The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Book - 1994


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Age Suitability
Add Age SuitabilityZoey_Harrington_06 thinks this title is suitable for 7 years and over
brown_hawk_63 thinks this title is suitable for between the ages of 10 and 11
white_horse_01 thinks this title is suitable for between the ages of 7 and 99
Quotes
Add a Quote[Lewis] blends fantasy with Christianity, creating a world of suspense and adventure on the moral high ground.
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“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
“all worlds draw to an end and that noble death is a treasure which no one is too poor to buy.”
“But very quickly they all became grave again: for, as you know, there is a kind of happiness and wonder that makes you serious. It is too good to waste on jokes.”
"With your Majesty's leave-" began Reepicheep.
"No, Reepicheep," said the King very firmly, "you are not to attempt a single combat with it.”
“A dragon has just flown over the tree-tops and lighted on the beach. Yes, I am afraid it is between us and the ship. And arrows are no use against dragons. And they're not at all afraid of fire."
“There is a kind of happiness and wonder that makes you serious. It is too good to waste on jokes.”
“To the glistening eastern sea, I give you Queen Lucy the Valiant. To the great western woods, King Edmund the Just. To the radiant southern sun, Queen Susan the Gentle. And to the clear northern skies, I give you King Peter the Magnificent. Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia. May your wisdom grace us until the stars rain down from the heavens.”
Summary
Add a SummaryNarnia...the land beyond the wardrobe door, a secret place frozen in eternal winter, a magical country waiting to be set free.
C. S. Lewis is a captivating storyteller. With THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (Collier Books, $1.95) he blends fantasy with Christianity, creating a world of suspense and adventure on the moral high ground.
four kids get trapped in an unusual place and try to find the way back the have to try to beat the white witch etc..
Four children go to a magical place,defeat a witch and become rulers of Narnia.
Four children find a magical place, defeat a witch and become rulers of narnia
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, completed by the end of March 1949[13] and published by Geoffrey Bles in London on 16 October 1950, tells the story of four ordinary children: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie. They discover a wardrobe in Professor Digory Kirke's house that leads to the magical land of Narnia. The Pevensie children help Aslan, a talking lion, save Narnia from the evil White Witch, who has reigned over the land of Narnia for a century of perpetual winter. The children become kings and queens of this new-found land and establish the Golden Age of Narnia, leaving a legacy to be rediscovered in later books.
The story begins in 1940 during World War II, when four siblings--Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie--are evacuated from London to escape the Blitz. They are sent to live with Professor Digory Kirke, who lives in a country house in the English countryside.
While the four children are exploring the house, Lucy looks into a wardrobe and discovers a portal to a magical world named Narnia. There she meets a faun named Tumnus. He invites her to tea in his home. There he confesses he planned to report her to the tyrannical White Witch but has thought better of it. Upon returning to our world, Lucy's siblings do not believe her story about Narnia. Her spiteful older brother Edmund enters the wardrobe and meets the White Witch, who befriends him and offers him magical Turkish delight that enchants him. She encourages him to bring his siblings to her in Narnia, with the promise that he shall rule over them. Edmund joins Lucy in Narnia and then returns with her to the Professor's house. But after returning he lies to Peter and Susan: he denies Lucy's claim that Narnia lies behind the wardrobe.
Eventually all four of the children enter Narnia together while hiding in the wardrobe. They meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who invite them to dinner. The beavers recount a prophecy that the witch's power will fail when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve fill the four thrones at Cair Paravel. The beavers tell of the true king of Narnia, a great lion named Aslan who has been absent for many years but is now "on the move again."
Edmund sneaks away to the White Witch. Her castle is filled with stone statues--enemies she has petrified. The beavers realize where Edmund has gone and abandon their home, leading the children to Aslan. As they travel, they notice that the snow is melting, indicating that the White Witch's spell is breaking. A visit by Father Christmas confirms this.
The children and the Beavers meet with Aslan and his army. Peter engages in his first battle, killing a wolf who threatens Susan.
The Witch approaches to speak with Aslan, insisting that according to "deep magic from the dawn of time" she has the right to execute Edmund as a traitor. Aslan speaks with her privately and persuades her to renounce her claim on Edmund's life. That evening, Aslan secretly leaves the camp, but is followed by Lucy and Susan. Aslan has bargained to exchange his own life for Edmund's. The Witch ties Aslan to the Stone Table and then kills him with a knife. The following morning Aslan is restored to life. Unknown to the witch, "deeper magic from before the dawn of time" allows someone who willingly dies in the place of another to return to life.
Aslan allows Lucy and Susan to ride on his back as he hurries to the Witch's castle. There he breathes upon the statues, restoring them to life. Peter and Edmund lead the Narnian army in a battle against the White Witch's army but are losing. Aslan arrives with the former statues as reinforcements. The Narnians rout the evil army, and Aslan kills the Witch.
The Pevensie children are named kings and queens of Narnia. Several years later, now adults and mounted on horseback, the siblings go hunting for a White Stag. Just beyond the lamppost, branches become coats. The siblings are back in the wardrobe and are children again. They reenter the Professor's house.

Four school children have left there home to go to a "safe haven" during the war. Here they find a magical portal to the distant land of Narnia, where the White Witch rules and it's always winter, yet never Christmas. Will the children be able to save Narnia? Will Aslan come and help them?
Notices
Add Notices
Violence: There is a war near the end of this book, although I believe it is not portrayed that strongly.

Comment
Add a CommentVery quick read! So nice to visit the wintry Narnia again (winter - but never Christmas) and to read about Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy's adventures.
I forgot how close the film is to the book. I throughly enjoyed this audiobook and I'm slowly making my way through the Chronicals of Narnia. The reader for this onewas quite delightful and I see why some say to start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
While this isn’t my favorite novel I can say it’s still very enjoyable to read. It starts off in WW2 and these four siblings are being sent away to a home from children for safety so as you can see its very bleak but then it lightens up as the youngest sibling finds a wardrobe that leads into the magical realm of Narnia and soon the once bleak story is filled with magic and adventure. Personally I’m not a huge fan of fantasy so I didn’t lie it all too much but I think anyone who does enjoy reading fantasy novels then you’ll enjoy this one. I know one thing I enjoyed most was the characteristics of the four siblings considering the younger two are so innocent but the older two find it’s their job to take care of each other which I found to be wholesome and I personally enjoy that very much in a novel. 2/5
@Celine of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board
Four siblings, Susan, Edmund, Peter, and Lucy Pevensie. They find an enormous wardrobe and beyond that lies the frozen land of Narnia. This land is ruled by an evil witch and together with the help of the Great Lion, Aslan, the four adventurers must set Narnia free from the witch. C.S. Lewis uses a cheery, informative tone throughout most of the book to explain its message about Christianity which is sometimes silly and amusing. The straightforward and simple writing style makes it a great pickup for beginners.
Wonderful story; I love the idea of kids finding another world through a wardrobe!
I have a closet in my house I'm convinced connects to infinity. Anything I put in it is separated from me forever. Not nearly as cool, but with a lot more potential for mischief is the closet in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (Collier Books, $1.95). It leads to a place called Narnia with bad witches, noble lions and pieces that fit just right for a healthy dose of moralizing. That said, C. S. Lewis is a captivating storyteller.
Well its always good to read the second book.
Have you ever pushed the clothes to either side and tapped the back wall of your closet looking for a secret door? This book is the reason. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a classic fantasy set during the time of the Second World War. It remains fresh today because, shortly after arriving in the safe haven of the country from bomb weary London, four siblings find their way through a secret door in a wardrobe to a magical land called Narnia, where they learn lessons about gluttony, unwise alliances, treachery and redemption. This audio book would be great for a family listen, followed by discussion, perhaps while sampling some Turkish Delights.
This is a story about the Pevensie children and their adventures in the magical world of Narnia. While reading this book, I become giddy with excitement and have a strong desire to go on an exploit of my own. Either that or reread the book to go on the children's adventure with them again. This is an excellent novel and is great for anyone looking for a little escape.
This particular book that initiated the series of Narnia shows numerous symbolism and imagery that represents the basic tenets of C.S Lewis' renowned personal faith. A book that is simple for even babes to read and comprehend, that totally captivates the inner soul of the reader.