Wardrobes and Rings
On a journey with Tolkien and Lewis
Some of you will know I am not easily pigeonholed, turning from fiction to non-fiction and now to a Lent reader.
I have a new and very different book out in November called Wardrobe and Rings. Written with Professor Simon Horobin, Magdalen College, and the inimitable Malcolm Guite, it is a book for Lent, drawing on the inspiration of the Inklings (Tolkien and C.S. Lewis) and their circle. We hope to inspire, inform and encourage in the nicest possible company.
Perhaps you’ll find it an antidote to the rather stressful times we are living in? I certainly have found the task of putting it together a refreshing and positive experience.
It is available for pre-order here and is published by Canterbury Press.
Lenten Journey
The idea is to spend the forty days of Lent thinking about themes from the works of Tolkien and Lewis, such as Legolas and time, Eustace and Undragoning, and whose quest is it anyway when it comes to The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (that’s a few of my themes - there are many others).
Simon brings expertise on so many subjects, including Lewis in Oxford, with a light sprinkling of Old English and Medieval references which will leave you feeling agreeably well informed. He writes the best thing on wardrobes that I have ever read - look out for that in his ‘Through the wardrobe’ day.
Malcolm is a poet, theologian and literary critic who reveals new and wonderful aspects in familiar stories. My own reading has been greatly enriched since editing this book. Particularly special to me was his insight into Easter Saturday and The Return of the King.
While Wardrobes and Rings draws inspiration from the faith of the Inkings, we want it to be enjoyable to all their admirers with thoughts applicable to all ages and stages in life. All you need to enjoy it is curiosity about the Inklings and a desire to stop and ponder for five minutes each of the forty days (plus Holy Week).
Writing together
Our own journey to writing the book has been very enjoyable. Simon’s office is a room or two along from C.S. Lewis’s so we were able to have the same view the Inklings would have enjoyed. We met in January to divide up the themes between us, keeping three days as special joint responses - Gandalf’s wise words on dealing with our times, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. We met again for an edit after Easter. Here’s the magnificent wisteria that greeted us on that occasion! It’s clambering up towards Lewis’s room where the Inklings met each Thursday for many years.
I’m excited to see where the Lenten journey takes our readers. It is the book I have always wanted someone to write for me so I did the classic things of getting it written myself. It was my privilege to have such wonderful co-writers as part of that journey.