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Loading... The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (original 1950; edition 1950)by C. S. Lewis
Work InformationThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (1950)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. [Reading in chronological order, #2] As an adult, I can say that I know now how much I love the professor. The religious undertones are more prevalent in this one than The Magician’s Nephew. But it’s still a nostalgic read for me and I will always find comfort in it. Michael York narrated this in audio. You'd have to be pretty hard-hearted not to enjoy "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", at least as a nostalgia hit. There's no surprise that it has become such a prominent part of so many childhoods, with its fascinating idea of a world reached through someone's wardrobe, where bored children on summer holiday can find white witches and talking lions. It's an ideal escapist story for kids (very much in the 'Harry Potter' vein) and - unlike a lot of today's rather bland children's literature - has a real sense of being a story that can be shared. Lewis' narrative voice is wonderful, somewhere between "kindly adult" and "co-conspirator". Of course, there is the religious element, which isn't so prominent here as in the later books, but which can leave an uncomfortable taste. Not that I think we should begrudge all items from other eras because of their cultural biases, but if I ever have children, I'd want to be able to explain to them why they should take the whole resurrection business with a grain of salt! Still, it doesn't take away from the childhood magic of this book, even if Philip Pullman is probably a worthy successor-cum-replacement! This is the story that got my imagination spinning from a young age. I found the idea of the magic wardrobe into another world a fascinating concept and wished I could make something of my own out of that. Narnia was the perfect home away from home where I could enact my own escapism from the drudgery of modern life, away from the lonely world where nobody understands you and nobody gets along with each other to the place where children are harmonious in spirit and reign as princesses and kings. Is contained inHas the adaptationIs abridged inInspiredThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe (Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook) by Harry Gregson-Williams The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Harry Gregson-Williams Has as a reference guide/companionHas as a studyHas as a commentary on the textHas as a student's study guideHas as a teacher's guideAwardsDistinctionsNotable Lists
Four English schoolchildren find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and assist Aslan, the golden lion, to triumph over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter. No library descriptions found. |
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Unfortunately the story itself is not very good. Lewis is doing a religious allegory here, with Aslan playing the role of Christ. I'm fine with that, but here's the thing about allegoric stories: you can tell great stories with deeper themes like that, but the story itself has to be good, and this one isn't. It's too heavy-handed, the characters are treated like they are too special for no good reason. They don't do much to deserve it or to advance the plot. It's just Aslan/Christ doing things.
Nevertheless, it's captured the imagination of generations of children. It has something to appeal. It's just that I think there are better stories for this target audience.
By the way, start the series here. This should be read in original publication order:
1) The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
2) Prince Caspian
3) The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
4) The Silver Chair
5) The Horse and His Boy
6) The Magician's Nephew
7) The Last Battle ( )