The Chronicles of Narnia

By: C.S. Lewis

"The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe"

The four Pevensie children are sent to a country house during the blitz. There Lucy has a most peculiar adventure when she steps into an old wardrobe. But why would her brothers and sister believe that she had tea with a faun and heard about a White Witch? Trying to save the land of Narnia, however, is an adventure in which they are soon all involved in. They learn they can't do it by themselves; they need the help of Aslan; the great lion. Will they succeed?

This is a marvelous analogy of Christ and his love and sacrifice for us!

"Prince Caspian"

The Telmarines are in control of Narnia, and young Caspian is the nephew of the King. Caspian's father was originally King- but he died when Caspian was a baby. Prince Caspian's nurse tells him strange things, of a great king named King Peter and of a glorious lion named Aslan, a beautiful palace named Cair Paravel and other wonders. Caspian does not know whether they are true or not until late one night his tutor takes him to see the stars and discloses a great secret.

The very next night Caspian must make a daring escape; for his Uncle plans to kill him. As he travels he finds out more wondrous things and meets more fascinating characters. But finally he has to make a decision… he must fight. Will he blow the horn to call back the high King and great King and Queens? Does he still believe in Aslan- or can he win the battle against his Uncle in other ways. Will Narnia survive?

"The Voyage of the Dawn Treader"

Although Peter and Susan cannot return to Narnia, Edmund and Lucy can and do! But this time they bring along some company that at first they would have preferred to not bring along: their cousin Eustace Scrubb. Eustace is your perfect example of a spoiled, modern child.

The children arrive on a Narnian ship, the Dawn Treader. A good friend theirs is on the ship, King Caspian! Narnia is flourishing and he decided to sail and search for seven Narnian Lords that his Uncle banished during his reign. They sail through various islands, meeting up with all sorts of characters including Dufflepuds, Dragons and slave traders. It is quite an adventure for them all! Gradually Eustace is softened- but it takes a pretty scaly experience! And, many important lessons about the world can be learned.

Do they locate the seven Narnian Lords? If so, how? Where?

"The Silver Chair"

Eustace, now thoroughly reformed, is ready to introduce his friend Jill to Narnia. But this trip it isn't going to be a sailing trip for pleasure, this time. It's going to be rather like "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." King Caspian is an old and broken man, his wife was killed in a terrible accident and his well loved and only son has disappeared. Aslan tells the children that he can be found and that that is why he called for them, to find Prince Rilian.

Together and with a loving, if pessimistic friend- they venture into the land of the giants and search for the ruins that will lead them to the Prince and the ruler of the underworld. It is a desperate adventure; they have several short calls. For instance- who would want to be part of a giant feast? Who is this Knight? They need to find and free Prince Rilian- but they gradually realize that there is more to their mission.

This, like the first book, is a marvelous allegory about Jesus, light, Satan and darkness.

"The Horse and His Boy"

This book is about the reign of King Peter, Queen Susan, King Edmund and Queen Lucy. A young boy who lives in a land far from Narnia learns from a captured talking horse that Narnia is a real and wonderful place. They decide to run away to Narnia together. They have incredible adventures on the way- such as meeting the rulers of Narnia, getting separated and meeting up with two other runaways- a headstrong girl of nobility and her mild mannered horse. In the end of the book they do reach Narnia- and help save her as well!

Digory is a young boy whose mother is very ill and whose Father is away. He and his mother live with his Aunt and Uncle. The Aunt is a very proper old woman, but Digory has his doubts about his Uncles. He confides these doubts to a Polly, a girl who lives next door from him. She helps him to not hurt so much over his mother's increasingly bad condition and helps him to just play. They have the most fun together, exploring attics and attic passage ways. One day they decide to go a step further, to try and get into the vacant house (this was when all the houses were connected by attics). However, their mathematics goes a little wrong and they end up in the room Digory has never been allowed to go into and never wanted to: his Uncle's study. But there he and Polly are, trapped by this maniac of a man who gives Polly a ring. However, there's something fishy about the ring, because as soon as she accepts it she disappears. Digory is furious with his Uncle but has only one option- to go get his friend. That was all he planned to do, until… what are all those statues? What will happen if he rings that bell? Who is this awful woman? Oh dear… it looks as if everything is ruined for Digory- his mother, his adventures with Polly and just everything. But a strange beast comes to help- and soon something so magnificent has occurred Digory's problems have just about vanished.

In my opinion, this is the best of the Narnia books. Narnia is old and is coming to an end, enemies are attacking from all sides and the King does not have any idea what to do. Something so terrible is begun that nothing can be done to stop it; except to fight it with all might and main. This is what the good King does, and he and several others lose their lives. One would think the book would end there on that tragic note-but Lewis had something greater in mind. This is a beautiful allegory about Heaven (it brought me to tears). Though this is a marvelous book- you probably wouldn't want your younger children reading it- because it is so… in depth, complicated… I don't know how to describe it… traumatic? No… because it is wonderful but also a very mature story.

Warning:

If you are the sort of person who does not like any reference magic at all you do not want these books.

BBC made a set of movies for the first four books.

The first one ("The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe") is marvelous. They stay so close to the story, the acting is great and so are the special effects.

In "Prince Caspian" they don't stay as true to the book- but they try to stay true to the spirit of the book. The acting is great.

"The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" is a really lush film, beautiful scenery, very close to the book and great acting. However… we do have a small problem with it (this problem is also in the book) one of the good characters is shown as a wizard with very obvious magical powers. We don't quite feel comfortable with that.

"Prince Rilian" departs from the book quite a bit- but is still a wonderful movie. Again, great acting and special effects.