Tourists Flock to C.S. Lewis's Life in Belfast
01/17/06
The Belfast Telegraph reports that tourism in the city has increased due to the film, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. It seems folks are eager to discover the man who shaped so much of today's theological and literary landscape... and the places he frequented as he lived in the area. Here's an excerpt:
Belfast's link with CS Lewis, brought to life for visitors through a new guide to his haunts across the city and beyond, is proving to be a "phenomenal" hit with locals and visitors alike, according to the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
The booklet entitled 'The CS Lewis Story ? Unlock Your Imagination', which was produced to cater for the increased interest in the author following the launch of the big-screen adaptation of the classic novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, has been literally flying off local shelves.
Janet Watt, branch manager for the Holywood Arches Library, confirmed: "The public response to the CS Lewis booklet, produced by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Belfast City Council, has been phenomenal.
"We had boxes of them and have had to order more.
"The release of the film combined with all the wonderful events staged across Belfast and here in the library, has definitely ignited people's interest in the man and certainly people from this side of town are keen to know more about him; especially as he lived in this area and drew inspiration on what he saw here for his books."
And she went on to point out: "The library also has the Ross Wilson CS Lewis sculpture outside the doors and there is always a steady flow of people with cameras posing at it - even more so now with all the publicity."
The popular booklet incorporates a self-guiding tour to the Belfast of CS Lewis, which points out the Lewis family home, the CS Lewis centenary sculpture, and the Linen Hall Library; which is home to a unique collection of books about CS Lewis.
In addition to Belfast, the guide details CS Lewis' connection to the surrounding areas of the Mourne Mountains and the Antrim Coast, where he developed a love of swimming.
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