C.S. Lewis & Narnia: Renaissance Origins

C.S. Lewis & Narnia: Renaissance Origins

From Not Just the Tudors by History Hit

August 12, 2026 · 41 min · Episode 556

About this episode

This episode explores the Renaissance origins and Christian symbolism in C.S. Lewis's Narnia, featuring insights from Professor Alister McGrath.

Why does C.S. Lewis's Narnia - with its images of winter, sacrifice, kingship and renewal - continue to resonate with generations of readers? How did Lewis weave Renaissance symbolism and Christian imagination into one of literature’s best-loved fantasy worlds? Lewis’s deceptively simple children’s stories were shaped by his scholarship in classics, literature and theology. Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Professor Alister McGrath, to uncover the intellectual and historical influences behind these much-loved books. MORE The Man who Wrote Robinson Crusoe Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Jane Austen & the Reformation Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Max Wintle, audio editor is Tim Arstall and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds. Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week PLUS early access, ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Professor Suzannah Lipscomb

Guest: Professor Alister McGrath

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: History Hit

Books & works: Narnia, Robinson Crusoe, Jane Austen & the Reformation

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