As the battle between the good and evil forces of Narnia is shown on film screens worldwide with the release of Prince Caspian, Nicola Jemphrey’s fascinating tale of a boy’s encounter with CS Lewis, entitled Jack and the Wardrobe, is for sale in bookshops.
Jack and the Wardrobe, published by Scripture Union, is about a young boy deserted by his mother and left living with a father who has a drink problem. One day Jack hits his head on the statue outside his local library in East Belfast, of a man looking into a wardrobe, and an adventure begins which takes him on a fascinating journey into the life of CS Lewis.
Nicola Jemphrey decided to write the book after a lifetime’s interest in CS Lewis, who spent his early childhood in the late 19th century close to where Nicola lives in East Belfast, and after noticing the lack of Lewis biographies for the primary audience of the Narnia books, children aged nine to 11: ‘I assumed this was because children find biographies boring.
'One day I had the idea of a boy (called Jack, like CS Lewis) bumping into Ross Wilson’s sculpture of Lewis and the wardrobe outside Holywood Arches library in Belfast and suddenly saw how I could write a biography of Lewis which would be entertaining for children. I thought if the details of his life could be intertwined with the story of a modern day boy, then the readers would take them in without realising they were reading a biography!’
To celebrate the release of Jack and the Wardrobe a launch event will be held on June 14th at Holywood Arches Library in East Belfast, a major location in the book. The event, due to start at 11am, will be attended by the author, Nicola Jemphrey, who will make a short speech and give a reading from the book. If you would like to attend the launch or interview the author please contact Christina Farley on 01908 856143 or email media@scriptureunion.org.uk
[ENDS]
Nicola Jemphrey answers some questions:
What do you want people to get from Jack’s story?
First and foremost I want people to enjoy the story, culminating in Jack’s and Kate’s adventures in London and Oxford. From the stories of both Jack and CS Lewis I want children to get the message that God can be trusted, no matter what their life’s circumstances.
How much research did you do?
I read numerous adult biographies of Lewis, his spiritual autobiography, Surprised by Joy, All My Road Before Me, which is his diary from 1922-27 and various collections of letters to family, friends and fans. Although I was very familiar with the Belfast locations relevant to his life, I’d never been to Oxford and felt I needed to go there so that the Oxford part of the book would come across as authentic. I spent a weekend there in October 2006, looking around the colleges, particularly Magdalen [where Lewis was elected a Fellow of the College and where he also was a tutor in English Language and Literature for almost 30 years], and going on a guided tour of his house, The Kilns.
What are your thoughts on the Narnia books? Do you have a favourite? Why?
Although I’ve never been too keen on fantasy, I enjoyed the Narnia books as a child, probably because the characters are so down to earth - even the good animals, giants etc., speak and act like humans. The children are very believable as they squabble and get jealous of one another, just like real children. Also the stories are very exciting - the children face genuinely life-threatening challenges, and there are casualties. When I re-read the books with my own children years later, I was surprised how clear the spiritual message was - I don’t remember noticing it when I myself was a child! If I had to choose a favourite Narnia book it would probably have to be The Magician’s Nephew, which is the first book chronologically, although it was written after most of the others. It explains how Narnia was created and how, for example, the witch and the lamppost came to be there. The story is poignant because of Digory’s mother’s illness, but also hilarious at times, like when the witch breaks through into our world and creates mayhem on a street in Victorian London.
Future projects?
I’ve nothing in the pipeline at present, although I’m always open to offers! For the next few months I’ll be busy with the promotion of the book.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1) For more information please contact Scripture Union’s media officer, Christina Farley, on 01908 856143 or 01908 856161. Email: media@scriptureunion.org.uk
2) The launch of Jack and the Wardrobe is held in conjunction with STL Distribution.
2) Scripture Union is an international mission movement working with churches in more than 140 countries to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to children, young people and families, and to encourage them to develop spiritually through the Bible and prayer.