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The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

Quick Answer

Start with "The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe" to begin the The Chronicles of Narnia. It is the essential series starter and provides the necessary foundation for the rest of the books.

Quick Verdict

✅ Safe to read now (Series Entry Point)

❓ Can I skip this book?
❌ No — Required

This book is essential to the core narrative and character development.

Verdict Insight: This is the essential series starter that introduces the C.S. Lewis's core world and character arcs. It is required reading for all new fans.

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1950Series Starter
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a fantasy novel for children 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.[2] Although it was originally the first of The Chronicles of Narnia, it is volume two in recent editions that are sequenced by the stories' chronology. Like the other Chronicles, 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 that is ruled by the evil White Witch. In the frame story, four English children are relocated to a large, old country house following a wartime evacuation. The youngest, Lucy, visits Narnia three times via the magic of a wardrobe in a spare room. Lucy's three siblings are with her on her third visit to Narnia. In Narnia, the siblings seem fit to fulfill an old prophecy and find themselves adventuring to save Narnia and their own lives. The lion Aslan gives his life to save one of the children; he later rises from the dead, vanquishes the White Witch, and crowns the children Kings and Queens of Narnia.
Next Recommended Book

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

Book #1 of 9 in Series

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for deep lore fans.

Order Confidence

Medium Confidence

Why this order?

Our team of curators analyzes publication history, author interviews, and internal narrative continuity to establish the definitive reading sequence. This ensures zero spoilers and maximum narrative impact.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for The Chronicles of Narnia conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe?

This book is essential to the core narrative and character development.

Can I read The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe before other books in the series?

Yes, The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe is the first book in the series and is the ideal starting point for new readers.

Is The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe required reading for the The Chronicles of Narnia?

Yes, it is a core installment in the series reading order and contains critical character development and plot progression.

What comes after The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe in the reading order?

The next recommended book after The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe is The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (Book #1).