Book Stack

Title: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Author: C.S. Lewis

Language: English

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction

Add to Read: Goodreads

Rating: 4.1/5

"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C. S. Lewis, published in 1950 is a fantasy novel for children. This is the first published work from seven novels in "The Chronicles of Narnia" series and also the best known book among all the books. It is the most widely held in libraries. Although it was written and published first in the series, it is actually the second volume, which are sequenced according to the Narnia history.

This is a really good book. It features the story of four children, two boys and two girls going into a magical world through a wardrobe. Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy evacuated from London during World War II to escape the Blitz. They are sent to the countryside to live with professor Digory Kirke. They had nothing much to do, so they decided to explore the place. But Lucy who was the youngest, went forth and eventually found another world with magical creatures, fauns and was really astonished. There she met and befriended a faun named mr. Tumnus. He took her to his home and gave her tea, but soon confessed to her tht he brought her to betray her to the White Witch. He explains about the Witch and her evil doings. Mr Tumnus' had to obey that order and hand Lucy over, but now that he has met a real human, he felt incapable of obeying the witch's orders, so he hurriedly escorts Lucy back to the lamppost.

“Always winter but never Christmas.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The others, didn't believe her story. At an another time, during a game of Hide and Seek Lucy went throught the wardrobe, her older brother Edmund, also entered the wardrobe after her and gets into Narnia as well. While searching for Lucy, he meets a lady who introduces herself as the Queen of Narnia. She enchants him and asks him to bring his family with him and tells him that when he comes back she will make him into a prince. Soon afterward, all four children enter Narnia together while hiding in the wardrobe after an encounter with the professor's housekeeper, Mrs Macready. Little did they know that they were destined to come there, since the prophecy depict their arrival and they will defeat the White Witch and will be crowned again.

Lucy guides them to Tumnus' home, but finds it plundered. They are spotted by Mr. Beaver, who guides them to his house. Mr. and Mrs. Beaver tell them of the prophecy. Having heard enough, Edmund sneaks away and go to to Jadis' castle. But she is furious, that he came alone. Meanwhile, the other three children try to find out where their brother has gone. Mr. Beaver understands that Edmund has gone to the White Witch. Thus, the Beavers left their home and set out to lead the three children to Aslan. Aslan welcomes the children and the Beavers to his camp at the Stone Table. Aslan's troops rescue Edmund just as Jadis is about to kill him. Jadis approaches Aslan, insisting that, according to "deep magic from the dawn of time", she has the right to execute Edmund for treason. Aslan speaks with her and persuades her to renounce her claim. That evening, Aslan secretly leaves the camp, but Lucy and Susan found him and followed him. It appears that Aslan has bargained his own life for Edmund's, for the girls witnessed Jadis tie Aslan to the Stone Table and kill him with a knife. The next morning the enemies are gone, and only Susan and Lucy remain weeping over Aslan's body. Then the Stone Table is broken and Aslan is restored back to life, and tells Lucy and Susan that "deeper magic from before the dawn of time" will resurrect an innocent killed in place of a traitor.

“If you've been up all night and cried till you have no more tears left in you - you will know that there comes in the end a sort of quietness. You feel as if nothing was ever going to happen again.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

At last, in the major war between good and evil, they fought and some good loyal Narnians are turned to stone. Edmund destroys the Witch's wand and she seriously wound him. Aslan arrives and kills the White Witch and turn the awful cold wasteland back to its shining glory. And, one the last section of the story, they are crowned Kings and Queens of Narnia at the castle Cair Paravel. They are given the titles of King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Susan the Gentle, King Edmund the Just, and Queen Lucy the Valiant. After the coronation Aslan slips away and disappears. Fifteen years later, the siblings are hunting for a white stag when they find the lamppost in the forest, and beyond that the coats and at last found themselves back through the wardrobe in the Professor's house and are suddenly children again.

“Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

I really enjoyed this book. This is most interesting to read. The story, the plots all were really fascinating. I feel like a small kid again. This takes us to different places and all of it are really capturing our mind and heart. Some of the best portion was when Lucy found the magical world, the last war and so on. This is a good book and I recommend to anyone interested in reading fantasy fiction.