

"Jem Bloomfield...[opens up] the rich hinterland of Lewis's wonderful imagination with enthusiasm and an impressively wide familiarity with Lewis's inner world, from the Classics to the school stories of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. A real delight, and full of illumination."

-- "Rowan Williams, 104th Archbishop of Canterbury"