East of the Wardrobe

"a complex, wide-ranging investigation" -- Mark Vernon, Church Times
Ball's work highlights the breadth of intellectual and cultural traditions that were available to writers of his generation. * Greece & Rome *
The book's personal, digressive, and allusive qualities make it a page turner and often sheer fun to read. * Philip Irving Mitchell, Dallas Baptist University, TX , Mythopoeic Society *
A highly enjoyable and eye-opening account of the myriad ways Lewis was influenced by Eastern art, literature, and philosophy - and, indeed, religion. * Oliver Tearle, Interesting Literature *
A highly enjoyable and eye-opening account of the myriad ways Lewis was influenced by Eastern art, literature, and philosophy -and, indeed, religion. * Interesting Literature *
The book's personal, digressive, and allusive qualities make it a page turner and often sheer fun to read... Even those readers who are simply interested in comparative literature can enjoy the numerous possibilities on display. I think East of the Wardrobe will be mined for all of these for some years to come. * Philip Irving Mitchell, Mythlore *
East of the Wardrobe is as enjoyable as it is important...Laced with Ball's humour and humanity, this book has something for every reader. * Frazer MacDiarmid, The Stimulus *
East of the Wardrobe is as enjoyable as it is important. Ball betrays intimate familiarity with the Chronicles, undertaking close-reading (even exegesis) of the texts that will delight Narnia fans. Theologians will be fascinated by the variety of Eastern concepts evident in books whose secrets were thought to be long revealed... Even the endnotes were amusing and intriguing, with many meriting footnote status. C. S. Lewis emerges as a more complex and sympathetic author than commonly understood, whose bibliophilia sparked a love of beautiful stories, regardless of provenance. Laced with Ball's humour and humanity, this book has something for every reader. * The Stimulus *
This book's uniqueness arises most of all from the extent of the author's knowledge of Eastern, primarily but not limited to Eastern Mediterranean and Near Eastern, locations and texts. It makes a valuable contribution to the recognition, understanding, and appreciation of Lewis's interest in and use of Eastern matters. * Wesley A. Kort, Author of Reading C. S. Lewis *
C.S. Lewis had read widely in travel accounts of the Near and Middle East. Warwick Ball's sensitive, humane and often humorous book shows how Lewis' learning enriched and helped to universalize the fundamentally Christian worldview of the Narnia books. The author's own fine photographs also deepen one's appreciation of the illustrator Pauline Baynes' evocation of Lewis' fantasy cityscapes. One looks on the Calormenes and Marshwiggles with new eyes. * Richard Stoneman, University of Exeter *
East of the Wardrobe is as enjoyable as it is important. Ball betrays intimate familiarity with the Chronicles, undertaking close-reading (even exegesis) of the texts that will delight Narnia fans. Theologians will be fascinated by the variety of Eastern concepts evident in books whose secrets were thought to be long revealed... C. S. Lewis emerges as a more complex and sympathetic author than commonly understood, whose bibliophilia sparked a love of beautiful stories, regardless of provenance. Laced with Ball's humour and humanity, this book has something for every reader. * Stimulus: The New Zealand Journal of Christian Thought and Practice *
East of the Wardrobe brings an important new lens to the topic of Narnia and its roots.... Provide[s] a rich array of links between the East and Narnia. * Children's Literature Association Quarterly *