is a seven-book fantasy by the legendary . The novels are considered classics of children's literature and have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide in 47 languages. Initially published between 1950 and 1956, the series has since been adapted for radio, television, the stage, film, and computer games. To this day, The Chronicles of Narnia remains a highly influential and acclaimed work, leaving a lasting impression on not only fantasy literature but also pop culture as a whole.
Warning: The following article contains spoilers for The Chronicles of Narnia series.
What inspired The Chronicles of Narnia?
As author C.S. Lewis has stated, the idea for The Chronicles of Narnia came from an image of a faun with an umbrella, carrying parcels in the snowy woods. In his essay "It All Began with a Picture," Lewis explains: "This picture had been in my mind since I was about sixteen. Then one day, when I was about forty, I said to myself: 'Let's try to make a story about it.'"
The children of Lewis's stories were inspired by real-life experiences. During World War II, children were being evacuated from London to protect them from anticipated military attacks on the city. At this time, Lewis was living in Risinghurst, three miles east of Oxford city center, and opened his home to a family of three young girls, the Kilns.
Which book in the series should I listen to first?
While the books were not originally written or published in chronological order, the author's family and the publishers now insist that Lewis would want the books to be listened to in chronological order. Meanwhile, some scholars and fans of the books argue that the world of Narnia is best introduced through , and so that book should be heard first, even though it is not the first book chronologically.
What is The Chronicles of Narnia about?
The Chronicles of Narnia envisions a world parallel to ours, and the series sees people from our world traveling over to that world, meeting characters there, exploring, and having adventures. While the series is not explicitly about Christianity, C.S. Lewis was an author of Christian apologetics before he wrote this series and influences from Christian theology are all over The Chronicles of Narnia story. Faith, forgiveness, and salvation are major themes in all of Narnia books.
Who are the main characters of The Chronicles of Narnia?
is a lion and a major character in all of The Chronicles of Narnia audiobooks—he is widely believed to be a Christ-like figure. Wise and kind, Aslan acts as a guide to the characters from our world who journey to Narnia. He often appears in the story when characters need to be rescued or are in need of moral guidance.
