C.S. Lewis Books In Order

Publication Order of Cosmic Trilogy Books

Publication Order of The Chronicles Of Narnia Books

Chronological Order of The Chronicles Of Narnia Books

Publication Order of The Chronicles Of Narnia Companion Books

Publication Order of The Chronicles Of Narnia Box Sets Books

Publication Order of The World Of Narnia Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of C S Lewis Poetic Works Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Clive Staples Lewis was a British poet, author, academic, and a lot more. Born in Belfast in 1898, he was a bright, imaginative young boy with a knack for story-telling. He was stubborn as well, as was seen when his dog Jacksie was hit by a car. At the time, the young author was a mere four years old. Following the incident, he refused to answer to any name but that of his dog. In fact, those close to him referred to as him ‘Jack’ for the rest of his life!

Being fascinated by tales of Beatrix Potter, the budding author soon penned down 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, with time, he soon took to various other forms of literary expression as well, incorporating them into his works. These helped him emote better. For example, he felt that his love for Celtic legends and Norse mythology was best expressed in Opera and epic poetry instead – born in Belfast, a part of his heart always belonged to Ireland.

However, a defining factor in Lewis’ life was religion. Instilled into him at a young age from his dear mother, he soon turned atheistic. His mother, who was the daughter of an Anglican priest, tried to enrich him with the principles of her religion. But even as atheistic beliefs began to fester, the advent of the first World War only reaffirmed them. Moreover, her death in 1908 left a void within him that was not easily filled. This only served to accelerate the atheistic outlook.
As the young man enrolled into army training, he shared a room with another cadet fondly referred to as ‘Paddy’. It is said the two made a pact that if either died during war, the other would take care of both the families. As it so happened, Paddy lost his life and Lewis stuck to 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 wished for. With a distant and dominating father that he was never close to, he looked to Mrs. Moore for support. It was especially necessary following the horrors of trench warfare as he battled depression and physical injuries.
Their bond remained close and lasted until her dying days. In fact, they also lived together along with Mrs. Moore’s daughter, Maureen, until the 1940s when the older woman had to be hospitalized. As she succumbed to dementia, she needed to be admitted into a nursing home. Even there, Lewis visited her every day until her death.

In later life, he married Joy Davidman – an American author. Viewing her as a close friend and his only intellectual equal, the marriage was one of convenience meant 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 performed in 1957, and she finally succumbed to the disease in 1960. Following this, Lewis raised both her sons as his own.

Despite his predominantly atheistic outlook in earlier life, in 1931 (perhaps following the persuasion of his close friend – the legendary J. R. R. Tolkien) Lewis reverted to the Anglican Church once more. But even in his conversion to theism, he was perhaps the most unwilling devotee there could be. Following this, the curious man grew ever 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’ remain the most popular. Set in the magical realm of the same name, it tells the tale of mythical beasts, talking animals, and various children. Each of these is central to the unfolding of the plot, and yet none are constant through all 7 of the books. Apart from drawing inspiration from Christianity, the books also freely borrow characters from Greek and Roman mythology along with English and Irish fairy tales.

Many of the books in this series have also been adapted into TV shows and animated 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 among those adapted into a popular feature film as well. Beginning in the midst of the second world war, this book follows the evacuation of the four Pevensie siblings into the countryside. There they accidentally manage to cross over into the fantastical world of Narnia through a magic closet, and that’s where the adventure begins. As Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy make friends, fight foes, and engage in battle, the tale is an adventure woven into words. Throughout the novel Aslan the lion, who is also the rightful ruler of the land, becomes their friend and guide. He has a special bond with the youngest of the four, Lucy, who can also be considered the primary narrator of the tale. Her loyalty, innocence, and bravery are what eventually earn her the title of ‘Lucy the Valiant’.

Here, Lewis uses the concept of parallel worlds as the Pevensie siblings switch between the war-torn Earth and Narnia. As it so happens, time also moves at a much slower pace in the latter than in the former. Therefore all their adventures in the magical realm amount to only minutes passed in their countryside escape.

This disparity in time is what sets the tone for the second novel in the series. Whisked away into the magical realm after merely a year, centuries have passed in Narnia. As the stage is set for a battle for the rightful heir, the Pevensie siblings take up their positions once more to fight the evil that has taken over. With the return of Aslan, the four young rulers of the land jump into the new adventure to set things right. Thus, ‘Prince Caspian’ results in another fantastical tale of excitement.
With this novel being adapted into a popular feature film as well as television show, these wonderful tales have proven to be a big hit with the audience.

Therefore, as Lewis was laid to rest in 1963 – a week before his 65th birthday – the unforgettable author has left behind a treasure trove of works guaranteed to inspire people for generations to come!