J.C. Comeau #2, Adults in Narnia

In “On Fairy-Stories”, Tolkien talks about how in recent years, fairy stories have been mostly altered to cater to children.  But one interesting claim he makes is that “books written entirely for children are poor even as children’s books.”  I find this critique interesting in light of the Narnia series.  Now I’ve heard it often quoted that Lewis said he did not write for the childish, but the childlike, I’ve also heard it said that Tolkien did not particularly like the Narnia series.  But all that aside, Tolkien and Lewis seem to be in agreement, at least in these two quotes, about their aim for writing fantasy.  Looking closer at Narnia, we do not find a world that is only for children, nor do we find a world that is childish.  Lewis has seemingly always been read and enjoyed by all ages, such a feat speaks to his success as an author.  Plenty of authors are able to put out successful books targeting a single demographic, whether it’s lovelorn teen novels, learn to read/educational books for elementary schoolers, or popular adult fiction.  But It speaks to a certain quality within ones work when multiple demographics are repeatedly drawn back to it.  In this light, Narnia succeeds; we grow alongside Lucy and Edmund whether we are 4 or 40, and that’s a good thing.