My 2005 book The World According to Narnia is out of print in English, so I was a little surprised yesterday when the mailman brought me four copies of a book called Świat według Narnii. Chrześcijańskie znaczenie niezwykłych opowieści C. S. Lewisa. Apparently Hachette, the publisher of The World According to Narnia, had sold the Polish rights. The first I heard about it was the arrival of the books themselves.
Here’s a description of the book from a Polish website. On the second paragraph, Google Translate starts to struggle…though I love that phrase “second bottom” to describe deeper levels of meaning in a story.
“The World According to Narnia” is an excellent guide to the land created by Lewis. Jonathan Rogers, the reader discovers the inner world of “The Chronicles of Narnia.” At the same time goes beyond the story told by Lewis and shows its context – the world of the author himself.
Rogers also betrays us, circled around the issues which the writer mean when he talked about the adventures of the Pevensie children, Eustace and Juliet, Digory’ego and Poli. It helps to deeply understand the content of “The Chronicles of Narnia”, explores the symbolism, draws attention to important details, or second bottom of individual events and descriptions.It shows how and where Lewis wove references to the Gospel.He says – and his words sound convincing – that the main driving forces of creativity Lewis is an extraordinary imagination and rational faith.
Rogers maintained his story lively and highly entertaining – the reader almost hears voices Ryczypiska, Błotosmętka, Zuchona, it feels sweet and refreshing waters of the strength of the Last Sea, which reached the crew of the Dawn Treader…
Here’s the publisher’s web page for the book. Apparently the book is getting reviewed by Polish bloggers. There is also a five-minute radio piece on the website; the only words I can make out, though, are “Jonathana Rogersa,” “Lewisa,” and “Aslan.” And the price is right at 29.90 zloty.
About me:
Jonathan Rogers: in literature (his specialty is science seventeenth-century English poetry), the writer, known primarily as the author of the trilogy Wilderking. He was a lecturer at Vanderbilt University. For several years, completely devoted himself to writing. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife and six children.
Jess
Ha! This is great. It is hilarious that you didn’t know until the book showed up at your house. And that second paragraph is good, too. “Rogers also betrays us, circled around the issues which the writer meanwhen he talked about the adventures of the Pevensie children, Eustace
and Juliet, Digory’ego and Poli.”
EmmaJ
Jonathan, I’m appalled that you would betray us by circling around those issues. We trusted you! For shame.
I want to read the Polish version just so hear for myself the voices of Ryczypiska, Błotosmętka, and Zuchona.
Cool that you’ve got an international following, albiet unbeknownst to yourself before now. I guess writing books is like sending kids off into the world – you can do your best to make them good, but where they end up is out of your hands
Loren Warnemuende
Hey, my sister is in Poland this week; I’ll have to see if she can find anyone who’s familiar with your book and get a translated review!
Sally Apokedak
Love this. What fun. I wonder if the Polish people will demand the Wilderking now. And for years you’ve completely devoted yourself to your writing…that makes you sound like such a saint, whereas full-time writer makes a man sound kind of…um…like one of those lazy people who stares out of windows all day.
Terri DeFoor
In Poland you betray your readers, and you are very convincing. And a hit. Very interesting.