In 2008, Dr. Michael Ward released “Planet Narnia”, a book which caused a real stir in C.S. Lewis studies in which he offered a new lens through which to view “The Chronicles of Narnia”. On today’s show, in addition to his book, Dr. Ward discusses his friendship with the late Walter Hooper, as well as his involvement in honouring Lewis’ life and legacy. Oh yes, and he also explains how he came to give James Bond a pair of x-ray glasses…
S4E41: “After Hours” with Michael Ward (Download)
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Show Notes
Biographical Information
Dr. Michael Ward is a Fellow of Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford in his native England. He also works as Professor of Apologetics at Houston Baptist University, Texas, and is the co-editor of The Cambridge Companion to C.S. Lewis, Dr. Ward is probably best known as the author of the award-winning book, Planet Narnia, which became the subject of the BBC television documentary called ‘The Narnia Code’. Dr. Ward has helped honour the legacy of C.S. Lewis in many ways which we’ll talk about on today’s show. He lived for three years at The Kilns, C.S. Lewis’s Oxford home, he’s been the Faculty Supervisor of the Oxford Lewis Society, but perhaps his greatest claim-to-fame is that he handed a pair of X-ray spectacles to Agent 007 in the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough!
Biographical information for Dr. Michael Ward
Chit-Chat
- I asked Dr. Ward about how he came to star in a James Bond movie:
Quote-of-the-week
“The author must not leave us to do all the work. He must show, and pretty quickly, that his writing deserves, because it rewards, alert and disciplined reading.”
C.S. Lewis, An Experiment in Criticism
Drink-of-the-week
- The Byzantine Calendar is a little different from the Western one which means that at the time of recording my Lent has already begun which means I’m basically vegan until Easter, and since I can’t have milk with my tea I was relegated to coffee, which still tastes okay if regular milk is replaced with oat milk. Dr. Ward was drinking water.
Discussion
Biography
- I asked Dr. Ward to share a little bit more about his background, how he first came across Lewis and how he came about making him a career.
Living at the Kilns
- I asked Dr. Ward about what it was like living at Lewis’ Oxford home, The Kilns.
Honouring Lewis
- We then spoke about the two projects to honour Lewis with which he has been involved…
- Firstly, the plaque at Addison’s Walk:
- Secondly, the stone at Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey:
There was also a book produced, C.S. Lewis at Poets’ Corner.
Honouring Walter Hooper
- I asked Dr. Ward about his friendship with Lewis’ former secretary, Walter Hooper.
Planet Narnia
- I asked Dr. Ward to summarize his Planet Narnia theory.
- While most of the people I’ve spoken to fully embrace Planet Narnia, I’ve occasionally met “unbelievers”. I asked Dr. Ward what are the main objections he has heard and asked him how he’d respond to them.
FPA Movie
- Dr. Ward explained his part in an upcoming movie about Lewis from The Fellowship of Performing Arts.
More Information
- For more information about Dr. Ward, check out his website, MichaelWard.net. To learn more about the Narnia Code, check out PlanetNarnia.com.
- As Matt, Andrew and I mentioned in our New Year episode, we’re open to suggestions for our Season 5 book which we’ll be starting sometime in July or August. If you’d like it to be The Abolition of Man, please reach out to us and let us know.
