The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis #Narniathon21

Title: The Magician’s Nephew
Author: C.S. Lewis
Publication: Collier, paperback, originally published in 1955
Genre: Juvenile fantasy/series

Description: Digory is staying with his uncle and aunt in London so they can look after his mother, who is very ill. Luckily, there's a girl his age, Polly Plummer, next door, and the summer holidays are enlivened for both with indoor exploration when the weather is bad.

Six Degrees of Separation – from Our Wives Under the Sea to Joan Aiken's Kingdom . . .

It’s time for #6degrees, inspired by Kate at Books Are My Favourite and Best. We all start at the same place, add six books, and see where we end up. This month’s starting point is Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (2022), described as “fathomlessly inventive” by the publisher, if you like puns.

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

Title: The Silver Chair
Author: C.S. Lewis
Illustrator: Pauline Baynes
Publication: Puffin, paperback, originally published in 1953
Genre: Juvenile Fantasy/Series
Setting: Narnia

Description: Eustace Scrubb, cousin of the better-known Pevensie children from the earlier Narnia books, was introduced in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Eustace attends a progressive co-ed boarding school (clearly despised by Lewis, although it is hard to tell which horrifies him more, coeducation or progressive education; maybe it’s a tie) with Jill Pole.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

Title: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Author: C.S. Lewis
Illustrator: Pauline Baynes
Publication: Puffin paperback; originally published in 1952
Genre: Children’s fantasy
Setting: Narnia

Description: When Edmund and Lucy Pevensie are forced to spend the summer holidays with their dreaded cousin, Eustace Scrubb, they try to avoid him by hiding out in Lucy’s room and talking about Narnia, the country they have visited twice.

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

Title: Prince Caspian
Author: C.S. Lewis
Illustrator: Pauline Baynes
Publication: Puffin paperback, originally published in 1951
Genre: Juvenile Fantasy/Series
Setting: Narnia

Description: In the second Narnia book, the four Pevensie children are on their way back to boarding school when they are catapulted back to Narnia. Unfortunately, Narnia has changed since they left it as Kings and Queens and they are horrified to realize they are in the ruins of their former palace of Cair Paravel – with nothing to eat but apples.

Pauline Baynes

Pauline Baynes, who died recently, had been one of my favorite illustrators since I first picked up the boxed set of Narnia books my mother had brought back from England and (she thought) hidden securely for Christmas. It was the summer between first and second grade so my reading skills were not well developed, nor was my sneakiness (both improved over time). I had not previously seen the delightful casing that boxed sets come in but unerringly pulled The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe out of the box and started reading. It was appealing but just too difficult. I put it back after a chapter or so, but kept thinking about it, and foolishly asked my mother later that day or the next, "What is Turkish delight?"