Quick answer. For a first read, start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and follow the order Lewis's books were published (see the table below).
We recommend this on the advice of Alister McGrath, one of C.S. Lewis's biographers (author of C.S. Lewis: A Life), because The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe introduces Aslan slowly, and The Magician's Nephew gives away what it holds back.
The other option is chronological order: the order the stories happen in Narnia, which is the order publishers number the books today.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Modern Classics
C.S. Lewis' seven-volume children's series has been loved ever since its publication in the 1950s. The Narnia stories are modern-day fairy tales. They are engaging and delightful to children (and adults!) but contain within them truths that transcend. The Narnia books can be read and re-read because they capture timeless truths in a glorious way.
Whether you are choosing a first set for your children, replacing a well-loved copy or looking for a gift, this guide walks through the order in which to read the Narnia books, what Lewis said about them, and how to choose the right edition.
Read the Books Before Watching the Movies
Over the years, many film adaptations of Narnia stories have been made, but the books will always remain the original, unadjusted tellings of these classic tales. Our encouragement would be to fill your imagination with the narratives told from the pen of Lewis himself before you let a movie director create the images for you.
It was images in the imagination that first inspired the writing of these books. In a 1956 essay, Lewis recalled that everything began with a faun carrying an umbrella, a queen on a sledge and a magnificent lion.
Narnia is returning to the screen, so now is a great time to pick up the books. Greta Gerwig is directing Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, the first film adaptation of that book.
Earlier live-action films adapted The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008) and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010), and some will remember the BBC series (1988–1990), which covered The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair.
In What Order Should I Read the Narnia Books?
There are two orders to choose from: the order Lewis's books were published, and the order the stories happen in Narnia. Dates below are first UK publication.
| Publication order | Book | First published | Chronological order | In a sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | 16 October 1950 | 2 | Four Pevensie children step through a wardrobe into a land under the White Witch's winter, and meet Aslan. |
| 2 | Prince Caspian | 15 October 1951 | 4 | The Pevensies return to Narnia to help Prince Caspian against his uncle, King Miraz. |
| 3 | The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | 15 September 1952 | 5 | Edmund, Lucy and their cousin Eustace sail with Caspian toward the eastern edge of the world. |
| 4 | The Silver Chair | 7 September 1953 | 6 | Eustace and Jill set out to rescue Prince Rilian. |
| 5 | The Horse and His Boy | 6 September 1954 | 3 | A runaway boy and a talking horse flee to Narnia from Calormen. |
| 6 | The Magician's Nephew | 2 May 1955 | 1 | The creation of Narnia, and how evil first entered it. |
| 7 | The Last Battle | 4 September 1956 | 7 | A false Aslan appears, and Narnia comes to its end. |
"Chronological order" is the numbering used on HarperCollins editions today, so The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is printed as Book 2.
Why We Suggest Publication Order For a First Read
Alister McGrath, in his biography C.S. Lewis: A Life, puts the case for starting with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe:
The most significant difficulty concerns The Magician's Nephew, the last in the series to be written, which describes the early history of Narnia. To read this work first completely destroys the literary integrity of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which emphasises the mysteriousness of Aslan. It introduces him slowly and carefully, building up a sense of expectation that is clearly based on the assumption that the readers know nothing of the name, identity, or significance of this magnificent creature.
In his role as narrator within The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lewis declares, "None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do." But anyone who has read The Magician's Nephew already knows a lot about Aslan. The gradual disclosure of the mysteries of Narnia—one of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe's most impressive literary features—is spoiled and subverted by a prior reading of The Magician's Nephew.
— Alister McGrath, C.S. Lewis: A Life (2013)
What Did Lewis Himself Say?
In April 1957 an American boy, Laurence Krieg, wrote to Lewis because he and his mother disagreed about the order. Laurence preferred chronological order and his mother preferred publication order. Lewis replied that he agreed more with Laurence, but added that perhaps "it does not matter very much in which order anyone read them." HarperCollins cites Lewis's preference for the chronological numbering it adopted in the 1990s.
— C.S. Lewis, letter to Laurence Krieg, 23 April 1957
So you can read Narnia either way and be in good company. If you are reading with children for the first time, we would start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Once you know Aslan, you might want to go back to chronological order, beginning with The Magician's Nephew.
Which Edition of the Narnia Books Should You Buy?
Every edition below carries C.S. Lewis's own text, so choosing is mostly about how you want to read, share and keep the books. Here are three we recommend from our Chronicles of Narnia collection, starting with a seven-volume box set.
You will notice that these editions are numbered in chronological order, with The Magician's Nephew as Book 1 and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as Book 2. That is only the numbering: each is a separate story, and you can still begin with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Quick pick:
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A family with several readers: the seven-volume box set
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One volume to own the whole series: the Adult Readers Edition
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A gift: the Complete Chronicles of Narnia hardback
The Chronicles of Narnia (7-Book Box Set, Slipcover)
We start our recommendation with a seven volume box set. Each of the seven stories in the series is presented in matching style covers. This set is perfect for a family, where multiple children might want to read through the series at one time. Perhaps one might want to read in chronological order and the other in publication order!
It is HarperCollins's unabridged paperback edition in a plastic-free slipcase, with Pauline Baynes's original artwork.
This is the standard single volume containing all seven stories in one book. This is the most cost-effective way of ensuring your bookshelf has this must-read series.
It is a 768-page paperback with the unabridged text and a Pauline Baynes illustration from the original 1950s edition with each chapter. The print is compact so that seven books fit in one volume, which suits adult readers and confident older children best.
For a gift-edition, you can't go past this hardcover, illustrated, single-volume edition of the Chronicles of Narnia. This beautiful book comes with a personal introduction by Lewis's stepson, Douglas Gresham and illustrations by Pauline Baynes. Her original drawings have been made even more memorable with the addition of colour.
It is a large-format hardback of 528 pages.
Individual Titles
Each book is also available on its own in our Chronicles of Narnia collection, a good way to give a child their first Narnia story. For a first book, we would start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Narnia Books
In what order should you read the Chronicles of Narnia?
For a first read, we suggest publication order, beginning with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and ending with The Last Battle. The other method is chronological order, beginning with The Magician's Nephew, is the numbering on current HarperCollins editions.
Should you read The Magician's Nephew or The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe first?
We suggest The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It introduces Aslan slowly, which won't land as effectively if you've already read The Magician's Nephew. That said, Lewis told one young reader in 1957 that it probably did not matter much, so you can begin with either.
How many Narnia books are there?
There are seven: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician's Nephew and The Last Battle. They were published between 1950 and 1956, and the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies.
What age are the Narnia books for?
Most reviewers and publishers suggest about 8 and up for reading alone, and many families read them aloud to younger children. Some scenes are tense, so keep that in mind when considering whether your child is ready.
Which edition of Narnia should I buy?
The text is the same in each, so choose based on your preference for format. For a family with several readers, we recommend starting with the seven-volume box set. The Adult Readers Edition puts all seven books in one paperback, and the Complete Chronicles of Narnia hardback is our gift edition. See the edition guide above.
Which Narnia edition has colour illustrations?
The Complete Chronicles of Narnia single-volume hardback adds colour to Pauline Baynes's original drawings. The Adult Readers Edition carries her original 1950s illustrations with each chapter.
Who illustrated the Narnia books?
Pauline Baynes illustrated all seven books, and her artwork is still used in editions published today.
Should I read the Narnia books before watching the films?
We would. Let Lewis shape your imagination before a film director does.
Begin Your Journey into Narnia
These are stories to read and re-read. Whether you begin with a single paperback or a full set on the shelf, we hope the goodness and danger, the delight and sacrifice of Narnia fill your imagination, and stir a deeper love for Christ himself, who in our own world came, died and rose again. Browse the full range in our Chronicles of Narnia collection.
If you enjoy Narnia, you may also like
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Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
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The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
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Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis
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