order of publication of the books of the cosmic trilogy
chronicles of narnia books publication order
chronological order of the chronicles of narnia books
world of narnia books publication order
independent novel publication order
non-fiction publication order
publication order of the books of poetic works of c s lewis
anthology publication order
clive staples lewis was a british poet, author, academic and much more. Born in Belfast in 1898, he was a bright and imaginative young man with a knack for storytelling. he was also stubborn, as seen when his dog jacksie was hit by a car. at the time, the young author was barely four years old. after the incident, he refused to respond to any name other than his dog’s. in fact, those close to him referred to him as ‘jack’ for the rest of his life!
Being fascinated by the tales of Beatrix Potter, the budding author soon wrote a couple of his own stories with the help of his older brother. creating the world of ‘boxen’, they reveled in a universe ruled by animals. however, over time, he soon adopted other forms of literary expression as well, incorporating them into his works. these helped him get excited better. for example, he felt that his love of Celtic legends and Norse mythology was best expressed in opera and epic poetry. Born in Belfast, a part of his heart always belonged to Ireland.
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However, a determining factor in Lewis’s life was religion. instilled in him at an early age by his beloved mother, he soon became an atheist. his mother, who was the daughter of an Anglican priest, tried to enrich him with the tenets of her religion. But even as atheistic beliefs began to fester, the advent of the First World War only reaffirmed them. moreover, his death in 1908 left a void in him that was not easy to fill. this only served to accelerate the atheist perspective. When the young man enrolled in military training, he shared a room with another cadet whom he affectionately referred to as “Paddy”. it is said that the two made a pact that if one died during the war, the other would take care of both families. As it happened, Paddy lost his life and Lewis kept his word. this is how the void left by his mother was finally filled by mrs. jane moore paddy’s mother became the mother figure that lewis always wanted. with a distant and domineering father he was never close to, he looked at mrs. moore for support. it was especially needed after the horrors of trench warfare as he battled depression and physical injuries. her bond remained close and lasted until the days of his death. in fact, they also lived together along with mrs. Moore’s daughter, Maureen, until the 1940s, when the older woman had to be hospitalized. when she succumbed to dementia, she had to be admitted to a nursing home. Even there, Lewis visited her every day until her death.
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later, he married joy davidman, an american author. Viewing her as a close friend and her only intellectual equal, the marriage was one of convenience intended to allow her a continued stay in England. However, the relationship began to develop and the two soon sought a proper Christian marriage even as Davidman was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. The ceremony was held in 1957 and she finally succumbed to the disease in 1960. After this, Lewis raised her two children as her own.
Despite his predominantly atheistic outlook in his previous life, in 1931 (perhaps following the persuasion of his close friend, the legendary J. R. R. Tolkien) Lewis returned to the Anglican Church once again. but even in his conversion to theism, he was perhaps the most unwilling devotee there could be. As a result of this, the curious man became increasingly interested in Christian myths, and this is evident in one of his best-known works, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’.
Writings: While Lewis has written a commendable list of works, “The Chronicles of Narnia” remains the most popular. Set in the magical kingdom of the same name, it tells the story of mythical beasts, talking animals, and various children. each of these is central to the development of the plot, and yet none is constant throughout the 7 books. In addition to drawing inspiration from Christianity, the books also loosely borrow characters from Greek and Roman mythology along with English and Irish fairy tales.
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Many of the books in this series have also been adapted into animated television shows and movies. One of the most popular books in the series, and also the first in chronological order, ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ is also among those adapted into a popular feature film. Starting in the midst of World War II, this book follows the evacuation of the four Pevensie brothers to the countryside. There they accidentally cross into the fantastical world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe, and that’s where the adventure begins. As Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy become friends, fight enemies and engage in battle, the story is an adventure woven into words. Throughout the novel, the lion Aslan, who is also the rightful ruler of the land, becomes his friend and guide. He has a special bond with the youngest of the four, Lucy, who can also be considered the main narrator of the tale. her loyalty, innocence and bravery are what eventually earned her the title of ‘lucy the brave’.
Here, Lewis uses the concept of parallel worlds as the Pevensie brothers switch between the war-torn Earth and Narnia. he just so happens that time also moves at a much slower rate in the second than in the first. therefore, all of his adventures in the magical kingdom amount to just a few minutes on his country getaway.
This disparity in time is what sets the tone for the second novel in the series. Taken to the magical kingdom after only a year, centuries have passed in Narnia. As the stage is set for a battle for the rightful heir, the Pevensie brothers take their stand once again to fight the evil that has taken hold of them. With Aslan’s return, the four young rulers of the land set off on a new adventure to set things right. Thus, “Prince Caspian” results in another fantastic story of thrills. With this novel adapted into a popular feature film as well as a television show, these wonderful tales have proven to be a huge hit with audiences.
So while Lewis was laid to rest in 1963, a week shy of his 65th birthday, the unforgettable author has left behind a trove of works sure to inspire generations to come!