The Chronicles of Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia are a series of seven books written by C.S. Lewis. These books were written as a fictional story with allegorical connections to the Bible, and the Christian faith. The Chronicles of Narnia were published yearly from 1950 to 1956. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe draws upon the Gospels, The Magician's Nephew covers the Creation, like the book of Genesis, and The Last Battle corresponds to the book of Revelation.

Lewis originally wrote the stories in a non-chronological order, with no particular plan for the series as a whole. Although Lewis later expressed a preference that the books be read in chronological order (starting with The Magician's Nephew) they have traditionally been read (and are being adapted to film) in order of publication. Because the events of each book are often separated by centuries and have limited overlap in their casts, either approach works.

Characters

• Aslan, the Lion--creator of Narnia.
• Jadis, Aslan's first and perhaps most dangerous enemy, known also as the White Witch

• Digory Kirke, who appears first as a small boy and in later installments as a learned and well-traveled professor. He attends the creation of Narnia and eventually is summoned to Aslan's side as Narnia enters its Last Days.
• Polly Plummer, Digory's boyhood friend, who joins him in his adventures.
• Andrew Ketterley, Digory's wicked and foolish uncle.
• Letitia Ketterley, Digory's aunt.

• Peter Pevensie, High King of Narnia during Narnia's Golden Age.
• Edmund Pevensie, Peter's younger brother, who is also crowned King Edmund the Just.
• Susan Pevensie, the elder of Peter's two sisters. Crowned Queen Susan the Gentle.
• Lucy Pevensie, the younger of Peter's two sisters. Crowned Queen Lucy the Valiant.
• Eustace Clarence Scrubb, their cousin. Obnoxious at first, but is changed by Aslan.
• Jill Pole, Eustace' schoolmate. Travels to Narnia with him.

• King Frank I, a London cabman who travels to creation of Narnia. He and his wife are crowned the first King and Queen of Narnia.
• Queen Helen, his wife.

• King Caspian, who must fight a war to claim his rightful inheritance and then sets out on a voyage of rescue and discovery.
• King Rilian, who must fight a battle of his own against a strange enchantment.
• King Trilian, present at the War of the Last Days.

Narnia Feature Films

Walt Disney and Walden Media have begun producing films based on these books. The first, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, was released on December 9, 2005 and was a box office blockbuster. Prince Caspian was released on May 16, 2008 and was also popular. The other books in the series are now scheduled to be made into movies. Voyage of The Dawn Treader is currently in Production and will be released on May 9, 2009.

Book 1: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

(2nd in chronology) This book is the first published of the seven Chronicles of Narnia (1950), written by Clive Staples Lewis, a noted Irish Christian writer. It introduces prominent characters to the series such as Aslan, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. The story begins with four children (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy) being sent away to stay with an old professor, to keep them safe from the London Air Raids. The children find a magical wardrobe in an empty room, which leads into a magical world called Narnia. At that time, Narnia was under the spell and dominion of the White Witch, who had created a Hundred Year Winter. After Lucy's friend (Mr. Tumnus) is taken captive, the children set out to help the faun, and make right their coming into Narnia. After meeting up with friendly talking animals, and even the great lion Aslan, the children find they were sent into Narnia to fulfill a prophesy to free Narnia. It is no easy task and Aslan even gives his life to save Edmund from the justice of the Witch, after Edmund betrayed his family. In the end the four children are crowned Kings and Queens and Narnia enters the Golden Age. After many years, when they are adults in Narnia, they return to our world and find themselves children again.

Book 2: Prince Caspian

(4th in chronology) This book involves the return to Narnia by the four children from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and how they again have to free Narnia from tyranny. They appear at their former castle which is now a ruin and meet the Dwarf Trumpkin. Trumpkin (thimbles and thunderbolts!) retells the history of young Prince Caspian whose Uncle Miraz holds the usurped throne. Caspian flees Miraz, joins the good Narnian creatures and engages in a war with the massive armies of his uncle. The children and the dwarf rush to Caspian's aide and meet Aslan on the way. They conquer Miraz's forces and reinstate Caspian as true king of Narnia. The children return their own world. The older children, Peter and Susan, are told they will not return to Narnia.

Book 3: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

(5th in chronology) Lucy, Edmund and their cousin, Eustace, return to Narnia (or more specifically to the seas of Narnia.) They meet Caspian who is sailing on the ship, Dawn Treader. King Caspian is exploring new seas and searching for the seven Narnian lords whom his Uncle Miraz had forced to sail away into exile. Caspian hopes to sail to the world's end. They sail across the seas finding new lands, some Lords, and survive many dangers. They sail to the end of the world, leaving the mouse, Reepicheep. Aslan sends the children home, telling Edmund and Lucy they won't return.

Book 4: The Silver Chair

(6th in chronology) Eustace and his school friend, Jill Pole, go to Narnia where Aslan gives them the task of finding Old Caspian's son, Prince Rillian. Aslan gives them specific instructions to follow so they might find the Prince. They, along with the marshwiggle, Puddleglum, search the lands sometimes following, sometimes forgetting Aslan's instructions. They eventually find the Prince underground and held prisoner. They free him and fight a battle with a dangerous serpent. They return to Narnia where Rillian arrives in time to see his father Caspian die. Aslan then sends the children home.

Book 5: The Horse and His Boy

(3rd in chronology) This story is set back in the time when the original 4 children (Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy) rule in Narnia as kings and queens. The setting is to the south of Narnia, Calormene, where we meet Shasta, a young boy who is treated as a slave by his 'father.' When he learns that the old man isn't really his father, he makes a daring escape with the talking war horse Bree. Later on he meets up and travels with Aravis, a young royal girl running from a forced marriage, and her talking mare, Hwin. They travel across the deserts of Calormene and end up racing to Narnia and their ally, Archenland, to warn them of a Calormene invasion. They arrive in time and conquer the invaders. To his surprise, Shasta finds he is a twin son of the king of Archenland, and marries Aravis "so as to go on (arguing and making up) more conveniently."

Book 6: The Magician's Nephew

(1st in chronology) This story goes back to the original creation of Narnia and how the White Witch first came (she is called Queen Jadis.) It includes two children, Digory and Polly, who are tricked into entering other worlds by Digory's Uncle Andrew. They release the witch from her own world and bring her (along with Uncle Andrew, a London cabby, and a horse) into what would become Narnia. Aslan creates Narnia and commands Digory to heal the hurt he has started. In the end, Aslan returns the children to England and gives Digory some medicine to heal his dying mother.

Book 7: The Last Battle

(7th in chronology) The end of Narnia comes in this book. A evil ape, Shift, convinces a gullible donkey, Puzzle, to dress up in a lion's suit and pretend to be the great lion Aslan. The beasts of Narnia are thus deceived and enslaved by Shift, allowing the Calormenes to invade Narnia. Tirian, the true king of Narnia, is imprisoned but is freed by Jill and Eustace, who help mount a last ditch attack on the ape and the Calormenes. They are outnumbered and the evil Calormene god, Tash, enters Narnia, and takes in a stable where Eustace, Jill and the King are thrown. Fortunately Tash is cast out by High King Peter, who has appeared with Edmund, Lucy, Diggory, and Polly (Susan no longer being a friend of Narnia) to witness Narnia's end. Aslan ends Narnia and leads all good creatures to a new Narnia, and out of the shadowlands. The children then learn that they all died in a railway accident and that they will remain there happily ever after.

External links

• C.S. Lewis Society of California
• Marion E. Wade Center, Wheaton College
• "God’s Storyteller: The Curious Life and Prodigious Influence of C. S. Lewis, the Man Behind The Chronicles of Narnia, by Jay Tolson," by Jay Tolson
• "Narnia and the Seven Deadly Sins," by Don W. King
• "The Woman Who Drew Narnia: Pauline Baynes," by Charlotte Cory
• C.S. Lewis Foundation
• Into the Wardrobe
• "Stay Out of Our Wardrobe! The Libertarian Narnia State," by R. Andrew Newman
• Chronicles of Narnia official films site
• "The Childlike in George MacDonald and C. S. Lewis," by Don W. King
• "The View from Other Worlds—Seeing Ourselves with God’s Eyes," by Luci Shaw