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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe |  | Author: C.S. Lewis
Creator: Pauline Baynes
Publisher: HarperCollins e-books
Category: eBooks
This item is no longer available
Rating:  660 reviews
Sales Rank: 1198
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Pages: 208
Number Of Items: 1
ASIN: B001I45UFC
Publication Date: October 29, 2008
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Product Description
Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy find their way through an old wardrobe into the world of Narnia. There, they unite with Aslan to fight the White Witch and save Narnia from perpetual Darkness.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 660
 A sonnet review (from All-Consuming Books) September 5, 2010
Tiger Holland (North Alabama)
"The book that started all the wonder,
mystery and magic of Narnia trips
could easily be shelved and buried under
"Kids Books," "Fantasy," or "Christian Lit,"
but really, it's all three and more: designed
for younger readers, full of quests and peril
and talking beasts, but older folks will find
this simple story hides an entire barrel
of serious talking points and epic themes.
Sin needs redemption; Aslan's sacrifice
and resurrection must occur. He seems
to be a God who's good, but never "nice."
A longtime favorite, I love everything
about it, most of all, its lion-king."
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has been around for sixty years, and it's so popular that it's individual title is more recognizable as a brand name than "The Chronicles of Narnia," the series to which it belongs. The story begins in a dark place. It's set in England in WWII, and the four Pevensie children have left their home in the city to stay in the countryside during the London bombings. They're displaced, which puts them in the perfect frame of mind for adventures, since they're already outside the normal order of things as guests in a strange place. They aren't too sorrowful or afraid after their big move, partly because they are avatars for the reader. One of the things I like about the recent film versions of the Narnia stories is that they fleshed out the characters and tried to give them distinct personalities.
The kids go exploring Professor Kirk's big house, and the youngest girl Lucy steps into a wardrobe in a spare room, just because it's there. She walks through the wardrobe into a snow-filled wonderland where she meets a goat-footed man who invites her over for tea (don't do it, Lucy! He's a stranger!). Lucy finds that she has stumbled into this alternate dimension at a really bad time--they're in the middle of a hundred-year winter brought about by a despotic Witch. In addition, there's the prophecy saying that four human children who come into Narnia will overthrow the Witch, so there's a price on Lucy's head. But goaty little Mr. Tumnus soon decides that he can't hand Lucy over to the Witch to be turned to stone, so he lets her go. She runs back to tell her siblings what she's discovered, but unfortunately, the wardrobe is an interdimensional portal that doesn't always work, so when she tries to show the older kids they just see an empty wardrobe.
But Lucy's brother Edmund later finds his way into the wardrobe, too, and instead of meeting a friendly woodland creature, he comes across the evil Witch herself, who makes him promise to come back to see her, bringing his brother and sisters with him. If he does this, she promises that she'll make him a prince of Narnia, and Edmund's very vulnerable to any suggestion that he's special and should be in a position of power. Of all the children's characters, Edmund's is perhaps the most consistent. In early passages, his dialogue reflects his status as an antagonist to the others: he's always mocking Lucy, contradicting Susan, and challenging Peter, so he can't be accused of playing favorites--he's equally huffy with all his siblings. He teases Lucy mercilessly about Narnia, even after he learns the truth, and his eventual betrayal and defection to the Witch are just the next logical step in his character arc. He's by no means an outright villain, but he is selfish and spiteful and prone to self-deception. I think his bad attitude attitude may have something to do with his position in the family--he has no defined place and no responsibilities. Peter is the commander, Susan is the nurturer, and Lucy is the wide-eyed, joyful baby of the group, but Edmund has no role to fill. And I think it's important to note that though Lucy is treated like she's very much the baby of the family, Edmund is said to be only one year older, so his maturity level has only progressed a tiny bit past hers, if at all.
Back to the story. All the Pevensies go into the wardrobe to hide from a group of tourists who are combing through the house, and they get to Narnia where they find that Mr. Tumnus has been arrested, hauled off, and potentially turned to stone already. Then they meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who lead them to safety as they run from the Witch's wolf guards. The kids learn more about their own role in the prophecy, and about Aslan, the king of Narnia, whose return is much anticipated by the animals and other creatures. Edmund gives his family the slip and sneaks out to join the Witch. The remaining three kids run for their lives, worry over their brother, celebrate the coming of spring which signals Aslan's return, and side with the Narnian forces who are gearing up for the big battle against the Witch.
Blatantly awesome elements: 1. Father Christmas gives swords, bows, daggers, and a life-restoring cordial to the kids because they're heading for battle. When was the last time Santa gave out anything so cool and yet so practical? 2. Co-opted mythology. Greek/Roman creatures like fauns, nymphs, dryads, and Bacchus himself are all mentioned, and it gives me the idea that Narnia potentially contains characters from all myths and legends, adopting them and enfolding them into its own structure. 3. The Witch's hall of statues. It's creepier than you'd imagine, and seeing all the stone forms of creatures who have angered her marks the moment that the reader knows how deadly serious a situation Edmund has gotten himself into. 4. Permanency. The kids don't solve all Narnia's problems in a week and go home. They become a four-person monarchy and righteously rule the land for something like twenty years. 5. Peter duels with a wolf. Nothing else need be said.
I don't have any complaints, except that I wish there were more to the story. It's under 200 pages, the perfect length for a children's book or Mid-Grade, but as an adult I'm longing for more detail. Seven books just isn't enough to satisfy a Narnia fan!
If you spent some portion of your childhood as I did, trying to get to Narnia through closets, cabinets, laundry nooks, and even the cracks between sofa cushions, you already know the lasting impact of the story. It's not a one-to-one Christian allegory like Pilgrim's Progress where every fictional character, location, and object has a direct biblical equivalent, but it is a fantasy set in a Christian universe, where Jesus/Aslan is someone you can know, even if you can't always see him, and where good triumphs over evil, but only after a long and costly struggle. It's not rose-colored-glasses children's literature--it's powerful, moving, and worth multiple reads.
Wonderful item ! August 31, 2010
FZW
I brought this book as a gift for my Grandaughter. She was thrilled, it arrived in great condition. I will buy from this seller again.
 Heartache with Pleasure August 20, 2010
Sir Romeo Mango
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Dear All who read this...
I recently ordered this book, and was happy about the price. I only spent $.01 on the book! I think it is ironic that the shipping cost more than the book, but it was a lot cheaper than driving across the country to get it. I love books. For me, books are a life source. I was going to rate this a 5 star purchase, but I wasn't fully satisfied. When I bought the book, the discription said it was in excellent condition. Well, I was not pleased to find that there was writing in the cover and on the page sides. Plus, and I don't understand why, the company put a sticker on the cover that tore as I was trying to remove it. You see, I collect books. The set that this book belongs to is now complete, however, this book is slightly damaged and now defaced. I am happy about having it, but I would have liked it to be free of writing and stickers. Overall, the company who sent me the book is very professional and quick to reply. They were friendly, and I didn't have to wait too long for the book. I believe I got it in like 4 or 5 days. So, that is why I only rated it with a 4. However, I was happy with the company overall. I will buy from them again.
Thanks,
Sir Romeo Mango
Must Read July 25, 2010
I've read this book two times and it hasn't gotten old at all. The more times you read it the better it gets. This is an all time classic. Its a must read.
awesome!! July 23, 2010
Annmarie Henson (Van Nuys, Calif)
I was so anxious to read this classic to my kids, but they are only 4.5yrs. The Illustraions are beautiful and kept their attention. I thought we would read it over several nights but we plowed through it in two nights. Great for 4-7 year olds.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 660
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