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The Magical Land of Narnia

'The Chronicles of Narnia' series by C.S. Lewis: review by Sujit Thomas; Illustration by Shinod AP

Most newspapers which carried articles about Harry Potter several months ago usually had only one thing to say, though in different words: "Harry Potter! The One and Only", or "No Other Book in the World with Such Imagination". But they are wrong. There HAS been a set of books just as magical as the Harry Potter series. It is 'The Chronicles of Narnia' series, by C.S.Lewis.

All the stories revolve around a group of children who discover the magical land of Narnia, and the adventures that ensue.

The battle of good against evil is fought in each of the seven titles of the Narnia series, which are in this order:

The Magician's Nephew
It is one of the wettest summers in years. Two children, Digory and Polly decide to explore the attic of an old, tall house. And that is how they stumble upon the secret workroom of Digory's eccentric uncle who whisks them right out of the world.

They witness the creation of the enchanted land of Narnia where animals speak, trees walk and magical animals like centaurs, unicorns, dwarfs, satyrs and nymphs exist.

But Polly and Digory accidentally bring a witch from another ancient land who brings Evil into the land. If you want to know how Digory protects the land from the witch with the help of the great lion Aslan (who can talk), read the book.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Four children - Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy are holidaying in a country home belonging to one of their parents' friends - Professor Digory -- when they discover the land of Narnia.

They soon find out that the land is being ruled by the evil White Witch who must be defeated. Work is afoot to get rid of the witch. Aslan, it is rumoured, is once again on the move. The four children are necessary too, for they are to be the future rulers of Narnia, once the witch is defeated. Only with Aslan's help can the White Witch be defeated - and she has captured Edmund. To find out how the story ends, read the book.

The Horse and his Boy
The four rulers - High King Peter, Queen Susan, King Edmund and Queen Lucy - protect the kingdom of Narnia. But trouble has arisen again. While travelling with a Prince from the land of Archenland, one of Narnia's neighbouring countries, Edmund and Lucy lose the Prince.

To add trouble to trouble, another of Narnia's neighbouring countries, Calormen, is preparing an attack on Archenland and Narnia. Will Narnia be destroyed? And will Narnia's so-far good relations with Archenland come to a stormy end? To find the answer to these intriguing questions, read the book.

Prince Caspian
Troubled times have come again to Narnia. The Telmarines have conquered the country and are persecuting the true-born Narnians. Prince Caspian, seeing the evil done by his usurping uncle King Miraz, and with his army heavily outnumbered, blows the Great Horn of Narnia in desperation.

Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, heroes from the distant past, find themselves once more in the kingdom, but with an almost impossible task ahead of them - to save Narnia.