NLS Minibibliographies

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Content last modified May 2005

Introduction

To children and lovers of fairy tales, the Chronicles of Narnia, by the prolific British novelist, medievalist, poet, and literary critic, C.S. Lewis, are stories of a magical land called Narnia, where animals behave as equals with humans, witches wage war, and dragons and horses fly overhead. It is a land where hunting parties ride seahorses and silver apples can restore health. To readers searching for more than a fairy tale of an imaginary world, the Chronicles of Narnia may also be seen as a Christian allegory with Aslan, the talking lion, as a Christ figure. The destruction of Narnia has been compared to the Apocalypse. In addition to the fairy tale and Christian elements, the Chronicles of Narnia also reflect events of Lewis's own life. The Pevensie children were evacuated to Professor Kirk's house just as four children were at one time evacuated to Lewis's house. Lewis owned wardrobes similar to the one described in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The professor's house that the children explore is similar to Lewis's childhood home.

NLS has recorded the series as a single book, as listed below. Following that is a list of the individual titles of the seven Chronicles of Narnia in chronological order of their contents as given in C.S. Lewis, by Margaret Patterson Hannay. This order differs considerably from the order in which the books were written or published, but is the one in which Lewis scholars understand he intended for them to be read.

Braille book number that are also links will take one to the Web-Braille version. These password-protected electronic braille files are freely available to braille readers who register with a cooperating library in the NLS network. More about Web-Braille

The Complete Chronicles of Narnia

RC 50083

The Magician's Nephew

Although this book is the sixth in the series, it is the first chronologically. It relates the story of two English children, Polly Plummer and Digory Kirke, who are the first to visit the magic land of Narnia, where animals can talk and horses can fly. 1955

RC 16987

BR 13945, volume 1

BR 7215, volume 1

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Many years have passed and Digory Kirke is now a professor living in the countryside outside of London. Four children, Edmund, Lucy, Susan, and Peter Pevensie, are sent to live with him during the air raids of World War II. An exploration of the professor's house uncovers a huge, old wardrobe through which the children enter Narnia. 1950

RC 16982

BR 54964 (Spanish language)

BR 11912, volume 1

BR 7236

The Horse and His Boy

The four Pevensie children are grown up kings and queens in Narnia. The tale of the boy, Shasta, and his horse, Bree, takes place during their reign. Shasta and Bree flee from the evil Calormens, hoping to reach the magical land of Narnia before the Calormen cavalry catches them. 1954

RC 17438

BR 13946, volume 1

BR 13946, volume 2

BR 7216

Prince Caspian

The four children return to Narnia to aid Prince Caspian in his struggle against his murderous uncle. Narnia time is different from Earth time, and they have reentered Narnia hundreds of years after the events of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. 1951

RC 16984

BR 13947, volume 1

BR 7238

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Edmund and Lucy Pevensie and their cousin, Eustace Scrubb, board a magic ship, the Dawn Treader, that takes them past islands and sea monsters to Narnia. 1952

RC 16985

BR 13948, volume 1

BR 13948, volume 2

BR 7313

The Silver Chair

Eustace and his friend Jill Pole are seeking Rilian, the missing son of Prince Caspian, in Narnia. In their search they encounter talking owls, marshwiggles, underworld earthworms, and a witch. 1953

RC 16986

BR 13949, volume 1

BR 13949, volume 2

BR 7237

The Last Battle

Eustace and Jill come to the aid of King Tirian in Narnia's last battle with the evil Calormens. After the battle, stars fall from the sky, a wall of water pours in, and Narnia is destroyed. The kings and queens, including three of the Pevensie children, are reunited in a new Narnia, one that lasts forever. 1956

RC 16988

BR 13950, volume 1

BR 8373, volume 1

Compiled by Ellie Friedman
Revised by Joyce Y. Carter

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Posted on 2006-02-24