The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe--C.S. Lewis Part 1

Hello all! Here is the review on the next Narnia book! I had a hard time determining the best way to review this book. I believe it is probably the most well-known of all the Narnia books, and knowing that, it's hard to know how much detail to go into. :-) I still couldn't tell you if I like this book or the Magician's Nephew better. In some ways, I like the Magician's Nephew better, because it sort of gives you a history about some of the stuff in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. (such as the wardrobe, the professor, the lamp post....) However, at the same time, this is such a classic, that it's hard for me to decide. :-) After all, isn't it cool and fun to imagine going through a wardrobe and finding a new land, with talking animals? :-) Or, if you are the unimaginative type, you probably think it's weird and that I'm weird to think it's cool. :-) All that to say--I will be covering chapters 1-5 today.

Title: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
Author: C.S. Lewis
Published: Originally published in 1950, it has been re-printed many times over the years. The particular copies I am reviewing are the same ones Dad read to us over the years, they are pretty old and falling apart! :-) (My brother Andrew has a newer copy with all the books in one collected version, however, I am still reading the old ones. :-) ) Anyway, this particular copy is printed from Collier Books sometime in the 1970s.
Background Information: See other posts on C.S. Lewis and Narnia.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe...
All emphasis my own

The first page starts out...

"Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. This story is about something that happened to them when they were sent away from London during the war because of the air-raids. They were sent to the house of an old Professor who lived in the heart of the country, ten miles from the nearest railway station and two miles from the nearest post office. He had no wife and he lived in a very large house with a housekeeper called Mrs. Macready and three servants. (Their names were Ivy, Margaret, and Betty, but they do not come into the story much.) He himself was a very old man with shaggy white hair, which grew over most of his face as well as on his head, and they liked him almost at once; but on the first evening when he came out to meet them at the front door he was so odd-looking that Lucy (who was the youngest) was a little afraid of him, and Edmund (who was the next youngest) wanted to laugh and had to keep on pretending he was blowing his nose to hide it." (p. 1-2)

(I always loved the part about Edmund pretending to blow his nose to keep from laughing! )

The story progresses, and we learn more about the children. Peter is excited and says "This is going to be perfectly splendid. That old chap will let us do anything we like." (p. 2) Susan thinks "he's an old dear." Edmund is tired and irritable, and Lucy...tries to keep her siblings from squabbling. :-) The four of them decide they will go exploring the next day, unfortunately it is raining and they can't go outside. So, they end up exploring the house. Lucy stays behind at one point and decides to go into a wardrobe, which is located in a Spare Room.

The book makes the note that, she "leaving the door open, of course, because she knew that it is very foolish to shut oneself into any wardrobe." (p. 5) (this statement is made throughout the entire book)

As she is in there, she feels several coats, and keeps walking, suddenly she realize she does not feel the back of the wardrobe and notices that there is something "crunching" under her feet! She soon is outside and it is very cold and snowing! Lucy is a little scared but also excited and curious. She looks behind her and sees the open door, and decides that she can always go back if something goes wrong. She walks along, and sees, a lamp-post! She stares at it wondering why it is there, and then hears someone coming towards her. This "person" is only a little taller than herself and is carrying an umbrella. The book describes this character as:

"From the waist upwards he was like a man, but his legs were shaped like a goat's (the hair on them was glossy black) and instead of feet he had goat's hoofs. He also had a tail...." (p. 8). The description continues some more and then tells us that this creature is a Faun. The Faun is very surprised to see Lucy and after they say hello, he asks her:

"Excuse me--I don't want to be inquisitive--but should I be right in thinking that you are a Daughter of Eve?" (p.9). Lucy tells him that her name is Lucy. And he says: "But you are--forgive me--you are what they call a girl?" (p. 9) Lucy replies that of course she is a girl. :-) The faun then says: "You are in fact Human?" (p. 9). Lucy says yes and feels a little puzzled.

This "interesting" conversation continues on for awhile with the Faun, and we learn that the Faun's name is Tumnus, or as Lucy calls him, Mr. Tumnus. :-) Mr. Tumnus tells Lucy that she is in Narnia and wants to know how she got there. Lucy explains, and Mr. Tumnus, not having a clue what a "wardrobe" or what a "spare room" is moans about the fact that "if only I had worked harder at geography when I was a little Faun, I should no doubt know all about those strange countries. It is too late now." (p. 10) :-) Mr. Tumnus then invites her to "tea" so that she can tell him about the "bright city of War Drobe" (p. 11) Lucy is hesitant, but finally agrees, as long as it is a short visit.

Mr. Tumnus and Lucy have a "wonderful tea" together and Mr. Tumnus plays a tune on a flute-like instrument. Lucy gets very sleepy during his playing, and then, later says she must go. Mr. Tumnus is suddenly very sad and upset, Lucy gives him her handkerchief, and tries to find out what is the matter. After much discussion, we learn that Mr. Tumnus was trying to lull Lucy to sleep and take her to the White Witch. He explains to Lucy that the Witch: "Why, it is she that has got all Narnia under her thumb. It's she that makes it always winter. Always winter and never Christmas; think of that!" (p. 16) We also learn that he is supposed to bring a "Son of Adam or a Daughter of Eve" to the Witch if he ever found one.

Lucy is horrified, and begs Mr. Tumnus not to take her to the White Witch. Mr. Tumnus tells Lucy, about how if he doesn't take her, the Witch will find out and turn him into a statue! However, Mr. Tumnus likes Lucy, and can't bring himself to take her to the Witch. He helps Lucy get back to the lamp-post and from there Lucy gets back to the wardrobe. Lucy and Tumnus leave on good terms and are still friends. Lucy gets back into the house and when she gets there she says: "I'm here. I've come back, I all right." (p. 19)

Her siblings are all confused by her statement, and think that she has been hiding for a game of hide and seek. However, we learn that she was not gone long at all. Lucy insists that she has been gone for hours, Edmund calls her "Batty!" and Susan thinks she is being silly and Peter thinks that "she's just making up a story for fun." (p. 21) Lucy keeps to her story and tells them where she has been. Not sure what to think, the siblings look inside the wardrobe too, but just see the back of it and think that Lucy is making the whole thing up.

The days go by, and the children continue on exploring and playing, however, Edmund continues being nasty about the whole "new country" thing and teases Lucy about it. One day, the four of them decide to play hide and seek, and Lucy goes into the wardrobe again. She does get back to Narnia! Edmund decides to go there to and is surprised to find himself there too! However, Lucy was ahead of him, and he can't find her, he thinks she is still mad and sulking somewhere. (she actually went back to Mr. Tumnus' house) While Edmund is standing there, the White Witch comes with her "sledge" and her reindeer and her Dwarf. She brings the sledge to a stop and asks Edmund what he is.

The Witch tells Edmund that she is the Queen of Narnia, and they have a lengthy discussion together. She finds out he has more siblings and that one of them has already come to Narnia! She also asks him what he would like to eat, and Edmund requests Turkish Delight. The "Queen" then gives him some "magical" Turkish Delight by pouring out some stuff from a bottle she has. Anyway, so they converse for while, and the Queen wants Edmund to bring his siblings back with him and come to her house. (she bribes Edmund with more Turkish Delight and that he will become a prince) Anyway, Edmund agrees, she gives him directions to her house and then leaves. Shortly after she is gone Lucy finds Edmund and is thrilled to see him.

Edmund wants to know where she has been, and Lucy explains, and also tells him about the White Witch, and how she has declared herself the Queen of Narnia. Edmund is doubtful and tells Lucy that she can't always trust Fauns. Anyway, the two of them head home through the Wardrobe, and Lucy is excited that Edmund now knows about Narnia and that Peter and Susan will believe her now.

When Edmund and Lucy return, they find Peter and Susan. Lucy excitedly tells them that Edmund has been to the "country through the wardrobe" too. Edmund who is feeling sick (from too much Turkish Delight) and irritated that Lucy was right, acts like he was just playing a game with her. Lucy is upset and leaves. Peter is disgusted with Edmund's behavior and they argue. Susan tells them to stop and they go find Lucy and talk with her. Lucy tells them:
"I don't care what you think, and I don't care what you say. You can tell the Professor or you can write to Mother, or you can do anything you like. I know I've met a Faun in there an--I wish I'd stay there and you are all beasts, beasts." (p. 42-43) (overall the evening is pretty unpleasant)

Peter and Susan begin to worry that Lucy may be out of her mind and in the morning they go to talk to the Professor. They tell the Professor about what Lucy has been saying, and he says:
"How do you know?" he asked, that your sister's story is not true?" (p. 43) Peter and Susan are shocked at this response and Susan tell shim that Edmund said they were pretending. The Professor replies:
"does your experience lead you to regard your brother or your sister as the more reliable? I mean, which is the more truthful?" (p. 44) Peter and Susan do admit that Lucy is more truthful, they then tell him that they are worried she might be "mad" (i.e. losing her mind, crazy). The Professor insists that she is fine and says:

"Logic!" said the Professor half to himself. "Why don't they teach logic at these schools? There are only three possibilities. Either your sister is telling lies, or she is mad, or she is telling the truth. You know that she doesn't tell lies and it is obvious that she is no mad. For the moment then and unless any further evidence turns up, we must assume that she is telling the truth." (p. 45)

The three of them converse some more, and the Professor basically tells them that there is the possibility of another world and that they should "all try minding our own business" (p. 47)
After the conversation Peter tells Edmund to stop bugging Lucy and things get better.

We learn that the house they are staying at sometimes has "tours" and visitors can look at the house. Mrs. Macready has instructed the children to stay away when they have company. One day, in a rush to avoid some visitors, the four children run into the Spare Room, and hide inside the Wardrobe.

More to follow in a day or two! Have a great day!