What was C.S. Lewis’s first Narnia novel to be published?

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first Narnia novel published by C.S. Lewis.

The book appeared in 1950 and introduces the fictional land of Narnia through the wardrobe discovered by Lucy Pevensie. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy become involved in the conflict between Aslan and the White Witch.

Although it was the first book released, Lewis later created a different internal chronology for the series. The Magician’s Nephew, published in 1955, tells of Narnia’s creation and is placed first in that chronological order. This difference explains why lists of the series sometimes begin with different titles.

The first edition was illustrated by Pauline Baynes, whose artwork became strongly associated with the books. The series ultimately contained seven novels, with The Last Battle published in 1956.