The Magician’s Nephew – Facsimile Edition

Author: C. S. Lewis
Illustrator: Pauline Baynes
Price: £120
Publisher: Harper Collins, London, UK
Edition: First edition thus, 2nd impression
Publication Date: 2010
Format: Original cloth gilt with dustwrapper
Condition: Near fine in very good plus dustwrapper
Size: 13.5cm x 20.4cm
Pages: 183

Description:

The facsimile edition in very similar format as the first edition. First edition thus, 2nd impression, with the number ‘2’ to the number line. Illustrated throughout by Pauline Baynes. Binding nice and tight. Pages nice and clean. A near fine, tight, clean copy in very good plus, very slightly marked, creased and rubbed dustwrapper. Please enquire if you would like further photographs of this work.

The Story:

The Magician’s Nephew is the sixth book published in The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis, but it is the first in chronological order. Published in 1955, this book serves as a prequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, explaining the origins of Narnia, the creation of the magical wardrobe, and how evil first entered Narnia. It is a tale of adventure, temptation, and the power of creation, exploring the early history of both Narnia and Earth.

Plot Summary:

The story is set in London in the late 19th century and follows two children, Digory Kirke (the future Professor Kirke from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) and his friend Polly Plummer. Digory’s uncle, Andrew Ketterley, is a magician who tricks the children into using magical rings to travel between worlds. They find themselves in The Wood Between the Worlds, a tranquil place filled with pools that serve as portals to different worlds.

Through one of these pools, they travel to Charn, a dying world ruled by the evil Queen Jadis, who becomes the primary antagonist of the book. The children accidentally bring Jadis to London, causing chaos. Eventually, they travel to a new, unformed world, which they witness being created by Aslan, the great lion, who brings Narnia into existence.

Major Characters:

• Digory Kirke: A young boy living in London. He is brave and curious, and his actions play a crucial role in the creation of Narnia and the release of evil into it.
• Polly Plummer: Digory’s friend and companion on the adventure. She is sensible and cautious, often balancing Digory’s impulsiveness.
• Uncle Andrew: Digory’s eccentric and morally questionable uncle, who fancies himself a magician. He is responsible for the children’s journey into other worlds, though his understanding of magic is limited and selfish.
• Jadis (The White Witch): The cruel and powerful queen of Charn, who is awakened by Digory and becomes a major villain in the Narnia series. In this book, she begins her rise to power as the White Witch who later conquers Narnia.
• Aslan: The great lion who creates Narnia through the power of his voice. He represents goodness, creation, and divine authority.
• Frank the Cabby: A kind-hearted London cab driver who is brought into Narnia by accident and becomes the first King of Narnia under Aslan’s guidance.
• Aunt Letty: Digory’s kind but strict aunt, who cares for him while his mother is ill.

Key Plot Points:

1. Uncle Andrew’s Experiment: Uncle Andrew, a self-proclaimed magician, tricks Polly into touching one of his magical yellow rings, which transports her to another world. Digory, feeling responsible for his friend, follows her using another ring. Uncle Andrew explains that the yellow rings send people to other worlds, while the green rings bring them back.
2. The Wood Between the Worlds: Polly and Digory find themselves in a peaceful, wooded area filled with pools, each leading to a different world. They discover that they can use the rings to jump between these worlds, and they decide to explore one of the pools, which takes them to Charn.
3. Charn and the Awakening of Jadis: In the ruined and desolate world of Charn, they find a hall filled with statues of past rulers. Digory, curious and impulsive, rings a magical bell that awakens the last queen of Charn, Jadis. She reveals that she destroyed her own world with a powerful spell known as the Deplorable Word during a civil war.
4. Jadis in London: The children accidentally bring Jadis back to London, where she causes chaos. She uses her powers to wreak havoc, and Uncle Andrew becomes enthralled by her. Eventually, Digory and Polly manage to lure Jadis back into the magical world, bringing Uncle Andrew and a London cabby with them.
5. The Creation of Narnia: The group arrives in a dark, empty world, which begins to come to life as Aslan sings it into existence. Trees, animals, and stars emerge from the ground, and the world of Narnia is born. Aslan invites the talking animals of Narnia to rule the land in peace, appointing the cabby (Frank) and his wife as the first king and queen of Narnia.
6. The Planting of the Tree of Protection: Aslan tasks Digory with retrieving a magical apple from a distant garden to plant in Narnia. This tree will protect Narnia from the evil that Jadis represents. Digory is tempted by Jadis to eat the apple for himself, which would heal his dying mother, but he resists the temptation and follows Aslan’s instructions. As a reward for his obedience, Aslan gives Digory an apple to take back to Earth to heal his mother.
7. The Origins of the Wardrobe: After Narnia is created, Digory returns home with the magical apple, which heals his mother. He plants the core of the apple, and it grows into a great tree. Years later, when the tree is blown down in a storm, Digory has the wood made into a wardrobe—this is the same wardrobe that later serves as the portal to Narnia in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Themes and Symbolism:

• Creation and Origin: The creation of Narnia is central to the story. Aslan’s song represents the creative power of goodness, love, and order. The story parallels the biblical account of creation in the Book of Genesis, with Aslan representing a Christ-like figure who breathes life into the world.
• Temptation and Moral Choices: Digory faces temptation several times, most notably when Jadis tries to convince him to steal the apple for himself to cure his mother. His choice to resist temptation highlights the importance of moral courage and selflessness.
• Good vs. Evil: The novel explores the nature of good and evil, particularly through the characters of Aslan and Jadis. Charn is a world destroyed by evil, while Narnia is created by Aslan’s goodness. The introduction of Jadis into Narnia fore-shadows the later conflict between good and evil in the series.
• Healing and Sacrifice: Digory’s personal quest to heal his dying mother reflects themes of sacrifice and redemption. His decision to follow Aslan’s instructions, even when it’s difficult, leads to the healing of both his mother and Narnia.
• The Consequences of Actions: The novel underscores how even small choices can have far-reaching consequences. Digory’s curiosity and decision to ring the bell bring Jadis back to life, setting in motion a chain of events that will impact Narnia for generations.

Notable Quotes:

• Aslan’s Creation of Narnia: “In the darkness, something was happening at last. A voice had begun to sing. It was very far away and Digory found it hard to decide from what direction it was coming. Sometimes it seemed to come from all directions at once.”
• On Temptation: “For the fruit always works—it must work—but it does not work happily for any who pluck it at their own will.”

Legacy:

The Magician’s Nephew is often praised for its imaginative depiction of the creation of Narnia and its rich allegorical elements. It provides the back-story for many key elements in the Narnia series, such as the origins of the White Witch, the wardrobe, and the magic that governs Narnia.

The book is unique in its tone, blending adventure with deeper philosophical and spiritual themes, and is essential for understanding the full scope of The Chronicles of Narnia. It adds depth to the series, showing how the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are tied to a larger narrative about creation, temptation, and redemption.

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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