What can be written about this book that hasn't already been written? Everyone read it as a child, it's one of the most famous children's books ever written. The first to be published in the Chronicles of Narnia series, the story of the magic wardrobe and the realm beyond is one that has captivated people since 1950 and is heavily intertwined with a lot of my formative memories. It's probably a safe bet to say it was the first fantasy book I ever read. Revisiting it in 2023, there is still lots to love, but I was much taken with how much I misremembered. A testament to rich storytelling that engages the imagination and causes one to fill in the blanks, or the creative liberties taken by TV/film adaptations muddying the waters? The biggest surprise was the tea party at the beaver dam, which I remember as going on for ages, and only spans a couple of pages. The subject of eating is a very important, almost ritualistic one in this book, C. S. Lewis never neglects to tell us when characters are having their mealtimes, even in dire situations where a more modern novel wouldn't bother.
The plot introduces four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy who are sent to live with their uncle, an eccentric professor in a rambling country house to escape the Blitz in London. There they discover the magic wardrobe that transports first Lucy, then Edmund, and finally all of them into Narnia. An evil witch has cast a spell over the land, dooming it to eternal winter. An ancient prophecy stands to be fulfilled. The White Witch inveigles the troubled Edmund to her side with Turkish delight, it's a perfect blend of high blown fantasy themes and the everyday domestic. I think this is the thing about C. S. Lewis that always appealed to me over other fantasy writers, who tend to have more sterile, self important plots. Although a children's book, some of the themes are quite mature, and darker than what one would expect. I don't really have anything negative to write about this book, it offers up wholesome adventure that, despite its age and some antiquated language, has matured wonderfully. This book will certainly endure the purge.
Rating: 4/5
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