This is the story of the life of CS Lewis, the man who gave us the delightful Chronicles of Narnia. Readers will be touched by Lewis' difficult childhood, beginning with the death of his mother, and fans of the Narnia series will delight in learning how these books came into being (and surprised to learn how J. R. R. Tolkien almost squashed the publication of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by telling Lewis the book was no good!). The book covers aspects of Lewis's religious awakening and Christian apologetics, his late-life marriage to Joy Davidman, and of course contains many details on the creation of the Chronicles of Narnia. The book is serious, thoughtful, and thorough, providing a clear picture of the man as well as the era in which he lived. Although Lewis was a somewhat reserved academic whose life revolved around books and universities, Coren conveys the fascination of his life and the pleasures of his association with other writers and scholars in an immensely readable way. Containing many black-and-white photographs, this is a first-rate biography for adults and children alike.