Which C.S. Lewis novel opens The Chronicles of Narnia?

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe opens The Chronicles of Narnia in the series’ original publication order. C.S. Lewis published it in 1950, introducing readers to the Pevensie children and the magical land they enter through a wardrobe.

The story follows Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy after they are sent away from London during the Second World War. Lucy discovers Narnia first, where the White Witch has imposed a long winter. The children eventually meet Aslan, the great lion who symbolizes Narnia’s hope and renewal.

The Magician’s Nephew is often listed first in chronological reading orders because its story takes place before the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It was nevertheless published sixth, in 1955. That difference explains why readers may encounter two numbering systems.

The book’s title refers to three central elements: Aslan, the White Witch, and the wardrobe that serves as Lucy’s doorway. Its opening made Narnia one of the most enduring settings in children’s literature.