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''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'' is a high fantasy novel for children by C. S. Lewis, published by Geoffrey Bles in 1950. It was the first published of seven novels in ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' (1950–1956) and the best known; among all the author's books it is the most widely held in libraries.〔("Lewis, C. S. (Clive Staples)1898–1963" ). WorldCat. Retrieved 2012-12-09〕 Although it was written as well as published first in the series, it is volume two in recent editions, which are sequenced according to Narnia history (the first being ''The Magician's Nephew''). Like the others, it was illustrated by Pauline Baynes, and her work has been retained in many later editions.〔〔 ("Bibliography: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" ). ISFDB. Retrieved 2012-12-09.〕 Most of the novel is set in Narnia, a land of talking animals and mythical creatures that the White Witch has ruled for 100 years of deep winter. In the frame story, four English children live in a big, old country house during their World War II evacuation from London. The youngest visits Narnia three times via the wardrobe in a spare room. All four children are together on her third visit, which validates her stories and comprises the last 12 of 17 chapters except a brief conclusion. In Narnia the siblings seem to fulfill an old prophecy, so they are soon adventuring both to save Narnia and their lives. Lewis wrote the book for, and dedicated it to, his goddaughter Lucy Barfield. She was the daughter of Owen Barfield, Lewis's friend, teacher, adviser, and trustee.〔Schakel 2002, p. unknown.〕 ''TIME'' magazine included the novel in its "All-TIME 100 Novels" (best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005). In 2003, the novel was listed at number 9 on the BBC's survey The Big Read.〔("BBC - The Big Read" ). BBC. April 2003. Retrieved 2012-10-19.〕 It has also been published in 47 foreign languages.〔GoodKnight, Glen H. ("Translations of ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' by C.S. Lewis" ) (index). ''Narnia Editions & Translations'' (inklingsfocus.com). Updated 3 August 2010. Confirmed 2012-12-10.〕 ==Plot summary== In 1940, four siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie – are among many children evacuated from London during World War II to escape the Blitz. They are sent to the countryside to live with professor Digory Kirke. Exploring the professor's house, Lucy finds a wardrobe that leads to a forest in a land called Narnia. At a lamppost in the forest she meets Tumnus, a faun, who invites her to tea in his home. There the faun confesses that he invited her not out of hospitality, but with the intention of betraying her to the White Witch, who has ruled Narnia for years, using magic to keep it always frozen in winter. She has ordered all Narnians to turn in any humans ("Sons of Adam or Daughters of Eve"), but now that he has met a real human, Tumnus repents his original intention and escorts Lucy back to the lamppost. Lucy returns through the wardrobe and finds that only a few seconds have passed in normal time during her absence. Her siblings do not believe her story about another world inside the wardrobe, which now appears solid inside. But during a game of hide-and-seek Lucy again passes into Narnia, and this time her brother Edmund follows her. He meets the Queen of Narnia, who questions him about his family. When she learns he has two sisters and a brother, she places an enchantment on him and urges him to bring his siblings to her castle, promising in return to make him her heir. When Lucy and Edmund return together through the wardrobe, Edmund realizes that the Queen he met and the Witch Lucy describes are one and the same; he denies to the others that he has been in Narnia at all. Peter and Susan are puzzled by Lucy's insistence, and consult the Professor, who surprises them by taking Lucy's side. Soon afterward, all four children enter Narnia together while hiding in the wardrobe to avoid the professor's housekeeper, Mrs Macready. Lucy guides them to Tumnus's cave, but they find it ransacked, with a notice from Jadis (the White Witch) warning of his arrest for harbouring humans. A talking beaver, Mr Beaver, hides the children in his house, where Mr and Mrs Beaver tell them of a prophecy that Jadis's power will fail when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve fill the four thrones at Cair Paravel. Aslan, the great lion and the rightful King of Narnia, has been absent for many years but is now "on the move again". Edmund steals away to Jadis's castle, which is filled with statues of Narnian victims she has turned to stone. Jadis is furious when Edmund appears alone and angrier still to learn that Aslan is back in Narnia. Meanwhile, Mr Beaver realises that Edmund has betrayed them, and they set off at once to find Aslan. As they travel, the Witch's spell over Narnia begins to break: Father Christmas arrives with magical presents (a sword for Peter, a horn and a bow with arrows for Susan, a knife and a bottle of healing cordial for Lucy), the snow melts, and winter ends. Aslan welcomes the children and the Beavers to his camp near the Stone Table. Edmund is rescued from the Witch's camp, and Jadis approaches in truce to parley with Aslan, insisting that, according to "deep magic from the dawn of time", she has the right to execute Edmund for treason. Aslan speaks with her privately and persuades her to renounce her claim. That evening, Aslan secretly leaves the camp, but Lucy and Susan follow him. Aslan has bargained his own life for Edmund's, and the girls watch as Jadis ties Aslan to the Stone Table and kills him with a knife. The next morning Susan and Lucy remain weeping over Aslan's abandoned body, when the Stone Table breaks and Aslan is restored to life. He tells Lucy and Susan that Jadis was unaware of the "deeper magic from before the dawn of time" that will resurrect an innocent killed in place of a traitor. Aslan allows Lucy and Susan to ride on his back as he hurries to Jadis's castle. He breathes upon the stone statues, restoring them to life. Meanwhile, Peter and Edmund lead the Narnians against Jadis, and Edmund is seriously wounded. Aslan arrives with the former statues as reinforcements. The Narnians rout Jadis's supporters, and Aslan kills Jadis. Aslan breathes life into those Jadis has turned to stone on the battlefield, and Lucy uses her magic cordial to revive the wounded, starting with Edmund. The Pevensie children are crowned kings and queens of Narnia at Cair Paravel, but afterward Aslan slips away and disappears. Fifteen years later, the four kings and queens are chasing a white stag in the forest, where they find the lamppost. Beyond it, the branches become coats. They come back through the wardrobe in the Professor's house and are suddenly children again; almost no time has passed in the real world, despite their many years in Narnia. 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 Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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