The Chronicles of Narnia are a series of seven books written by C.S. Lewis between 1949 and 1954. Although that may seem like a long time ago, Lewis manages to capture his audience, consisting of both children and adults, in his own creative world of intense fantasy where talking animals, magic, witches, and traditional folklore all combine into a series of exquisite tales.
As the name suggests, each book is set in the world of Narnia, a land of Lewis’s own creation, from its beginning in ‘The Magicians Nephew’, right down to its destruction in ‘The Last Battle’. Unlike most modern series, the novels do not follow a particular set of characters, but rather span the time of a whole world, showing how things can change and people can pass yet the land will always be constant.
Despite that, the children who star in these enthralling novels will inevitably become your new best friends. I know my favourite character in literature was Susan from ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ from the age of 9 when I first read it, up until mid-way through secondary school. The books are suited for both boys and girls as it purely gives an escape into an adventurous land unbeknown to mankind. They follow the general theme of a selection of characters who stumble across the land of Narnia, guided by higher forces, who are tasked with protecting the land from evil and restoring the throne to its rightful owner.
Of course, I have always and will always advocate reading the books, once you have done so there are almost endless representations of them available to you. Films of ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, ‘Prince Caspian’, and ‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’ have all recently been made into blockbuster films, full of exciting images to help fuel your imaginings of the text, that you can enjoy. Equally, the BBC made a TV adaption, and radio programmes, audio tapes, and even stage productions have been made to bring the novels more vividly to life for the modern audience.
I won’t lie to you, being written a good 50 years in the past means some of the words are a tad tricky, but overall the novels are a pleasant and engaging read that you will treasure as you get older. I know I did. They will open your eyes to a whole new level of imagination and fill a good few days with adventure and excitement, be it in battles, on ships, pilgrimages, wars, or courageous quests. So why not give them a try?
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