Dr. Michael Ward, Cambridge University professor and well-known C.S. Lewis scholar, will visit Abilene Christian University, April 17. Ward will introduce his book Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis, as part of a collegiate tour that includes ACU, Wheaton, Calvin, University of Chicago and Baylor.

The lecture, sponsored by the ACU's Adams Center, the Department of English, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Students' Association, will begin at 7 p.m. in Hart Auditorium in the Onstead-Packer Bible Building. An open-mic session will follow. 

"I am excited about Michael Ward's visit for a number of reasons," said Ron Morgan, associate professor of history at ACU. "His new book is truly groundbreaking in the field of C.S. Lewis studies, and will draw acclaim for years to come."

In Planet Narnia, Ward argues convincingly that medieval cosmology, a subject which fascinated Lewis throughout his life, provides the imaginative key to the seven Narnia novels. Ward shows that the Narnia stories were designed to express the characteristics of the seven medieval planets - the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn - planets which Lewis described as "spiritual symbols of permanent value" and "especially worthwhile in our own generation," said Morgan.

"Dr. Ward's presentation style is both engaging and charming, with his understated British humor; audiences will enjoy interacting with him," said Morgan. "His talk should appeal to people from a variety of academic disciplines, including literature, philosophy, theology, medieval studies and astronomy. His presence on the ACU campus will expose students and community members to some of the rich experiences that students enjoy in our Oxford Study Abroad program."

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