After Jane Austen, my next favorite author is C.S. Lewis. I grew up reading The Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis’ 7-book fantasy series with beautiful Christian imagery and allegory, which makes them a joy to read even as an adult.

There is a great deal of debate about which order to read the books in: publication order or chronological order. I used to be entirely on Team Chronological because I just prefer to read things chronologically, but over the last several years of listening to the Lamp-post Listener podcast going through the books in publication order, I’ve changed my mind. 

For the first reading, it’s best to start with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, because this is how C.S. Lewis introduced the world to Narnia and the great lion Aslan. Then the publication order is Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (my favorite!), The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, and The Last Battle.

This order makes sense as an introduction because it follows the same characters initially, the four Pevensie children, then slowly phases them out while adding others. Then Horse and His Boy goes back to the time the Pevensies spent in Narnia, then The Magician’s Nephew gives us Narnia’s creation story, and The Last Battle narrates Narnia’s end. 

After reading the entire series in publication order, then I think chronological order makes the most sense: The Magician’s Nephew, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Last Battle.

This order gives Narnia’s history from creation to end and the visits from the children from our world. 

One of my favorite passages is from the last chapter of Dawn Treader, which gives one of the clearest examples of Christianity and faith in the stories:

‘Please, Lamb,’ said Lucy, ‘is this the way to Aslan’s country?’
‘Not for you,’ said the Lamb. ‘For you the door into Aslan’s country is from your own world.’
‘What!’ said Edmund. ‘Is there a way into Aslan’s country from our world too?’
‘There is a way into my country from all the worlds,’ said the Lamb; but as he spoke, his snowy white flushed into tawny gold and his size changed and he was Aslan himself, towering above them and scattering light from his mane.
‘Oh, Aslan,’ said Lucy. ‘Will you tell us how to get into your country from our world?’
‘I shall be telling you all the time,’ said Aslan. ‘But I will not tell you how long or short the way will be; only that it lies across a river. But do not fear that, for I am the great Bridge Builder…’
‘Please, Aslan,’ said Lucy. ‘Before we go, will you tell us when we can come back to Narnia again?…’
‘Dearest,’ said Aslan very gently, ‘you and your brother will never come back to Narnia.’
‘Oh, Aslan!!’ said Edmund and Lucy both together in despairing voices.
‘You are too old, children,’ said Aslan, ‘and you must begin to come close to your own world now.’
‘It isn’t Narnia, you know,’ sobbed Lucy. ‘It’s you. We shan’t meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?’
‘But you shall meet me, dear one,’ said Aslan.
‘Are—are you there too, Sir?’ said Edmund.
‘I am,’ said Aslan. ‘But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.’

That was a long chunk, but I couldn’t cut much without losing the context. It gives me chills every time. The Chronicles of Narnia is such a beautiful picture of Jesus’ death and resurrection and Jesus as our Savior. 

If you’ve never read The Chronicles of Narnia, I highly recommend reading the whole series. Start with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and let Narnia and the allegory of Christianity unfold before you.