The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew: Illustrated By Pauline Baynes

Lewis, C. S. & Baynes, Pauline

£800.00

Out of stock

Product Description

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew: Illustrated By Pauline Baynes

 

Author: C. S. Lewis
Illustrator: Pauline Baynes
Price: £800
Publisher: The Bodley Head, London, UK
Publication Date: 1955
Edition: First edition
Format: Original cloth gilt with dustwrapper
Condition: Very good plus in a very good dustwrapper
Size: 14.7cm x 20.3cm
Pages: 183

Description:

First edition. Original green cloth, blocked in silver. Binding nice and tight. Spine lettering very bright and clean with no fading to the cloth. Neat inscription dated 1956 to the front blank stating ‘if you don’t understand it now, you may when you get older’. Text block a little spotted and very minor foxing to the endpapers else pages very nice and clean. Price-clipped dustwrapper foxed to the rear panel and a little sunned to the spine. Edges a little rubbed with a short closed tear to the rear panel. Slightly nicked and rubbed with a very small amount of loss. Very good plus in very good dustwrapper.

Summary of The Magician’s Nephew:

 

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is a fantasy novel by C.S. Lewis, first published in 1955. Although it was the sixth book published in “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, it is the first in chronological order of the events that take place in the fictional world of Narnia. The novel serves as a prequel to the more widely known The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and provides the origin story of the world of Narnia.

Plot Summary:

The Magician’s Nephew begins in London during the early 20th century and follows two children, Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer. Digory, whose mother is gravely ill, lives with his aunt and uncle. His uncle, Andrew, is a magician who tricks Polly into touching a magical ring that transports her to another world. To rescue her, Digory follows with another ring, and together they embark on an adventure that takes them to multiple worlds, including Charn, a dying world ruled by the tyrannical Queen Jadis.

Key Plot Points:

  1. Discovery of the Rings: Uncle Andrew has created magical rings that can transport people to different worlds. Unbeknownst to the children, these rings act as portals, with yellow rings taking them to the Wood between the Worlds—a tranquil forest containing pools that act as gateways to other universes—and green rings bringing them back.
  2. Charn and Queen Jadis: In one of the pools, Digory and Polly find themselves in Charn, a world devastated by a catastrophic conflict. There, they encounter the ancient and evil Queen Jadis, who tells them how she destroyed her world with a powerful curse known as the Deplorable Word. Inadvertently, the children awaken Jadis, who follows them back to London.
  3. Creation of Narnia: The most significant event in the book is the creation of Narnia. After accidentally bringing Jadis into the Wood between the Worlds and then into Narnia, Digory and Polly witness the birth of the Narnian world. Aslan, the great lion and the true ruler of Narnia, sings the world into existence, creating the land, its creatures, and all its wonders. Aslan’s song is a central element of this creation story, imbuing the world with magic and life.
  4. Planting the Tree: Aslan tasks Digory with a mission to atone for bringing evil (Jadis) into this new world. He must retrieve an apple from a magical garden at the western end of Narnia and plant it to protect Narnia from the witch’s future influence. Despite being tempted by the witch to use the apple to cure his mother, Digory chooses to follow Aslan’s instructions.
  5. The Return to London: After successfully planting the tree, Digory is allowed to take an apple from the new tree back to his world, which he uses to cure his mother. The children then bury the magical rings and the apple core, which later grows into a tree that will eventually be made into the wardrobe featured in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Themes:

The Magician’s Nephew explores several profound themes:

  • Creation and Origin: The book delves into the idea of creation, with Aslan representing a divine creator figure. The creation of Narnia parallels the biblical creation story, filled with themes of innocence, corruption, and redemption.
  • Temptation and Moral Choice: Digory faces temptation when he has the chance to take the apple for his own purposes. His choice to resist mirrors the broader theme of moral decision-making that is central to many of Lewis’s works.
  • Good vs. Evil: The struggle between good and evil is depicted through the actions of Aslan and Jadis, setting the stage for the ongoing battle throughout the Chronicles of Narnia series.

Legacy:

The Magician’s Nephew provides critical background to the Narnian universe and is often praised for its imaginative depiction of the creation of Narnia. The novel is a favourite among fans for its deep sense of wonder, its moral lessons, and its role in expanding the lore of Narnia. It sets the tone for the subsequent books and explains key elements that appear in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, making it an essential read for understanding the entire series.

C. S. Lewis: A Short Biography:

 

C.S. Lewis (Clive Staples Lewis) was a British writer, scholar, and lay theologian, best known for his works of fiction, especially The Chronicles of Narnia, and for his Christian apologetics. He is considered one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.

Early Life and Education:

  • Birth: November 29, 1898, in Belfast, Ireland (now Northern Ireland).
  • Family: Lewis was born to Albert James Lewis, a solicitor, and Florence Augusta Lewis, who was well-educated and instilled in him a love of reading.
  • Childhood: Lewis was an imaginative child, creating fantastical worlds with his brother, Warren. He was deeply affected by the death of his mother when he was nine years old, which led to a period of spiritual doubt.
  • Education: Lewis was educated at various schools in England and later attended University College, Oxford, where he excelled in classical literature, philosophy, and English literature.

Academic Career:

  • Oxford University: After serving in World War I, where he was wounded, Lewis returned to Oxford and completed his studies. He became a fellow and tutor in English literature at Magdalen College, Oxford, a position he held from 1925 to 1954.
  • Cambridge University: In 1954, he was appointed to the newly created Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he worked until his retirement.

Literary Career:

  • Early Works: Lewis’s early publications included academic works on literature, such as The Allegory of Love (1936), a study of medieval literature.
  • Conversion to Christianity: Originally an atheist, Lewis converted to Christianity in 1931, influenced by conversations with friends like J.R.R. Tolkien. His conversion profoundly impacted his writing and thought.
  • Christian Apologetics: Lewis became a prominent Christian apologist, writing books such as Mere Christianity (1952), The Problem of Pain (1940), and The Screwtape Letters (1942). These works are known for their clarity, wit, and persuasive arguments for Christian faith.
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: Lewis’s most famous fictional works are The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven fantasy novels written between 1949 and 1954. The series has become a classic of children’s literature, known for its imaginative world, moral lessons, and Christian allegory.
  • Other Fiction: Lewis also wrote other notable fiction, including The Space Trilogy (also known as the Ransom Trilogy), which explores themes of good and evil, and The Great Divorce (1945), an allegorical tale about heaven and hell.

Personal Life:

  • Friendship with Tolkien: Lewis was part of the informal literary group known as the Inklings, which included J.R.R. Tolkien. The group met regularly to discuss literature and ideas, and their friendship had a significant influence on both writers’ works.
  • Marriage: Lewis married Joy Davidman, an American writer, in 1956. Their marriage was a source of deep joy for Lewis, but it was cut short by her death from cancer in 1960. Lewis later reflected on his grief in the book A Grief Observed (1961).

Death and Legacy:

  • Death: C.S. Lewis died on November 22, 1963, in Oxford, England, the same day as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
  • Legacy: Lewis is remembered as one of the most influential Christian thinkers and writers of the 20th century. His works continue to be widely read and admired for their literary quality, moral depth, and spiritual insight. His influence extends across literature, theology, and popular culture.

Pauline Baynes: A Short Biography:

 

Pauline Baynes was a British illustrator best known for her work on C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia series and J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. Her detailed and imaginative illustrations have made her one of the most beloved illustrators in children’s literature.

Early Life and Education:

  • Birth: Pauline Diana Baynes was born on September 9, 1922, in Hove, Sussex, England.
  • Family and Childhood: Baynes spent part of her childhood in India, where her father worked, before returning to England. Her early experiences in both countries influenced her imaginative style.
  • Education: She studied at the Farnham School of Art and then at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, though she left Slade to work for the Ministry of Defence during World War II.

Career:

  • Early Career: Baynes began her career illustrating books and working on instructional manuals during the war. Her early work showcased her attention to detail and her ability to bring stories to life through art.
  • Work with C.S. Lewis: Baynes’s career took a significant turn when she was selected to illustrate The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. Her illustrations for the seven books in the series, starting with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1950, became iconic. Lewis was particularly pleased with her work, famously saying that she “had reduced his text to a commentary on her drawings.”
  • Work with J.R.R. Tolkien: Baynes also illustrated several works by J.R.R. Tolkien, including Farmer Giles of Ham, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and Smith of Wootton Major. Tolkien admired her work and appreciated her ability to capture the essence of his Middle-earth, even though she never illustrated The Lord of the Rings itself.
  • Style: Baynes was known for her intricate, decorative style, which often included medieval and fantasy elements. Her illustrations were filled with fine details and a sense of whimsy, making them perfect for the fantasy worlds she depicted.

Personal Life:

  • Marriage: Pauline Baynes married Fritz Otto Gasch in 1961, a German former prisoner of war whom she met after the war. The couple lived in a village in Surrey, where she continued her work as an illustrator.

Later Work and Legacy:

  • Prolific Career: Baynes illustrated over 100 books during her career, working with a variety of authors and genres. Her work extended beyond Narnia and Tolkien, including books by Richard Adams and Mary Norton.
  • Recognition: Baynes received several awards and honours for her contributions to illustration, including the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1968. Her work remains beloved by readers and continues to be recognized for its artistic and literary value.
  • Death: Pauline Baynes passed away on August 1, 2008, at the age of 85.

Legacy:

Pauline Baynes’s illustrations have left an indelible mark on the world of children’s literature. Her ability to visualize and enhance the worlds of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien has made her illustrations timeless, cherished by generations of readers. Her work continues to be celebrated for its beauty, detail, and the way it complements and enhances the stories she illustrated.

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