Which 1950 C.S. Lewis novel begins with four children entering a wardrobe?

The 1950 C.S. Lewis novel that begins with four children entering a wardrobe is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It introduces readers to the land of Narnia through the experiences of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie.

Lucy discovers that the wardrobe leads to Narnia, a fantasy world experiencing a long winter under the rule of the White Witch. The children become involved in a conflict that draws on themes of betrayal, sacrifice, courage, and restoration. The book became the first published volume of the Chronicles of Narnia.

Lewis dedicated the novel to his goddaughter, Lucy Barfield, whose first name inspired the name of Lucy Pevensie. The book was illustrated by Pauline Baynes, who created the illustrations for the Narnia books.

Although later editions sometimes arrange the Narnia stories in internal chronological order, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first Narnia book published. Its opening wardrobe scene remains one of Lewis’s most recognizable literary entrances.