For over half a century, scholars have laboured to show that C. S. Lewis's famed but apparently disorganised Chronicles of Narnia have an underlying symbolic coherence, pointing to such possible unifying themes as the seven sacraments, the seven deadly sins, and the seven books of Spenser's Faerie Queene. None of these explanations has won general acceptance and the structure of Narnia's symbolism has remained a mystery. Michael Ward has finally solved the enigma. In Planet Narnia he demonstrates that medieval cosmology, a subject which fascinated Lewis throughout his life, provides the imaginative key to the seven novels. Drawing on the whole range of Lewis's writings (including previously unpublished drafts of the Chronicles), Ward reveals how the Narnia stories were designed to express the characteristics of the seven medieval planets - - Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Luna, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn - - planets which Lewis described as "spiritual symbols of permanent value" and "especially worthwhile in our own generation". Using these seven symbols, Lewis secretly constructed the Chronicles so that in each book the plot-line, the ornamental details, and, most important, the portrayal of the Christ-figure of Aslan, all serve to communicate the governing planetary personality. The cosmological theme of each Chronicle is what Lewis called 'the kappa element in romance', the atmospheric essence of a story, everywhere present but nowhere explicit. The reader inhabits this atmosphere and thus imaginatively gains connaitre knowledge of the spiritual character which the tale was created to embody. Planet Narnia is a ground-breaking study that will provoke a major revaluation not only of the Chronicles, but of Lewis's whole literary and theological outlook. Ward uncovers a much subtler writer and thinker than has previously been recognized, whose central interests were hiddenness, immanence, and knowledge by acquaintance.
UK DELIVERIES
Standard delivery – Royal Mail 2nd Class/DPD – £ 2.95
Standard delivery is either by 2nd Class Royal Mail or next day DPD courier, depending on the size and value of the order, and in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the respective carrier. Orders up to 2kg and valued at below £75 will be dispatched as 2nd Class Royal Mail. Orders above 2kg or valued above £75 will be dispatched by next day DPD courier (subject to stock availability).
Royal Mail 1st Class/DPD – £ 3.95
Delivery is either by 1st Class Royal Mail or next day DPD courier, depending on the size and value of the order, and in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the particular carrier. Orders up to 2kg and valued at below £75 will be dispatched as 1st Class Royal Mail. Orders above 2kg or valued above £75 will be dispatched by next day DPD courier (subject to stock availability).
OTHER DESTINATIONS
St Pauls is sad to announce that we can no longer ship orders to EU countries, including the Republic of Ireland. Customers in the Republic of Ireland can visit our Irish website - www.stpauls.ie - for St Pauls located in Maynooth, Co. Kildare. You can also email enquiries to them at sales@stpauls.ie. With Great Britain's exit from the EU customs union, deliveries to the EU became increasingly unreliable to the point where we, reluctantly, had to cease trading with European customers. If you are located outside of the UK and EU and you are interested in our products, please email us at sales@stpauls.org.uk for a quote on posting to your destination. After receiving a quotation from us, payment will be taken over the phone or by bank transfer prior to shipping. We would like to thank all our Irish and EU customers for their support over the years and we hope one day we can return to serving you all again."
VAT
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CUSTOMS CHARGES (VAT, IMPORT DUTIES, CUSTOMS HANDLING CHARGES)
If you are ordering goods for delivery outside of the UK, your consignment may be subject to import duties/taxes, customs handling charges/fees and import VAT. ST PAULS has no control over these additional charges in relation to customs clearance in the country of destination, and, by placing your order, you are accepting responsibility for the payment of any additional duties, taxes or fees once the goods have reached their country of destination. ST PAULS recommends that—prior to placing an order— you check with your local customs officials or postal service for more information regarding all importation taxes and duties that may be applied to the goods you are about to import. As the customer, you will be the importer of record and responsible for any import VAT, duties and handling fees that may require payment before a carrier releases any goods destined to you.
