What is the first book in C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia by publication date?

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first published book in C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia.

It was published in 1950 and introduces the Pevensie siblings, the land of Narnia, the White Witch, and Aslan. The children enter Narnia through a wardrobe while staying in an old country house during wartime evacuation.

The Magician’s Nephew is a prequel in the fictional chronology, explaining Narnia’s creation and the origins of several important elements. Because it was published later, however, it is not the first book by publication date. This distinction accounts for much of the disagreement over recommended reading order.

The novel became one of Lewis’s most widely read works and has been adapted for radio, television, stage, and film. Its 1950 publication began the seven-volume series that later became known collectively as The Chronicles of Narnia.