The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

C. S. Lewis (Author), Ian Richardson (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 29, 1989 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Narnia (Book 2)

A simple game of hide-and-seek turns into a thrilling and dangerous adventure for Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Through the wardrobe they enter the mystical land of Narnia, where only the Great Lion, Aslan, can conquer the dark magic of the White witch and restore beauty and peace to the land.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-This classic tale celebrates its 50th anniversary with a delightful audio rendition. Actor Michael York's reading is a perfect match for this story. The narration is clear and distinct, and York's soft and soothing British accent adds the right touch. Listeners will fall under the spell of this master storyteller as they join Peter, Edmund, Lucy and Susan on their travels. Beginning with Chapter One when Lucy looks into the wardrobe and discovers Narnia and the faun, readers will find that this timeless story can still work the magic that C.S. Lewis intended. In this action packed tale, the four children take part in several adventures as they travel through Narnia on their quest to rid the country of the Witch and her followers. Narnia fans will want to listen to this story over and over again, and new fans will be created as they listen for the first time.
Ginny Harrell, William McGarrah Elementary School, Morrow, GA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Review

"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is, in turn, beautiful, frightening, wise." -- -- The New York Times --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: HarperCollins Narnia; Abridged edition (March 29, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898451590
• ISBN-13: 978-0898451597
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (732 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,968,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Books on Cassette > Authors, A-Z > ( L ) > Lewis, C.S.
  • #39 in Books > Books on Cassette > Children's Books > Religious
  • #62 in Books > Books on Cassette > Children's Books > Fantasy

More About the Author

Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963), known as Jack to his friends, was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably the most influential Christian writer of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. His major contributions in literary criticism, children's literature, fantasy literature, and popular theology brought him international renown and acclaim. Lewis and his good friend J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of the The Lord of the Rings, were part of the Inklings, an informal writers' club that met at a local pub to discuss story ideas. Lewis's fascination with fairy tales, myths, and ancient legends, coupled with inspiration drawn from his childhood, led him to write The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, one of the best-loved books of all time. Six further books followed to become the immensely popular The Chronicles of Narnia. The final title in the series, The Last Battle, won the Carnegie Medal, one of the highest marks of excellence in children's literature. His other distinguished and popular accomplishments include Out of the Silent Planet, The Four Loves, The Screwtape Letters, and Mere Christianity.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Michael York's audio recording is superb!, April 23, 2001

By 

Volkert Volkersz (Snohomish, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 1) (Audio CD)

HarperAudio has produced a exciting, unabridged, audio recording of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," featuring the well-known British actor, Michael York, (who played John the Baptist in Zefirrelli's outstanding film "Jesus of Nazareth").

Our family recently listened to the CD recordings while on a car trip. York brings each character to life with his vocal inflections, his use of dynamics (loud and soft voicings) and best of all, his mastery of various accents--British, Irish and Scottish--given to the different characters. Here each "person" has a vivid personality, and the listener can easily picture them in his or her mind.

We've enjoyed the Focus on the Family dramatization, as well as the BBC version, in the past, but I'd prefer to hear the unabridged text of this C.S. Lewis classic fantasy, with its spiritual and allegorical undertones. We've read this story aloud several times in our family over the years, but I believe that, from now on, we'll let Michael York read it to us. This is a pure delight (not like the "Turkish Delight" that Edmund ate)!

32 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Into the "Wardrobe", May 25, 2005

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia) (Paperback)

C.S. Lewis pioneered a new kind of fantasy when he wrote "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" -- the kind where people from our world somehow get swept into another one. It's old stuff now, but Lewis was among the first to attempt such a thing. Because of its originality, and despite some rather hamhanded allegory, it remains a charmingly written, classic story.

To avoid the threat of bombings in London, the four Pevensie kids are sent to stay with a wealthy, eccentric professor in the country. But strange things start to happen when Lucy finds a wardrobe during a game of hide-and-seek -- when she climbs in, she finds a snowy woodland and a friendly faun. Her siblings don't believe her... until peevish Edmund also ventures through, and encounters the beautiful but evil White Witch.

Soon all four are wandering through the snowy land of Narnia, encountering mythical creatures and talking animals. They also find that the four of them are at the center of a prophecy that will lead to the return of lion-messiah Aslan, and the downfall of the White Witch. But things don't go according to plan when Edmund defects to the Witch's side...

How many fantasy stories are written about kids who crawl through a hedge, wander through a door or pick up a magical object, and immediately are swept off into a medieval land? Lots. And they owe a debt of gratitude to C.S. Lewis, theologian, author, and drinking buddy of "Lord of the Rings" author J.R.R. Tolkien.

C.S. Lewis' story is, despite being set during World War II, very 19th-century in tone -- very charming, conversational and full of little details. He populates it with a mishmash of mythic creatures such as dryads, fauns, and talking beavers. The one flaw? Lewis gets quite hamhanded with his Christian allegory, such as Aslan's resurrection. However, he has a very good plot and charming characters to balance it out.

Those characters deftly avoid being cutesy, especially by virtue of the malicious Edmund, who slowly has a change of heart after falling in with the evil Witch. He's a much more enjoyable character than his noble brother Peter, just because he's so real. And as a counterbalance, there's Lewis's sweet-natured Lucy -- which was also the name of Lewis' granddaughter.

Complex characters and still-fresh stories give "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" -- which is soon to be released as a major movie -- a special ambience. Definitely worth reading.

66 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Through the Wardrobe, August 2, 2004

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Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Full-Color Collector's Edition) (Paperback)

This is either the first (published) book in the Narnia series, or the second (chronologically), but order is not important when reading this excellent book.

This is an Alice in Wonderland / Through the Looking Glass type of fairy tale adventure story for all ages, as told by a favorite Sunday school teacher with a strict biblical syllabus.

Four children find an unusual way into Narnia, now under the witch's icy spell, and their experiences pave the way for the future of this magical country.

"Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,

At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,

When he bears his teeth, winter meets its death,

And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again."

Chock full of mythical creatures and talking animals, the story progresses at an exciting gallop. Even Father Christmas puts in an appearance with some very useful gifts for our heroes.

The Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve experience compassion, bravery, generosity, greed and betrayal, sacrifice, martyrdom, suffering and redemption on their way to maturity before ascending to their rightful places in Narnian history.

The ressurection and later miracles by the great and powerful King Aslan, the significance of the stone table and the great battle between good and evil are powerful symbols of faith.

Read it first,read it last, but certainly read this book.

Amanda Richards August 2, 2004