BookReleaseRadar

Reading Order

Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia Reading Order

C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia (1950–1956) is a seven-volume fantasy series set in the magical land of Narnia, created by the great Lion Aslan and reached through various means — a wardrobe, a painting, a pool, a door. Lewis and Tolkien were close friends at Oxford and members of the same literary group (the Inklings), though they disagreed about the proper approach to fantasy: Tolkien felt Narnia's mixing of mythologies (Greek, Roman, Norse, and Christian) was aesthetically incoherent; Lewis didn't care. The best reading order is disputed: Lewis himself suggested chronological order starting with The Magician's Nephew (the creation of Narnia), but most readers and publishers recommend publication order starting with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which Lewis wrote first and which makes the best entry point.

Where to start

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Complete Narnia Book List

  1. 1

    The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

    C.S. Lewis·1950·The recommended starting point — Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter finding Narnia through the wardrobe, Aslan and the White Witch, the sacrifice and resurrection.
    Buy
  2. 2

    Prince Caspian

    C.S. Lewis·1951·Book 2 in publication order — the Pevensie children return to Narnia to help Prince Caspian reclaim his throne from the Telmarines.
    Buy
  3. 3

    The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

    C.S. Lewis·1952·Book 3 — Edmund, Lucy, and their cousin Eustace Scrubb sail with Caspian to the edge of the world, the most adventure-driven volume.
    Buy
  4. 4

    The Silver Chair

    C.S. Lewis·1953·Book 4 — Eustace and Jill Pole in Narnia to find the lost Prince Rilian, the underground world and the Lady of the Green Kirtle.
    Buy
  5. 5

    The Horse and His Boy

    C.S. Lewis·1954·Book 5 — Shasta and the talking horse Bree, set during the reign of the Pevensies in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, a more standalone adventure.
    Buy
  6. 6

    The Magician's Nephew

    C.S. Lewis·1955·Book 6 in publication order, Book 1 in chronological — the creation of Narnia and the origin of the wardrobe, some readers prefer this first.
    Buy
  7. 7

    The Last Battle

    C.S. Lewis·1956·Book 7, the finale — the end of Narnia and its final days, the conclusion of the whole series.
    Buy

Narnia — Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read The Chronicles of Narnia?

Publication order (Lion, Witch and Wardrobe first) is strongly recommended for first-time readers — it is the order Lewis wrote in, and the emotional impact of the series is designed around it. Some readers and editions use chronological order (Magician's Nephew first), which also works but is a different experience.

Is Narnia a Christian allegory?

Yes — Lewis intended it as such, and the symbolism is explicit: Aslan's sacrifice and resurrection in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the clearest of many Christological parallels. Lewis wrote about this intentionally in various essays, though the books work as pure fantasy for readers unfamiliar with or uninterested in the Christian dimension.

What age is appropriate for The Chronicles of Narnia?

The Narnia books are appropriate from about seven or eight; they are widely read as family read-alouds with children from five or six. The Last Battle is the most emotionally complex and some children find it disturbing; reading the series through with a parent is common.

All Narnia BooksBrowse All SeriesBooks Like Narnia →

Monthly Newsletter

Never miss a big release

Get the most anticipated upcoming books delivered to your inbox once a month — no spam, no filler.

Monthly only. Unsubscribe anytime.

Book links are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, BookReleaseRadar earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.