Why it's essential
C.S. Lewis's landmark high fantasy epic has had an astronomical impact on pop culture. Since its release in 1950, this unforgettable piece of portal fiction has inspired the imaginations of children and adults around the world, with animated and live action adaptations, merchandise, and countless new editions keeping Narnia in the zeitgeist for more than 70 years. With all seven books neatly packaged together and featuring a different narrator for each one, this is the definitive audio edition of the beloved series.
Featured in: 100 Essential Screen Adaptations.
What is The Chronicles of Narnia about?
After escaping the bombings in London during World War II, the Pevensie siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy—are taken to the English countryside to stay with the eccentric Professor Digory Kirke. When the youngsters discover a portal at the back of a mysterious armoire, they are transported to the land of Narnia, where lions talk, magic is real, and an evil witch seeks to spread her influence, kicking off a fantasy epic for the ages over the course of seven books.
Editor's review
Seth is an Audible editor and a certified podcasting fanatic. He lives for historical fiction, music and film analysis podcasts, and well-placed Oxford commas.
When I think of The Chronicles of Narnia, I am transported to my childhood bedroom at the impossibly late hour of 9:30 PM. My dad is squinting at his yellowed 1976 edition of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, dust kicking up into the air with each turn of the page. As he speaks of fauns, stone tablets, and Turkish Delight, my little brain is working on overdrive to make sense of it all.
All seven books in the series have vastly different storylines, main characters, points of view, and in the case of the audio version, a different narrator for each title. For most Narnia fans, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the first book they experience, and it's also the best known book in the series. In later editions of the series (including this one), The Magician’s Nephew is considered to be the first book since it takes place much earlier in the canon, starring a young Professor Digory Kirke as he discovers Narnia. I started this series with Wardrobe, however. The story of siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy stumbling upon a magical land and taking on the evil White Witch is nothing short of a timeless classic. With the mighty lion Aslan and the kind faun Mr. Tumnus on their side, these four children are tested and forced to mature quickly in order to rise to the challenge.
While it certainly transports the reader into a highly conceptual fantasy world, the secret sauce to this series is the stellar character writing. Put simply, each of the four children represents one major character archetype: Peter is brave and headstrong, Susan is wise and resourceful, Edmund is agreeable and easily manipulated, and Lucy is kind and loyal. As a kid, I found myself admiring Lucy’s grit and determination in difficult situations. These character outlines may be basic, but author C.S. Lewis uses them to great effect, weaving complex character dynamics while keeping it simple enough for anyone to follow along. While the four children do not appear in all seven books, these sorts of character tropes live on with each trip to this magical and faraway land.
C.S. Lewis is also well known for his use of religious imagery. Lewis was converted to Christianity as an adult, and while he didn’t purposefully include Christian themes in his writing, they can be very plain to see. Famously, Aslan can be clearly viewed as a Christ-like figure. Throughout the seven books, themes like resurrection, battles against evil, faith, false idols, and the afterlife crop up again and again. Despite this, nothing in these books feels prescriptive or preachy, maintaining its accessibility to the wider public while adding some extra depth to the text.
The Chronicles of Narnia is nothing short of a classic entry into the fantasy genre. Narnia was my first fantasy series—I was exposed to it before discovering other juggernauts like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. While these stories are technically written with children in mind, the mature themes and ever-expanding world provide plenty of great material for all ages to chew on. Looking back 20 years on, Narnia threw open the doors to my imagination, inspiring me to think beyond what I could see in front of me for good.
Did you know?
Though C.S. Lewis identified as an atheist as a younger man, he returned to Christianity in 1931. His religious beliefs heavily influenced the tone and messaging of the Narnia series.
The original names of the Pevensie children were Ann, Martin, Rose, and Peter.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was inspired by three girls who lived with Lewis during World War I.
What listeners said
"I am 73 years old and read this to my son as he was growing up. I was looking for something comforting to listen to during this dark time. It was just perfect. The performances of the readers were amazing. Thank you all." —Marilyn, Audible listener
"When I was a child, I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I loved it then. At age 63 I've now have heard all of the books. I am grateful. I will now share this with my grandchildren. Especially the ones that have the same reading disability I have." —Patricia, Audible listener
"I read The Chronicles of Narnia as a kid and it was always one of my favorites. I read the series to my kids. I have no idea why they call this the Adult Box Set but everyone needs it. While all the narrators were at least very good, I have to say my favorite is Patrick Stewart. How can you go wrong, 34 hours of one of the greatest stories for one credit?" —Sharon, Audible listener
Quotes from The Chronicles of Narnia
"'Girls aren't very good at keeping maps in their brains', said Edmund, 'That's because we've got something in them', replied Lucy."
"'Now sir,' said the bulldog in his business-like way. 'Are you an animal, vegetable, or mineral?'"
"She remembered, as every sensible person does, that you should never never shut yourself up in a wardrobe."
"A noble friend is the best gift. A noble enemy is the next best."
Adaptations
Though there have been multiple animated and stage renditions of Narnia over the years, the three feature films were the most widely released. From the seven books, three were adapted for the big screen—The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008), and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010). Netflix has announced two new Narnia films, directed by Greta Gerwig.
About the author
C.S. Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the 20th century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a fellow and tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954 when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than 30 books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged fantasy classic, The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies.
About the performers
The Chronicles of Narnia is performed by seven outstanding narrators:
Kenneth Branagh (The Magician's Nephew) is an Academy and Olivier Award-winning actor and filmmaker who has directed and starred in several film adaptations of Shakespeare's plays, including Henry V, Othello, and Hamlet, as well as had supporting roles in Christopher Nolan's films Dunkirk, Tenet, and Oppenheimer.
Michael York (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) is an English stage and screen actor best known for his leading roles in the films Cabaret, The Three Musketeers, and Logan's Run. He has been honored with an OBE and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Alex Jennings (The Horse and His Boy) is a versatile English actor who has won three Olivier Awards for his stage performances and acclaim for his portrayal of Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, in the Netflix series The Crown.
Lynne Redgrave (Prince Caspian) was a distinguished English actress who won two Golden Globe Awards during her long career. She narrated more than 20 audiobooks, including Inkheart by Cornelia Funke.
Derek Jacobi (The Voyage of the Dawn Treader) is an English actor known for his work at the Royal National Theatre as well as his numerous film and television roles, ranging from the BBC series I, Claudius, for which he won a BAFTA for Best Actor, to his guest turn on the sitcom Frasier, which earned him an Emmy.
Jeremy Northam (The Silver Chair) is an English actor and singer whose notable screen roles include Mr. Knightley in the 1996 film adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, Thomas More in the Showtime series The Tudors, and Anthony Eden in Netflix's The Crown.
Patrick Stewart (The Last Battle) is an English actor whose career has spanned seven decades in theater, film, television, and video games. Honored with an OBE, an Olivier Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he is best known to sci-fi fans for his leading role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the long-running TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation, its subsequent films, and its spinoff, Star Trek: Picard.
