Narnia Books in Order: Publication vs Chronological
C. S. Lewis wrote seven Narnia books, published from 1950 to 1956. They can be read in two orders: the order they were published, which begins with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, or the order of the story's timeline, which begins with The Magician's Nephew.
For a first reading, publication order is the safer choice. Chronological order works better as a re-read.
| Book (publication order) | Published |
|---|---|
| The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | 1950 |
| Prince Caspian | 1951 |
| The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | 1952 |
| The Silver Chair | 1953 |
| The Horse and His Boy | 1954 |
| The Magician's Nephew | 1955 |
| The Last Battle | 1956 |
In what order were the Narnia books published?
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe came out in 1950, followed by Prince Caspian (1951), The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952), The Silver Chair (1953), The Horse and His Boy (1954), The Magician's Nephew (1955) and The Last Battle (1956).
The first five books were published by Geoffrey Bles in London. The last two came from The Bodley Head. All seven were illustrated by Pauline Baynes.
↑ Back to the topWhat is the chronological order?
By the story's own timeline, the order is: The Magician's Nephew, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair and The Last Battle.
The Magician's Nephew goes first because it tells how Narnia was created. Lewis wrote it last of all, finishing it in 1954, although it was published as the sixth book. The Horse and His Boy takes place during the years when the Pevensie children rule Narnia at the end of the first book.
↑ Back to the topWhy do some editions number the books differently?
The original publisher in the United States, Macmillan, numbered the books in publication order. When HarperCollins took over the series in 1994, it renumbered them in chronological order, as suggested by Lewis's stepson, Douglas Gresham.
That is why many modern boxed sets list The Magician's Nephew as book one, while older copies list The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
↑ Back to the topWhere should a new reader start?
Most guides recommend starting with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It was written as the opening of the series, some of its lines make more sense when it is read first, and The Magician's Nephew works better as a prequel once you know the world.
If you prefer to follow Narnian history from beginning to end, chronological order is a fine choice for a second read.
↑ Back to the topMore about The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
This guide covers C. S. Lewis's books. Films and TV versions differ from them in places.