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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Mass market paperbound - 2002

by C. S. Lewis; Pauline Baynes (Illustrator)

The New York Times called this popular fantasy "deeply moving and hauntingly lovely". First in a seven-part series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the tale of three children who wander into the Land of Narnia through an enchanted closet.


About this book

First published in 1950 by Geoffrey Bles in the UK, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is the first published and best known of the C.S. Lewis' popular Narnia series.

The American edition was published later in 1950 by Macmillan. Due to labor union laws the type had to be reset so Lewis took the opportunity to make a few changes to the American edition: Edmund and Susan are interested in snakes and foxes instead of foxes and rabbits in chapter 1, the White Witch's chief of police is Fenris Ulf instead of Maugrim in Chapter 6, and the “fire-stones of the Secret Hill” is “the trunk of the World Ash Tree” in chapter 13 of the American Edition. MacMillan first edition, first printing states “First Printing”.

In 1994 when HarperCollins took over publication they reverted to the original British printing.

The original edition was illustrated by Pauline Baynes, and the British edition had 43 illustrations, while the American lesser. Subsequent American editions had significantly fewer; the most popular edition which was published between 1970 and 1994 by HarperCollins had only 17 severely cropped illustrations.

The story came together from a few pieces of inspiration. From the age of 16 onwards Lewis had in his mind an image “a Faun carrying an umbrella and parcels in a snowy wood.” Then in 1939, shortly before WWII, three school girls, Margaret, Mary and Katherine, were evacuated to Lewis' country home to escape the bombing in London, inspiring the characters of Susan, Peter, and Edmund, who go to live with the old professor. He began writing the story that year, and finished in 1949, multiple personal dreams about lions bringing the story together through the character of Aslan. Through his mixture of mythology and talking animals Lewis created the magical world of Narnia that appears to the children as they step through the wardrobe.

While writing the first novel Lewis was in a writing group called the Inklings with J.R.R. Tolkien who was working on The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien and Lewis were both professors at Oxford during the 1920s, and Lewis, who was an atheist at the time, was heavily influenced by Tolkien, who was Roman Catholic, so much so he eventually not only converted to Christianity but became known for his devout faith and Apologetic writing – using logic to defend his faith - in such works as Mere Christianity, and The Screwtape Letters. Tolkien was rumored to not have approved of Lewis' Narnia series, reportedly 'horrified' that he mixed so many difference mythologies together and that his world was not a cohesive and consistent imaginary world.

Tolkien wasn't alone in his disapproval of Lewis' works. Lewis' publisher, Geoffrey Bles, was concerned the Narnia novels wouldn't sell, and that they would damage Lewis' reputation. Others felt that the stories with their Christian themes were trying to indoctrinate children, and were too fantastical for older children. Today The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is one of the most popular children's books in print, and is included in many top 100 book lists.


The Narnia Series is comprised of seven books: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician's Nephew, and The Last Battle. Chronologically The Magician's Nephew is the first book in the series, although The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe was written first. The series wasn't in chronological order until 1956 when a young reader named Laurence suggested it be read that way.  
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From the publisher

Don't miss one of America's top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS's The Great American Read.

A mass-market paperback edition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, book two in the classic fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. This edition features cover art by Cliff Nielsen and interior black-and-white illustrations by the series' original illustrator, Pauline Baynes.

Four adventurous siblings--Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie--step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the second book in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, which has been drawing readers of all ages into a magical land with unforgettable characters for over sixty years. This is a stand-alone read, but if you would like to explore more of the Narnian realm, pick up The Horse and His Boy, the third book in The Chronicles of Narnia.

From the rear cover

They open a door and enter a world

Narnia ... a land frozen in eternal winter ... a country waiting to be set free.

Four adventurers step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia -- a land enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change ... and a great sacrifice.

First Edition Identification

First published in 1950 by Geoffrey Bles in the UK, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. The original edition was illustrated by Pauline Baynes, and the British edition had 43 illustrations. The first edition will have "First Published 1950" on the copyright page. Publisher's original blue cloth. 

The American edition was published later in 1950 by Macmillan, and has "First Printing' on the copyright page.The American edition was published later in 1950 by Macmillan. Due to labor union laws the type had to be reset so Lewis took the opportunity to make a few changes to the American edition: Edmund and Susan are interested in snakes and foxes instead of foxes and rabbits in chapter 1, the White Witch's chief of police is Fenris Ulf instead of Maugrim in Chapter 6, and the “fire-stones of the Secret Hill” is “the trunk of the World Ash Tree” in chapter 13 of the American Edition. MacMillan first edition, first printing states “First Printing”.

Details

  • Title The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
  • Author C. S. Lewis; Pauline Baynes (Illustrator)
  • Series Chronicles of Narnia
  • Binding Mass Market Paperbound
  • Edition [ Edition: Repri
  • Pages 224
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher HarperCollins, New York
  • Date 2002-03-05
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Illustrated, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780064471046 / 0064471047
  • Weight 0.25 lbs (0.11 kg)
  • Dimensions 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.6 in (17.02 x 10.41 x 1.52 cm)
  • Ages 08 to UP years
  • Grade levels 3 - UP
  • Reading level 940
  • Themes
    • Religious Orientation: Christian
    • Theometrics: Catholic
    • Theometrics: Evangelical
    • Theometrics: Mainline
    • Topical: Home School
  • Library of Congress subjects Fantasy
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 93008889
  • Dewey Decimal Code E

Media reviews

Citations

  • Christianity Today, 07/01/2013, Page 84
  • Chronicle of Higher Education, 02/15/2013, Page 15
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by Lewis, C. S.; Baynes, Pauline [Illustrator]

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