Listen and read

Step into an infinite world of stories

  • Read and listen as much as you want
  • Over 1 million titles
  • Exclusive titles + Storytel Originals
  • 7 days free trial, then €9.99/month
  • Easy to cancel anytime
Subscribe Now
Details page - Device banner - 894x1036
Cover for A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-1918

A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-1918

28 Ratings

3.7

Duration
6H 38min
Language
English
Format
Category

Religion & Spirituality

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Deepen your insight into and appreciation for the writings J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis as you explore the untold story of how the First World War shaped their lives, faith, and writings.

Had there been no Great War, there would have been no Hobbit, no Lord of the Rings, no Narnia—perhaps even no conversion to Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

The First World War laid waste to a continent and permanently altered the political and religious landscape of the West. For a generation of men and women, it brought the end of innocence—and the end of faith. Yet for J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, the Great War deepened their spiritual quest. Both men served as soldiers on the Western Front, survived the trenches, and were forever changed by the experience.

In A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War you will delve into the profound impact of World War I on Tolkien and Lewis, illuminating how the horrors of the Western Front shaped their faith and the timeless tales of Middle-earth and Narnia. Witness how the Great War not only tested their faith but also ignited their remarkable Christian imaginations. Unlike many of their contemporaries who lost faith amidst the chaos, Tolkien and Lewis used their experiences to infuse their epic stories with themes of guilt and grace, sorrow and consolation.

In A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War you will:

• Learn how World War I uniquely shaped the lives, faith, and writing of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. • Gain a deeper understanding of how the Great War influenced some of the most beloved literary works ever created. • Benefit from historian Joseph Loconte's profound knowledge and passion for the works of Tolkien and Lewis.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore the fascinating intersection of history, faith, and literature. Read A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War today and embark on a journey that will deepen your appreciation for these literary giants and their extraordinary legacy.

© 2015 Thomas Nelson (Audiobook): 9780718079383

Release date

Audiobook: June 30, 2015

Others also enjoyed ...

  1. The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and Their Friends
    The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and Their Friends Humphrey Carpenter
  2. Tolkien’s Ordinary Virtues: Exploring the Spiritual Themes of The Lord of the Rings
    Tolkien’s Ordinary Virtues: Exploring the Spiritual Themes of The Lord of the Rings Mark Eddy Smith
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend
    J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend Colin Duriez
  4. J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century
    J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century Tom Shippey
  5. J. R. R. Tolkien: The Mind Behind the Rings
    J. R. R. Tolkien: The Mind Behind the Rings Mark Horne
  6. Tolkien and the Great War: The Threshold of Middle-earth
    Tolkien and the Great War: The Threshold of Middle-earth John Garth
  7. The Great Book of King Arthur: and His Knights of the Round Table
    The Great Book of King Arthur: and His Knights of the Round Table John Matthews
  8. Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold
    Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold C. S. Lewis
  9. The Oxford Inklings: Lewis, Tolkien and Their Circle
    The Oxford Inklings: Lewis, Tolkien and Their Circle Colin Duriez
  10. The Pilgrim’s Regress: An Allegorical Apology for Christianity, Reason, and Romanticism
    The Pilgrim’s Regress: An Allegorical Apology for Christianity, Reason, and Romanticism C. S. Lewis
  11. The C. S. Lewis Essential Audio Library
    The C. S. Lewis Essential Audio Library C. S. Lewis
  12. The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies
    The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies Greg Harvey
  13. The Sword in the Stone
    The Sword in the Stone T.H. White
  14. The Story of King Arthur and His Knights
    The Story of King Arthur and His Knights Howard Pyle
  15. Le Morte d’Arthur, Vol. 1
    Le Morte d’Arthur, Vol. 1 Sir Thomas Malory
  16. C.S. Lewis: A Biography of Friendship
    C.S. Lewis: A Biography of Friendship Colin Duriez
  17. Why We Love Middle-earth: An Enthusiast's Book about Tolkien, Middle-earth, and the LotR Fandom
    Why We Love Middle-earth: An Enthusiast's Book about Tolkien, Middle-earth, and the LotR Fandom Shawn E. Marchese
  18. J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography
    J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography Humphrey Carpenter
  19. King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table
    King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table Benedict Flynn
  20. The Treasury of Victorian Poetry
    The Treasury of Victorian Poetry Robert Browning
  21. King Arthur and His Knights
    King Arthur and His Knights Howard Pyle
  22. Out of the Silent Planet
    Out of the Silent Planet C. S. Lewis
  23. Letters
    Letters C.S. Lewis
  24. Celtic Mythology: Irish Myths and Ancient Folklore from the British Isles
    Celtic Mythology: Irish Myths and Ancient Folklore from the British Isles Bernard Hayes
  25. The Dark Tower, and Other Stories
    The Dark Tower, and Other Stories C. S. Lewis
  26. Persuasion
    Persuasion Jane Austen
  27. The Adventures of Odysseus
    The Adventures of Odysseus Benedict Flynn
  28. Norse Mythology: Timeless Tales of Norse Myths - Sagas & Legends of Gods, Goddesses, Giants, Heroes, Magical Creatures and Viking Beliefs
    Norse Mythology: Timeless Tales of Norse Myths - Sagas & Legends of Gods, Goddesses, Giants, Heroes, Magical Creatures and Viking Beliefs James Gaiman
  29. Le Morte D'Arthur
    Le Morte D'Arthur Sir Thomas Malory
  30. The Complete and Original Norwegian Folktales of Asbjørnsen and Moe
    The Complete and Original Norwegian Folktales of Asbjørnsen and Moe Jørgen Moe
  31. The Mabinogion
    The Mabinogion Unknown
  32. Selections from The Faerie Queene
    Selections from The Faerie Queene Edmund Spenser
  33. Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women
    Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women George MacDonald
  34. The Four Loves
    The Four Loves C. S. Lewis
  35. The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis
    The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis Alan Jacobs
  36. Henry V
    Henry V William Shakespeare
  37. Norse Mythology
    Norse Mythology Jackson Crawford
  38. The Lost World
    The Lost World Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  39. Treasure Island
    Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson
  40. The Screwtape Letters
    The Screwtape Letters C. S. Lewis
  41. If I Had Lunch with C. S. Lewis: Exploring the Ideas of C. S. Lewis on the Meaning of Life
    If I Had Lunch with C. S. Lewis: Exploring the Ideas of C. S. Lewis on the Meaning of Life Alister McGrath
  42. The Holy Grail—Excerpts
    The Holy Grail—Excerpts Thomas Malory
  43. Screwtape Proposes a Toast
    Screwtape Proposes a Toast C. S. Lewis
  44. Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life
    Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life C. S. Lewis
  45. The Knyghte’s Tale
    The Knyghte’s Tale Geoffrey Chaucer
  46. The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition
    The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition J. R. R. Tolkien
  47. A House Through Time
    A House Through Time David Olusoga
  48. English Literature in the Sixteenth Century (Excluding Drama)
    English Literature in the Sixteenth Century (Excluding Drama) C. S. Lewis
  49. The Death of Arthur
    The Death of Arthur Sir Thomas Malory
  50. Henry IV: Part 2
    Henry IV: Part 2 William Shakespeare
  51. The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis: How Great Books Shaped a Great Mind
    The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis: How Great Books Shaped a Great Mind Jason M Baxter
  52. English and Literature
    English and Literature C.S. Lewis
  53. The Tale of Troy
    The Tale of Troy Benedict Flynn
  54. Ivanhoe
    Ivanhoe Sir Walter Scott
  55. The Weight of Glory: And Other Addresses
    The Weight of Glory: And Other Addresses C. S. Lewis
  56. The Book of Margery Kempe
    The Book of Margery Kempe Margery Kempe
  57. Unveiling Middle Earth: A Complete Guide Of The Hidden Philosophical And Psychological Meanings In Lord Of The Rings: (Unabridged)
    Unveiling Middle Earth: A Complete Guide Of The Hidden Philosophical And Psychological Meanings In Lord Of The Rings: (Unabridged) Eternia Publishing
  58. Jason and the Golden Fleece: The Argonautica
    Jason and the Golden Fleece: The Argonautica Apollonius of Rhodes
  59. Twenty-First-Century Tolkien: What Middle-Earth Means To Us Today
    Twenty-First-Century Tolkien: What Middle-Earth Means To Us Today Nick Groom
  60. Lights, Camera, Witchcraft: A Critical History of Witches in American Film and Television
    Lights, Camera, Witchcraft: A Critical History of Witches in American Film and Television Heather Greene
  61. The Jungle Books
    The Jungle Books Rudyard Kipling
  62. Education and History
    Education and History C. S. Lewis
  63. Great Victorians
    Great Victorians David Angus
  64. The General Prologue & The Physician’s Tale
    The General Prologue & The Physician’s Tale Geoffrey Chaucer
  65. Alfred Lord Tennyson
    Alfred Lord Tennyson Lord Tennyson Alfred
  66. War Poems
    War Poems
  67. Planting the World: Joseph Banks and his Collectors: An Adventurous History of Botany
    Planting the World: Joseph Banks and his Collectors: An Adventurous History of Botany Jordan Goodman
  68. Le Morte d’Arthur, Vol. 2
    Le Morte d’Arthur, Vol. 2 Sir Thomas Malory
  69. The Tigress Of Forli: Renaissance Italy's Most Courageous and Notorious Countess, Caterina Riario Sforza de' Medici
    The Tigress Of Forli: Renaissance Italy's Most Courageous and Notorious Countess, Caterina Riario Sforza de' Medici Elizabeth Lev
  70. The Food of the Gods, and How It Came to Earth
    The Food of the Gods, and How It Came to Earth H.G. Wells
  71. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
    The Wonderful Wizard of Oz L. Frank Baum
  72. The King of Elfland’s Daughter
    The King of Elfland’s Daughter Lord Dunsany
  73. The Jungle Book
    The Jungle Book Rudyard Kipling
  74. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People
    The Ecclesiastical History of the English People Bede
  75. Christian Reflections
    Christian Reflections C. S. Lewis
  76. The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived before Achilles
    The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived before Achilles Padraic Colum
  77. C. S. Lewis: Essay Collection and Other Short Pieces
    C. S. Lewis: Essay Collection and Other Short Pieces C. S. Lewis
  78. Compelling Reason
    Compelling Reason C. S. Lewis
  79. Epic: Stories of Survival From The World’s Highest Peaks
    Epic: Stories of Survival From The World’s Highest Peaks Alfred Lansing
  80. Preparing for Easter: Fifty Devotional Readings
    Preparing for Easter: Fifty Devotional Readings C. S. Lewis
  81. From the Earth to the Moon and Around the Moon
    From the Earth to the Moon and Around the Moon Jules Verne
  82. The Abolition of Man and The Great Divorce
    The Abolition of Man and The Great Divorce C. S. Lewis
  83. Quick Classics Collection: British Writers: Silas Marner, Sons and Lovers, Bleak House
    Quick Classics Collection: British Writers: Silas Marner, Sons and Lovers, Bleak House Charles Dickens
  84. Children's Literature: A Reader's History from Aesop to Harry Potter
    Children's Literature: A Reader's History from Aesop to Harry Potter Seth Lerer
  85. The Pardoners Tale
    The Pardoners Tale Geoffrey Chaucer

This is why you’ll love Storytel

  • Listen and read without limits

  • 800 000+ stories in 40 languages

  • Kids Mode (child-safe environment)

  • Cancel anytime

Unlimited stories, anytime

Unlimited

Listen and read as much as you want

9.99 € /month

7 days free
Save 60%
  • Offline Mode

  • Kids Mode

  • Cancel anytime

Try now