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| The Chronicles of Narnia | 
 enlarge | Author: C.s. Lewis
Creator: Pauline Baynes
Publisher: HarperCollins
Category: Book
List Price: $32.99
Buy Used: $5.61
You Save: $27.38 (83%)
New (33) Used (23) Collectible (1) from $5.61
Avg. Customer Rating:  129 reviews
Sales Rank: 24268
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 784
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.7
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 2.3
ISBN: 0060598247
EAN: 9780060598242
ASIN: 0060598247
Publication Date: November 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: An acceptable used ex-library copy. Library markings. Pages are somewhat worn. Cover worn with some creases. Worn edges and corners. Binding weak and cracked.
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Product Description
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 C. S. 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 world 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's preferred order, each chapter graced with an illustration by the original artist, Pauline Baynes. This edition also contains C. S. Lewis's essay "On Three Ways of Writing for Children," in which he explains precisely how the magic of Narnia and the realm of fantasy appeal not only to children but to discerning readers of all ages. Deceptively simple and direct, The Chronicles of Narnia continue to captivate fans with adventures, characters, and truths that speak to all readers, even fifty years after the books were first published.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 124 more reviews...
 Chronicling the Chronicles October 11, 2004
367 out of 402 found this review helpful
In the first half of the twentieth century, two drinking buddies wrote vastly different fantasy series -- one was the classic "Lord of the Rings," and the other was the "Narnia" series. A close pal of J.R.R. Tolkien's and a fellow "Inkling," C.S. Lewis was one of the first widely-read fantasy writers, and his books are still widely read and enjoyed by children and adults alike.
"The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" opens as four children (Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter) are being shipped to the English countryside at the beginning of World War II. While exploring the vast house where they are staying, Lucy accidently ventures into a winter-locked world called Narnia, which is ruled over by the evil White Witch. The king Aslan is about to return -- but the Witch quickly gets a hold on Edmund's soul.
"Prince Caspian" takes place long after the events of "Lion" (though in our world, only a short time has passed). Young Prince Caspian escapes his uncle's castle when his life is threatened, and he finds refuge with the hidden races of Narnia -- dwarves, talking animals, dryads, centaurs and many others. And to help Caspian regain the throne, the two kings and two queens of Narnia are called back...
"Voyage of the Dawn Treader" begins when Edmund, Lucy and their obnoxious cousin Eustace are sucked through a painting into Narnia, where their pal Caspian is now king of Narnia (and an adult to boot). Caspian is heading toward the end of the world to find several knights who were banished, and vanished into the perilous islands along the sea.
"The Silver Chair" heads into slightly darker territory when Eustace returns to boarding school. He and outcast girl Jill Pole are drawn into Narnia, where Jill must perform a task to redeem herself for a stupid act. She must find the dying Caspian's son Rilian, who vanished many years before. The search will send the two children across Narnia with the pessimistic Puddleglum, to carnivorous Giants, creepy underground creatures, and an enemy worse than they could have imagined...
"Horse and His Boy" shoots back in time to the middle of "Lion." Shasta lives with the man he thinks to be his father in a hovel by the sea, but when a Calormene warrior purchases him, he escapes with the man's talking horse, Bree. He meets the escaping noblewoman Aravis (who also has a talking horse), and the two are planning to escape to Narnia and freedom. But in the capital city, there is a conspiracy brewing against the visiting Narnian kings and queens...
"Magician's Nephew" clears up many of the questions about Narnia, Aslan and the White Witch. Digory and Polly end up in very serious trouble when they encounter Digory's weird, slightly nutty uncle, a magician who has created magical rings that send the user to other worlds. The two kids end up in the "wood between the worlds," and venture into a dying land where they set loose the evil Queen Jadis -- who follows them to the newborn world of Narnia.
"The Last Battle" is definitely the end of the series, where Narnia decays slowly into the final battle between good and evil. Humans are destroying the trees and killing the dryads, and a false Aslan is appearing to mislead the inhabitants of Narnia. Old and new friends will band together as the true Aslan prepares to lead them to a new land.
If you don't like allegory (religious or otherwise), then steer clear of the Chronicles. While Lewis's beliefs are presented in a more complicated and subtle manner in his other fictional works, here the parallels to basic Christian beliefs are very obvious. Reportedly even Tolkien, one of Lewis's best pals, found the allegory annoying.
But if you can get past the slightly ham-handed treatment, it's a fantastic read. Lewis reshapes typical mythical elements like dwarves, nymphs, talking animals, centaurs and wicked witches into shape in his invented world. And Narnia is an inviting place -- it isn't always fun or pleasant, but there is always the feeling that the good guys will ultimately -- if not immediately -- come out on top.
Lewis's writing can become a bit precious at times, in the tradition of many British authors writing for children. But he puts plenty of detail and mystery in his stories, sprinkling them with little mysteries and questions that are explained as the story goes on. Where did the lamppost come from, for example?
While not quite as well known as his pal Tolkien's work, C.S. Lewis's Narnia series still a fun and dramatic fantasy story. For a bit more insight into the origins of fantasy as we know it, check out "The Chronicles of Narnia."
 The Classic Chronicles May 12, 2005
105 out of 125 found this review helpful
This is "The Chronicles of Narnia" like you've never read or seen them before--all in one hardbound set, in the chronological order Lewis preferred that they be read. To top it off, it's beautifully illustrated.
"The Chronicles" are C. S. Lewis' beloved children's fantasy series loved also by adults. In them, Lewis chronicles the battle between good and evil, God and the Devil, Aslan the Lion (the Christ Figure) and the White Witch (the Satan Figure).
Lewis' turn of a phrase is worth the price of the book with gems describing evil's hold on Narnia as "always Winter but never Christmas" and Aslan's description of his "resurrection" as "magic from before the dawn of time."
The stories are beautifully told and captivating in and of themselves. Add to that the subtle allegories, images, and parables of good versus evil, and you have a book that will capture your children's imagination and perhaps change their lives forever--for the better.
Buy it now, before everyone else does, because come December 2005, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" will be released as a big screen Hollywood epic with the same mass marketing, incredible story telling, and awesome special effects of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
Reviewer: Dr. Robert W. Kellemen is the author of "Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," "Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," and the forthcoming "Sacred Companions: A History of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."
Perfectly Magnificent! January 5, 2006
84 out of 85 found this review helpful
This big book was given to me as a Christmas present by my sister. She knows I'm a C.S. Lewis afficionado as of late, and I didn't have the "Chronicles..." Result? I couldn't put the book down. I, quite literally, read the seven books in seven days. It's an incredible masterpiece... a true timeless work. Lewis is the definition of compelling story-telling; he is the master of narration, and these seven books are just proof.
The Chronicles take us through a magical space in unknown time called Narnia. We can see it from it's creation, as Aslan, the lion, sings it into existance ("The Magician's Nephew") all the way into it's apocalyptic destruction as Aslan calls all of those creatures that have remained faithful to him into the "Real Narnia, the land beyond the sun" ("The Last Battle"). We are always given the point of view of the humans, (which include Digory, Polly, Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, Eustace and Jill) who, whenever Narnia's in need, are called by Aslan's magic into Narnia. I love the way Aslan is presented: absolute authority, unconditional love. You almost feel as excited as the children in the Chronicles are whenever he appears. There's even a tiny twist at the end of the last book that takes you a bit by surprise (not like a life changing twister ending, but enough to make you go: "Ooooohhh...").
I enjoyed the entire book, there was not one page that I didn't enjoy. If I had to pick a favorite, "The Voyage of the 'Dawn Treader'" would be the one, but not by much: it seems that each island that they land on is a completely different story. You wouldn't know that they were part of the book, save for the first and last few chapters... it's like Chronicles within a Chronicle.
C.S. Lewis, to me, places himself amidst my favorite authors of all time and he very well shows it with "The Chronicles of Narnia." This is a collection that will soon be read again and, of course, makes for wonderful bedtime stories. My children even like it more than the Harry Potter series, and that's a lot to say. In conclusion, it's a wonderful narrative for absolutely all ages. Do not miss it!
A great Gift for almost everyone!! December 12, 2005
19 out of 23 found this review helpful
I first read this book when I was in middle school and LOVED it. The story has adventure, moral, action and a overall great story. This book is a lot like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings and fans of either or both of those will lover this. I would highly recommend this book for kids who like to read and for adults who like fantasy. I have since re-read the whole series and enjoyed it even more. It really does have a wonderful story that is Christian inspired, but not overtly religious so the people who aren't looking for that will certainly not be bothered by it. So, good luck with your shopping, and please vote for my review because I am in a competition with some others to see who can be the best reviewer among us, I want to win.
Lastly, if you are a fan of fantasy or have read this review, I don't mean to write this for you, I mean this review for someone who has stumbled across this book on Amazon, and is perhaps looking for a good book or present for themselves or someone else. Take care!
Amazing. October 8, 2004
17 out of 21 found this review helpful
The Chronicles are truly great literary accomplishments, rivaling Tolkien's Lord of the Ring. There is something in here for everyone. For religious, there is the wealth of religious imagery and links, while for non-religious, there is a whole new world to explore, full of adventure, honor, and imagination.
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