In later editions, the explanation was revised to:Īlthough The Magician’s Nephew was written several years after C. The HarperCollins editions of The Chronicles of Narnia have been re-numbered in compliance with the original wishes of the author, C. Initially, HarperCollins included this explanation in the books: Why were the books re-numbered chronologically? He suggests that The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is more initially captivating than The Magician’s Nephew, that certain lines in Lion do not make sense when the book is not read first, and that Nephew has greater mythic power when read as a prequel. Starr claims that “Lewis scholars almost universally agree” that the original published order is superior.

“Most scholars disagree with and find it the least faithful to Lewis’s deepest intentions,” says Dr. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first book to be written and published, is generally considered the best introduction to Narnia by scholars and fans alike. American editions used publication order while British editions were numbered chronologically.Ĭhronological order became the worldwide standard after HarperCollins took over the publishing in 1994. Lewis, British editions of the books began appearing that were numbered according to the order the stories take place:įor many years, both orders were in print. Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (1951).The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950).The books were originally published in this order: Lewis? Why are there multiple orders? Answers below… Is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe or The Magician’s Nephew the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia by C.

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis