Which 1950 novel begins C.S. Lewis’s seven-book Chronicles of Narnia series?

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

Macmillan published the novel in 1950. It introduces the four Pevensie children—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy—and their discovery of the magical land of Narnia through a wardrobe. The story features the lion Aslan, the White Witch, and a conflict between winter and renewal.

The Magician’s Nephew is often listed first in internal chronological order because it describes Narnia’s creation. However, it was published later, in 1955, as the sixth released Narnia book. This distinction explains why readers may encounter different numbering systems.

Pauline Baynes illustrated all seven original Narnia books. The series became one of the most widely read works of twentieth-century children’s fantasy.