The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a fantasy novel by C.S. Lewis published by Geoffrey Bles in 1950. It is the first published and best known of seven novels in The Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1956). Among all the author’s books, it is also the most widely held in libraries. Although it was written as well as published first in the series, it is volume two in recent editions, sequenced by the stories’ chronology (the first being The Magician’s Nephew). Like the others it was illustrated by Pauline Baynes, and her work has been retained in many later editions.
Most of the novel is set in Narnia, a land of talking animals and mythical creatures where the White Witch has ruled for a hundred years over a deep winter. In the frame story, four English children are relocated to a large, old country house following a wartime evacuation. The youngest visits Narnia three times via the magic of a wardrobe in a spare room. All four children are together on her third visit, verifying her fantastic claims and comprises the subsequent twelve of seventeen chapters, except for a brief conclusion. In Narnia the siblings seem fit to fulfill an old prophecy and so are soon adventuring both to save Narnia and their lives. Lewis wrote the book for, and dedicated it to, his goddaughter Lucy Barfield. She was the daughter of Owen Barfield, Lewis’s friend, teacher, adviser, and trustee.
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