During the Second World War, the Pevensie siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are sent from London to the country house of an old professor to escape the bombing. Exploring the house, Lucy, the youngest, hides in a wardrobe and finds herself in a snowy wood lit by a lamppost, where she meets a faun named Mr Tumnus.
Narnia is ruled by the White Witch, who has made it always winter and never Christmas. Edmund, tempted by enchanted Turkish delight, falls under her influence, while the others learn from talking beavers that the great lion Aslan is on the move and that an old prophecy speaks of four humans sitting on Narnia's thrones. The children are drawn into the struggle between the Witch and Aslan.
Lewis, an Oxford scholar and friend of Tolkien, wove Christian allegory into the story, though children enjoy it purely as an adventure full of talking animals, battles and magic. It was the first published of the seven Chronicles of Narnia and remains one of the best-loved children's books, adapted many times for stage, television and film.
Book details
| Author | C. S. Lewis |
|---|---|
| First published | 1950 |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Children's |
| Type | Fiction |
| Pages (approx.) | 208 |
| Setting | An English country house during the Second World War, and the land of Narnia |
Themes
- Sacrifice
- Betrayal and forgiveness
- Good versus evil
- Courage
- Faith
Who should read it
Children ready for their first fantasy adventure, and adults revisiting a childhood favourite.