Name: Matthew Jackson's review of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Item: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Rating: 2
Author: Matthew Jackson

C.S. Lewis

When this adaptation of C. S. Lewis's classic children's story opened at the RSC Stratford in November 1998, it received rave reviews and broke box office records. Four children are evacuated from London during the Blitz. While exploring the Professor's house, they stumble across the gateway to another world, and the adventure begins. The land of Narnia is under the spell of the wicked White Witch, and the four very quickly find themselves caught up in a deadly struggle between good and evil.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

jana 

“But do you really mean, sir,” said Peter, “that there could be other worlds—all over the place, just round the corner—like that?”

C. S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: A Harper Classic (Chronicles of Narnia)

Sarin Booi

"Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen."

"Why, sir?" said Lucy. "I think-I don't Why. and a - and C as a ick it. know-but I think I could be brave enough. "That is not the point," he said. "But battles a ugly when women fight."

Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring agan.

"I am sure nobody would mind," said Susan; "it isn't as if we wanted to take them out of the house; we shan't take them even out of the wardrobe."

Daughter of Eve from the far land of Spare Oom where eternal summer reigns around the bright city of War Drobe, how would it be if you came and had tea with me?"

Avarni B

He knows that unless I have blood as the Law says all Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water

Edmund simply sank down and lay on his face doing nothing at all and not even caring what was going to happen next provided they would let him lie still.

When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone Sits at Cair Paravel in throne, The evil time will be over and done.

Matthew Jackson

A boy and a talking horse share an adventurous and dangerous journey to Narnia to warn of invading barbarians.

The Horse and His Boy

Lynn

A generous 2 ⭐️. I am not even going to comment on all of the toxic views depicted as truths in this book aimed children. As an adult, I cannot put aside the blatant religious discrimination (possibly racism) and spiteful attitude towards education. Even for a book set in the desert for a large part, the storytelling was dry and the ending felt rushed and highlights unnecessary biases in society. Just a no from me. How this man was allowed to keep writing books in this series and people actually read these to their kids, is beyond me.

Pauline Baynes

Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

2 ⭐️ one for nature writing and one for childhood nostalgia. I thought I’d read a cozy christmassy read with some childhood nostalgia, but instead I got ultra-christian propoganda packaged as a children’s novel. This book perpetuates sexism, racism, classism and ableism all in the most subtle ways to imprint these ideologies on children. I felt vehemently uncomfortable reading some parts and am reluctant to pick up his next works. Props to the book club for analysing this book alongside me and validating me in my rage.

Prince Caspian

The one star is for Edmund’s unintended humour. I now vow to banish all CS Lewis books from my life. How this man was allowed to publish SEVEN children’s books in this series is beyond me. The blatant discrimination on all fronts from sexism to racism, the absolute void that was the plot, the irrelevance of the title character, the self promotion, the god complex, the undernotes of Aslan’s weird cult. Just a big fat no from me. Never again, stick to the movies. This entire series is enraging.

Gavin

Don't really understand the appeal. Famous Five plus the weaker bits of Lord of the Rings

Four English schoolchildren find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and assist Aslan, the golden lion, to triumph over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter.

The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe

Beatrix Haase

Love! Read this a long time ago. I still adore it still to this day. A wonderful story full of magic. I can't wait to read the other books.

xoxo,
Bebe

Journeys to the end of the world, fantastic creatures, and epic battles between good and evil -- what more could any reader ask for in one book? The book that has it all is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, written in 1949 by Clive Staples Lewis. But Lewis did not stop there. Six more books followed, and together they became known as The Chronicles of Narnia. For the past fifty years, The Chronicles of Narnia have transcended the fantasy genre to become part of the canon of classic literature. Each of the seven books is a masterpiece, drawing the reader into a land where magic meets reality, and the result is a fictional world whose scope has fascinated generations. This edition presents all seven books -- unabridged -- in one impressive volume. The books are presented here according to Lewis' preferred order, each chapter graced with an illustration by the original artist, Pauline Baynes. Deceptively simple and direct, The Chronicles of Narnia continue to captivate fans with adventures, characters, and truths that speak to readers of all ages, even fifty years after they were first published.

The Chronicles of Narnia (adult)

Gillian Rose

I think because I read these stories when I was in high school/college that I don't have the same amount of love for them. They're fine, but I always feel like I missed part of the magic.

Doing this reread gave me a bigger appreciation of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader than I had before, while I liked The Silver Chair less.

Sarah Pino

I mean.. it's the lion the witch and the wardrobe.

Arun Khanna

This was an enchanting reread. I absolutely loved the simplicity, Lewis's writing style, and just the basic plot of the book. Only C.S. Lewis could make such an obvious allegory so entertaining and fresh.

The Narnia Chronicles, first published in 1950, have been and remain some of the most enduringly popular ever published. The best known, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, has been translated into 29 languages! The illustrations in this book have been coloured by the original artist, Pauline Baynes. ***Contains Colour Images**

The Silver Chair (Colour Version) (The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 6)

I was not a huge fan of this one. I thought the characters were a little flat and the overall plot mediocre. However, I did enjoy Lewis' writing and some childhood nostalgia

Four children help Prince Caspian and his army of Talking Beasts to free Narnia from evil.

This book tends to get a worse rap than The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but in some ways, I liked it better. I really like the idea of a prince rebelling against the oppression caused by the current ruler. I really enjoyed the mixed depiction of dwarves, some of whom were willing to go back to the tyrannical rule of the White Witch simply because they felt that they would enjoy a higher status than equality which reminded me of poor rural whites supporting oppressive policies against black people after the civil war.

There were some aspects I didn't like, but I understand Lewis' reasoning. For example, when Trumpkin was rescued by the Pevensies, I couldn't help but be frustrated when each of them had to "prove" their skills to him. But then again, this was a book intended for children so I guess I understand. Also, another issue I had was with Aslan. I never quite understood the rules for when he decides to intervene and when he doesn't. This is a problem I have with pretty much all the books in the series and I guess I kind of understand that Aslan is supposed be an allegory for God/Jesus and that his ways are mysterious, but I found it frustrating as a reader.

I really enjoyed this book: everything - the plot, the characters were interesting in their own right. However, it was kind of difficult to stand the pure racism in the story: the brown, turban-clad evil slavers trying to overtake the fair white pure Narnians. Also, it seems like Lewis completely abandoned one of the central premises of the first book, namely that the only humans in Narnia were the Pevensies.

When evil comes to Narnia, Jill and Eustace help fight the great last battle and Aslan leads his people to a glorious new paradise.

The Last Battle

This was by far the worst book of the series in my opinion. 

First, what I like: I definitely liked the idea of a "false prophet" playing out in fantasy and I thought the first couple of chapters were excellent.

However, everything went downhill from there. The sheer racism and xenophobia Lewis displays is somewhat breathtaking in his description of the brown foreigners who worship the "wrong" god. The ending was genuinely bizarre: (view spoiler)[ They all die and go to heaven??? Oh yeah, except Susan who is busy playing with boys and lipstick. Come on Lewis....  (hide spoiler)]

Sophie H

The Return to Narnia

Prince Caspian (rpkg)

Jeff

Less racist than The Horse and His Boy, but maybe more sexist? Serves as a drawn-out prologue to The Voyage of the Dawn Treader>.

The Last Battle (The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 7)

Definitely problematic in parts, but it bookends the series so well; the Omega to The Magician’s Nephew’s Alpha. I love the final act, especially following downbeat after downbeat of the first two-thirds, but I wish there was more of an explanation of why everything happens, beyond just needing events to lead to that bookend.

Michela

Li ho letti tutti quando avevo 15 anni! Libri fantastici, Lewis sa proprio come trasportarti in un nuovo ed emozionante universo!

Not usually the type of book I read but the ending made me smile so much!! Was quite good

Skyler Robinson

Nicole Sonja

This is one of the best books ever written! I will definitely come back to it when I'm ready for an adventure again!

This is one of the sadder Narnia books, but it contains rich stories of characters worth aspiring to! A tale of rescues, victories, and goodbyes.

The quotes in this book are what make it worth reading! I absolutely loved the way this one in particular was reading and it made me rethink what’s realistic and what’s better.

I always feel like I don't belong anywhere but in Narnia when I start this book. That's exactly what makes this such an excellent book!

As I reread this book, I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it. I did after all know this was the end of Narnia. What I came across was one of the best endings of a series ever written. Even though I wish with all my heart that Narnia would have a few thousand books more, I am more than happy with the ending. It made me cry and still wish for more. My greatest wish now is to go to the real Narnia! 

I’ve also vowed never to stop rereading the Chronicles of Narnia! Just give me a few months or weeks to recover...

Rosy 

The read was so different when you're a child and going back to it with the knowledge of who Aslan really is.

Matthew Jackson &
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

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