This spring I’m making my, golly, eighth or ninth journey through Narnia, but this time I’m taking along my son. We’re going to end the homeschool year by reading the entire series. He’s watched the movie before, but he’d never experienced the written version. It was a hit. We finished The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in five big gulps because neither of us wanted to stick to the allotted time frame. I have to say, there is a depth and a beauty in the prose that the movie just can’t capture.
This classic is so well known I hardly feel a plot summary is necessary, but I’ll write one anyway. The four Pevensie siblings, Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter, have been sent to the countryside to avoid the bombing of London during WWII and land in a huge old home owned by a peculiar old professor. There they find within a wardrobe a magical world that is being held captive by an evil witch. The whole land awaits the coming of two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve, as spoken in prophecy, and the great lion, Aslan, who will free them from the witch’s rule. But Edward betrays the others, and the Deep Magic written into Narnia at the beginning of time requires a traitor’s blood. Aslan must make the ultimate sacrifice to save him and save Narnia.
As a child, I loved the fairy tale elements of this story: the talking animals, the children who rule as kings and queens, the medieval quality, the mythical creatures, the great lovable lion. But as I grew, I discovered layer upon layer of richness within its pages. Humans are set up as good rulers over animals and nature; evil choices demand a high cost; forgiveness is granted even at great personal expense; good and evil are constantly at war; and my favorite, we are given a beautiful picture of a fierce, just, loving, involved, good, and untame deity—Aslan, son of the Emperor over the Sea. It doesn’t take a genius to see all that these elements have Christian parallels. Lewis’ story really isn’t all that original after all; he tells the same one set forth in the Bible. He was, after all, one of the greatest theologians of modern times. I’m not typically a fan of allegory, but this story is so strong, so beautiful, so engaging that I love it anyway. In this case, perhaps I even love it more because of it.
It seems I find something new every time I read it. This time I noticed that when the Professor argues logic to determine if Lucy is telling the truth, he uses almost word for word the arguments Lewis uses about Christ: “There are only three possibilities. Either your sister is telling lies, or she is mad, or she is telling the truth. You know she doesn’t tell lies and it is obvious that she is not mad. For the moment then and unless any further evidence turns up, we must assume that she is telling the truth.”
But whether you’re a Christian or not, this tale is magical and timeless, as are all the stories of Narnia
- Prince Caspian
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
- The Silver Chair
- The Horse and his Boy
- The Magician’s Nephew
- The Last Battle
I was wondering if you would ever review the Narnia series. I read the Magicians Nephew and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe over and over again as a girl-my mothers’ books are my favorite possessions: it’s so interesting to have stuff that she read. Anyway, I read the other books finally over the summer- and I have come to the conclusion that C.S Lewis was a genius. The last book I just cried because it was so beautiful. I have to say I really enjoy your reviews. Keep reviewing, keep reading, and always speak your mind.
Thanks, Jennifer. I have to agree with your genius conclusion! 🙂
I first read this when I was 19…unbelievable. Like you, I have now read them numerous times, including reading the series aloud with my kids.
It’s just a beautiful, touching story, isn’t it?
This is a series I never got around to reading. I’m not much of a fan of fantasy, but maybe I will give this a try.
Oh, Rosi, you must! Fantasy be intricate and overwhelming, but this series is not. The books only take me 2 or 3 hours to finish and they’re so rewarding. At least try this first one.
I didn’t read the complete series until 1999, after I completed seminary work and was ordained. What a treat it was to escape into the world of Narnia after studying for so many years. I should read the series again — as you should read the Unicorn Chronicles. I will keep reminding you. 🙂
I didn’t know you were ordained! Wow, that’s so cool!
Yes, you may keep reminding me of that series, lol. It is on my tbr list, but I haven’t been reading much since the beginning of the year outside of homeschool books. My blog has been running on extra posts written last fall. I”ll get back into it once I finish this novel. (Only two more weeks till I complete the final episode! Still no word from the Kindle serial program. I sent them a follow-up email today.)
I don’t share it. Hope you hear from the Kindle serial program.
I too love these books. Thanks for the great review. I can’t wait to read the rest of them. What a wonderful thing to do with your son. My grown daughter often talks about the books we read together when she was growing up.
I hope to give my kids those same memories. And I want those memories for when my kids are grown up!
Isn’t “The Magician’s Nephew” the first book? Narnia gets created in that one. That one is my favorite of all the books. Great review! I LOVE this series! 😀
Chronologically, yes it is, but technically he wrote that one second to last. Writing out of order, he really had to do some thinking to make all the pieces fit into a seamless series!
Oh. I didn’t know that. I thought T.M.N. was less known because it was first, but lots of people didn’t read it. When the second book came, they read it because of the title… *shrug* Guess I was wrong. 🙂
Erik, I’ve read the series in chronological order before instead of the order he wrote it in. It’s a fun way to read it!
I love this series. I read it growing up and I never tire of the magical world! 🙂 Great review! My 5th grade students are captivated by this series, too. 🙂
That’s the age I was when I first read it. I missed so much that first time around. The book has truly grown with me.