1950: ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ is Published

“The Lion all began with a picture of a Faun carrying an umbrella and parcels in a snowy wood. This picture had been in my mind since I was about sixteen. Then one day, when I was about forty, I said to myself: ‘Let’s try to make a story about it,’” said C.S. Lewis about the creation of one of his most popular novels, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe which was published on this day in 1950. It was the first of seven novels in The Chronicles of Narnia series. It was illustrated by Pauline Baynes. The story involved four siblings who wander inside an old wardrobe only to find that it led to another world called Narnia. While many have considered the work an allegory, others have described the story as “supposal” meaning that if Narnia was a real world, it too would need redemption. The story provides what type of incarnation of Christ might be sent there. When the book was first released, fantasy stories were somewhat frowned about for young adult novels. Lewis’ publisher was afraid that the book would ruin the writer’s reputation and some reviewers of the book thought that the book was overly moralistic and/or too Christian attempting to indoctrinate children. Today, the book is one of the most respected children’s stories of all time.