The Chronicles of Narnia
1970
- fantasy fiction
- fiction
- juvenile works
- juvenile fiction
- juvenile audience
- good and evil
- children
- fantasy
- action and adventure fiction
- princes
The story
Journeys to the end of the world, fantastic creatures, and epic battle between good and evil - what more could any reader ask for in one book? The book that has it all is THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, written in 1919 by C.S. Lewis. But Lewis did not stop there. Six more books followed and together they became known as The Chronicles of Narnia. For the past fifty years, The Chronicles of Narnia has transcended the fantasy genre to become part of the canon of classic literature. Each of the seven books is a masterpiece, drawing the reader into a world where magic meets reality, and the result is a fictional world whose scope has fascinated generations. This edition presents all seven books - unabridged - in one impressive volume. The books are presented here according to Lewis's preferred order, each chapter graced with an illustration by the original artist, Pauline Baynes. This edition also contains C. S. Lewis's essay "On Three Ways of Writing for Children," in which he explains precisely how the magic of Narnia and the realm of fantasy appeal not only to children but to discerning readers of all ages. Deceptively simple and direct, The Chronicles of Narnia continue to captivate fans with adventures, characters, and truths that speak to all readers, even fifty years after the books were first published. --front flap Contains: The Magician's Nephew; [The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL71175W); The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; and The Last Battle.
What it’s like
Plain, unhurried prose carries most of this omnibus, with Pauline Baynes's small pen-and-ink illustrations opening chapters like pages from an old family bookshelf. The world it builds is a mix of English wardrobe-and-orchard coziness and open sea, snowy wood, desert, and mountain. Scenes move from quiet domestic rooms with fires and tea to wind-whipped ships and torchlit courts, the sensory detail coming in brisk, concrete strokes: cold air, the smell of pine, the glint of a sword. Its vibe is wondering and warm, with an undertow of old-fashioned courage. The rhythm is episodic, each volume a self-contained journey, so it suits reading in short bedtime stretches, a long rainy weekend, or a slow stretch on a train. Battles and creature encounters arrive with real stakes; violence is present but brief and rarely graphic, with some frightening scenes of cruelty and death, including a few grim moments in the later books. Emotional register stays earnest and tender, with arcs following young people who grow into courage, loyalty and faith. It is for readers who love classic children's fantasy and want wonder that feels gentle, sincere and a little old-fashioned.
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