At the heart of children's fantasy writing worldwide are the British professors JRR Tolkein (Lord of the Rings) and CS Lewis (Narnia Chronicles). Another prominent British academic turned children's novelist was Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson), whose ground-breaking Alice in Wonderland has been adapted for film no less than 17 times – so far. So why is is that the children's books of Lewis, Tolkein and Carroll have had a life far beyond their academic work, maintaining continued popularity and preeminence in the genre and staying with us into adult life? The strength of their ideas and the alternate worlds they have created seems to be key. Now that we know we are not alone in the universe, and that String Theory predicts there are 10 or 11 dimensions and not a single universe, but 10 to the power of 500 multiverses, the potency and relevance of their fantastical ideas is even more marked. Their work taps into myth, magic, fantasy and the very biggest questions about our existence. Is it any wonder that such work remains so powerful given the extraordinary nature of the realities we all create in our heads to make sense of our existence?  Sir John Tenniel's illustration – Mad Hatter's Tea Party – 1st edition 1865 |  JRR Tolkein  CS Lewis  Lewis Carroll |
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WHAT IS IT ABOUT BRITISH PROFESSORS AND CHILDREN'S BOOKS? |