The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Score Classic
What it's about
Sent to a professor's country house to escape the bombing of London, four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, discover a wardrobe that leads to Narnia, a magical land frozen in endless winter by the White Witch. There they meet talking animals, fauns and the great lion Aslan, and are drawn into the battle to free Narnia, while one of them is tempted to betray the others.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the most beloved children's books ever written, a perfect adventure that adults reread with delight. Its sense of wonder (the wardrobe, the lamppost, the snow) is unforgettable.
You'll love it if you liked
The Hobbit
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Charlotte's WebGood to know
It's short, about 200 pages. Many readers notice its Christian allegory, which works with or without that reading. It's usually considered the best place to start the Narnia series.
By the numbers
- Readers84 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics59 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller81 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #8 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #22 of the 762 classics we rank
- #73 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by C. S. Lewis
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Magician
This Present Darkness
The Pilgrim's Progress
Seventh Son
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Quick answers
Is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the most beloved children's books ever written, a perfect adventure that adults reread with delight. It ranks #73 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 87.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe about?
Sent to a professor's country house to escape the bombing of London, four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, discover a wardrobe that leads to Narnia, a magical land frozen in endless winter by the White Witch. There they meet talking animals, fauns and the great lion Aslan, and are drawn into the battle to free Narnia, while one of them is tempted to betray the others.
How long does it take to read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?
About 3 hours (131 pages), or about 6 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?
If you liked it, try The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling or Charlotte's Web by E. B. White.