• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

  • The Chronicles of Narnia
  • By: C. S. Lewis
  • Narrated by: Michael York
  • Length: 4 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (16,934 ratings)

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The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe  By  cover art

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

By: C. S. Lewis
Narrated by: Michael York
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Editorial reviews

If you've only seen the movie, you haven't really experienced the full power of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Four siblings enter a wardrobe and find themselves in Narnia, a magical, but dark wintry land ruled by the evil White Witch. In many ways darker and deeper than the Harry Potter series, the story takes on a life of its own in the reverential and spirited voice of Michael York. The beauty of the story owes much to the real world background of England during World War II. The four young heroes and Aslan the lion are lovingly created and detailed, and audio brings them to brighter life in one's imagination than any movie or visual recording can.

Michael York's reading of this treasure is as enchanting as the story. His British accent is fitting, all intonations are perfect, and he adds just the right amount of drama in all the right places. Have your family gather around your favorite speakers for this one, or save it for yourself -- a perfect antidote to a rainy day.

Publisher's summary

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

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 listen, but if you would like to explore more of the Narnian realm, follow up with The Horse and His Boy, the third book in The Chronicles of Narnia.

Don't miss any of the books in C.S. Lewis' classic Chronicles of Narnia series.
©1950, 1978 C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd (P)2000 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The only thing better than exploring Narnia with your children is having Michael York do it with you. With his precise, but lively, British accent, he eases listeners into the mysterious world hidden behind the wardrobe." (AudioFile)

"This classic tale celebrates its 50th anniversary with a delightful audio rendition. Actor Michael York's reading is a perfect match for this story." (School Library Journal)

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What listeners say about The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb story, lackluster performance

CS Lewis's classic story is hard to fault. It appeals to the child from age 5 to 95. But Michael York was not a good choice as narrator. Some of his character voices are passable, others fall short of any dramatic content, and the narrative passages--which are many--are read in a prim, slightly condescending tone. I have listened to the other books in the Narnia series on Harper audio, and the remainder are of better quality.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

J.S. Lewis

This was a very entertaining audio book. Very enjoyable!! I listened in the car. Easy to follow and great speaker!!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Still great after all these years

It was nice to revisit this book from my youth and remember the wonder I had at its first reading. The adventures of the children are still intriguing, and the lessons learned remain relevant.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The most amazing story in the whole wide world!

I loved the characters like the white stag, the beavers, Susan, Edmond, the professor, and all the rest.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved It

I couldn't stop listening once I started. Start to finish non stop and I didn't want it to end.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

As an adult

I never read these stories as a child but can appreciate them as an adult. I really liked the length of the audiobook.
The narrator is really good but I wasn't as fond of him as I have been with others.
Can't wait for the others!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

GREAT BOOK

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes it was a very good book!

What did you like best about this story?

There was no part that I liked best!

Which scene was your favorite?

No particular scene was my favorite!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I don'tknow!

Any additional comments?

None

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A must for children of all ages

If you haven't read the Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe, you have missed one of the most entertaining books of last century. Reading it at 7 or 31, I was fascinated and moved to tears both times. This is C.S. Lewis first Narnian adventure and the introduction of the world to Peter, Susan, Edmond, Lucy, Aslan, and many other truly unforgettable creatures. As the four children are magically drawn into the world of Narnia, the discover in themselves a yearn for adventure, justice, and a bravery and faith in good they had not yet discovered.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Classic Joy

One never gets tired of this story or series. Michael York was so great. I enjoyed it a lot.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

An amazing performance of an amazing story. I highly recommend it for all ages. Thanks.

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