Who Wrote The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, When, and How Long Is It?
C. S. Lewis wrote The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Geoffrey Bles published it in London on 16 October 1950. It runs to 17 chapters, roughly 170 to 210 pages depending on the edition.
It is the first book in publication order of The Chronicles of Narnia.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Author | C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) |
| First published | 16 October 1950, Geoffrey Bles, London |
| US edition | 7 November 1950, Macmillan |
| Illustrator | Pauline Baynes |
| Length | 17 chapters; 172 pages in the first edition, about 208 in a modern hardcover |
| Dedicated to | Lucy Barfield, Lewis's goddaughter |
Who was C. S. Lewis?
Clive Staples Lewis was a British writer and scholar, born in 1898 and died in 1963. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is his best-known work for children.
↑ Back to the topWhen was it published?
Lewis finished the book around 1949 and it appeared in Britain on 16 October 1950, with the American edition following on 7 November. Prince Caspian came out the next year.
The story begins during the Second World War, when four children are sent away from London to escape the bombing.
↑ Back to the topWho is the book dedicated to?
Lewis dedicated it to his goddaughter, Lucy Barfield, the daughter of his friend Owen Barfield. He named the character Lucy Pevensie after her.
↑ Back to the topHow long is it?
The first edition had 172 pages. A modern hardcover has about 208, and other editions vary. It has 17 chapters and is usually read in a few sittings.
In 2003 the novel ranked ninth in the BBC's Big Read poll of the nation's favorite books.
↑ 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.