Paths in the Snow

Step beyond the wardrobe—discover the stories behind Narnia.

"A real delight, and full of illumination." —Rowan Williams, 104th Archbishop of Canterbury

“This is a book that will delight all Narnians.” —Katherine Langrish, author, Troll Fell

What lies beneath the magic of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? In Paths in the Snow, Jem Bloomfield takes readers on a captivating journey through the literary echoes and hidden influences that shaped C. S. Lewis’s beloved classic. From Dante to The Wind in the Willows, medieval dream poetry to Dorothy L. Sayers and folk horror, Bloomfield uncovers the rich tapestry of stories, myths, and ideas woven into Narnia’s snowy landscape.

Along the way, you’ll explore Lewis’s personal beliefs, the historical context of wartime Britain, and the creative forces behind The Chronicles of Narnia. With insights both scholarly and surprising—why the Pevensies keep shaking hands, and what a wartime recipe for whale meat fritters reveals about Narnian cuisine—Paths in the Snow invites you to see this much-loved tale with fresh eyes and deeper wonder.

Paths in the Snow is the first in an exciting new series that explores the deep literary and cultural roots that shaped the world of Lewis’s beloved Chronicles of Narnia. A perfect gift for any Narnian, and a valuable resource for book groups, Paths in the Snow will appeal to all fans of Lewis’s work, and enable anyone to stand at the wardrobe door and go further in.