Deborah Levy: 'CS Lewis’s White Witch terrified me – but I wanted to meet her'

South African author Deborah Levy shares her literary journey, from the early enchantments of Dr. Seuss and Enid Blyton to the profound impact of C.S. Lewis's imagined worlds. Levy recounts her childhood in apartheid South Africa, finding a stark contrast between her own reality and the idyllic settings of "The Famous Five." The imaginative leap offered by "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" captivated her, particularly the chilling yet alluring figure of the White Witch, whose icy reign and sleigh-riding prowess sparked both fear and fascination.

Levy also touches upon her later literary discoveries, including the sophisticated imagination of Colette and the influential prose of J.G. Ballard, as well as the subversive artistry of Asako Yuzuki, hinting at a diverse range of inspirations that have shaped her unique voice as a writer.

English Translation:

South African author Deborah Levy discusses her earliest reading memory, which was Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat," specifically the detail of the cat's red fan. At the age of five, she was already engaging with Enid Blyton's "The Famous Five," grappling with the complex characters of Aunt Fanny and Uncle Quentin. Born in apartheid South Africa, Levy notes the stark difference between the human rights-free children in Blyton's series and her own reality, set against the unfamiliar landscape of Dorset. Her bedroom window in Johannesburg overlooked a garden of bone-white grass and a peach tree.

Her favorite book growing up was "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." Levy was delighted by the imaginative sophistication of the story, particularly C.S. Lewis's ingenious idea of a wardrobe serving as a portal to another world. Although the White Witch, with her sleigh pulled by white reindeer, terrified her, Levy admits she felt a strong desire to meet her.