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''The Chronicles of Narnia'' is a series of seven high fantasy novels by author C. S. Lewis. It is considered a classic of children's literature and is the author's best-known work, having sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages.〔("CS Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia author, honoured in Poets' corner" ). The Telegraph. Retrieved 24 February 2013〕〔("CS Lewis to be honoured in Poets' Corner" ). BBC News. Retrieved 23 November 2012〕 Written by Lewis between 1949 and 1954, illustrated by Pauline Baynes and originally published in London between October 1950 and September 1956, ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' has been adapted several times, complete or in part, for radio, television, the stage, and film. Set in the fictional realm of Narnia, a fantasy world of magic, mythical beasts, and talking animals, the series narrates the adventures of various children who play central roles in the unfolding history of that world. Except in ''The Horse and His Boy'', the protagonists are all children from the real world, magically transported to Narnia, where they are called upon by the lion Aslan to protect Narnia from evil and restore the throne to its rightful line. The books span the entire history of Narnia, from its creation in ''The Magician's Nephew'' to its eventual destruction in ''The Last Battle''. Inspiration for the series is taken from multiple sources; in addition to adapting numerous traditional Christian themes, the books freely borrow characters and ideas from Greek and Roman mythology as well as from traditional British and Irish fairy tales. The books have profoundly influenced adult and children's fantasy literature since World War II. Lewis's exploration of themes not usually present in children's literature, such as religion, as well as the books' perceived treatment of issues including race and gender, has caused some controversy. ==Background and conception== Although Lewis originally conceived what would become ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' in 1939,〔Roger Lancelyn Green & Walter Hooper, ''C. S. Lewis: A Biography''. Fully revised & expanded edition. (2002), pp. 302–307. (The picture of a Faun with parcels in a snowy wood has a history dating to 1914.)〕 he did not finish writing the first book ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'' until 1949. ''The Magician's Nephew'', the penultimate book to be published, but the last to be written, was completed in 1954. Lewis did not write the books in the order in which they were originally published, nor were they published in their current chronological order of presentation. The original illustrator, Pauline Baynes, created pen and ink drawings for the ''Narnia'' books that are still used in the editions published today. Lewis was awarded the 1956 Carnegie Medal for ''The Last Battle'', the final book in the saga. Fellow children's author Roger Lancelyn Green first referred to the series as ''The Chronicles of Narnia'', in March 1951, after he had read and discussed with Lewis his recently completed fourth book ''The Silver Chair'', originally entitled ''Night under Narnia''.〔Roger Lancelyn Green & Walter Hooper, ''C. S. Lewis: A Biography''. (2002), p. 311.〕 Lewis described the origin of ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'' in an essay entitled "It All Began with a Picture":
Shortly before the start of World War II, many children were evacuated to the English countryside in anticipation of attacks on London and other major urban areas by Nazi Germany. As a result, on 2 September 1939, three school girls, Margaret, Mary and Katherine,〔Paul F. Ford. ''Companion to Narnia. Revised Edition.'' 2005, p. 106. ISBN 978-0-06-079127-8〕 came to live at The Kilns in Risinghurst, Lewis' home three miles east of Oxford city centre. Lewis later suggested that the experience gave him a new appreciation of children and in late September〔Owen Dudley Edwards. ''British Children's Fiction in the Second World War.'' 2007, p. 129. ISBN 978-0-7486-1650-3〕 he began a children's story on an odd sheet of paper which has survived as part of another manuscript:
In "It All Began With a Picture" C. S. Lewis continues:
The manuscript for ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'' was complete by the end of March 1949. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Chronicles of Narnia」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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