The Magician’s Nephew is the first book in the Narnia series and is often overlooked. But why? Is it a bad story? Does it not make sense? This is the book that explains so much of the Narnia story and introduces us to that magical lion, Aslan.
The Plot
The Magician’s Nephew is set in Victorian England when Sherlock Holmes was still solving mysteries. Two children, Polly and Digory, find themselves stuck together over the summer holidays. Polly’s family had no holiday planned, while Digory and his sick mother say with Aunt Letty and her brother, the eccentric Uncle Andrew. During one of their indoor adventure days, they stumble upon Uncle Andrews secret study and discover a heap of trouble. Magic rings transport them to other worlds and the Wood Between Worlds. During their adventures, they meet an evil queen, a magical lion, and some lost guinea pigs.
Thoughts on the story
This is the first part of the Narnia series and is probably one of the most important books. The Magician’s Nephew sets the stage for Narnia and all of the comings and goings of the other books. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe might be the most popular and well-known book, but there is a lot that is unknown. Where did the Witch come from? Why is there a lamp post in the middle of the snow? And why is a wardrobe able to transport four children into Narnia? This is the book that answers all of these questions. Narnia is not featured a great deal in the story but the story is about the birth of Narnia and how everything came to be.
Thoughts on the Author
I have a real soft spot for C.S. Lewis because he is a local author. C.S. Lewis was born in Belfast and spent most of his childhood there until he went to Oxford in 1916. During this time, he was trained by the British Army and served in the trenches until he was injured by a shell in 1918. Lewis was close friends with fellow writer, J.R.R. Tolkien. Lewis and his work have inspired children for decades to check the back of the wardrobe for magically passages to another world.
Overall
The Narnia series is one of the best-loved children book series of all time. The series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. If you like the movies or have only read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, then you should read this one too.