The Chronicles of Narnia novel series began publication in 1950.
The first published volume was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which introduced readers to Narnia and the Pevensie children. Lewis then published six additional books, with the final volume, The Last Battle, appearing in 1956.
The series is often discussed in two different orders. Publication order starts with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Internal chronological order starts with The Magician's Nephew, which is set before the events of the other books and describes the creation of Narnia. Both lists refer to the same seven-book series, but they answer different questions.
Pauline Baynes illustrated all seven original books. The series became a major landmark of children's fantasy and has been adapted for radio, television, stage, and film. Its worldwide readership has kept the 1950 starting date especially significant.