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9 must-read classic children’s books, as chosen by our readers

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10 audiobooks for a listen-aloud adventure

The Classic BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisations

The Complete Chronicles of Narnia

C.S. Lewis’s acclaimed and universally loved novels spring to life in these spellbinding full-cast BBC dramatisations.

An absolute must for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia, this is a beautifully rendered performance of every single volume in this beloved series. Balancing a solid narrative that relies on fantastical action sequences with an overarching mythology, this magical, immersive performance is not to be missed. 
 
C.S. Lewis's acclaimed and universally loved novels spring to life in these spellbinding full-cast BBC dramatisations. 
 
Anyone who's visited Narnia wants to go back again, and these radio dramas make for a hugely entertaining first-time or return journey, with a cast including Bernard Cribbins, Maurice Denham, Richard Griffiths, Martin Jarvis, Sylvester McCoy, John Sessions, Fiona Shaw and Timothy Spall. 
 
The Magician's Nephew: When Polly and Digory discover some magic rings, they begin the most exciting and dangerous journey of their lives - and encounter the mighty lion Aslan... 
 
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Lucy, Peter, Edmund and Susan enter a magical world of talking fauns and flying horses, where the evil White Witch has cast Narnia in perpetual winter. 
 
The Horse and His Boy: Shasta and his talking horse Bree flee from a life of slavery and head for the freedom of Narnia, facing many perils along the way. 
 
Prince Caspian: Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund are called upon to help Caspian free Narnia of his evil uncle's regime and reclaim freedom and happiness. 
 
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: Edmund, Lucy and Eustace join King Caspian on a perilous mission to find his friends, the seven lost Lords of Narnia. 
 
The Silver Chair: Jill and Eustace set out to find King Caspian's lost son, and in the grim land of the Earthmen they encounter the wicked Green Lady. 
 
The Last Battle: The King is in danger, and Narnia faces its darkest hour. Eustace and Jill must help its people fight for the future of the once-glorious kingdom. 
 
 
©2014 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2014 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

C.S. Lewis was born in Belfast in 1898. In 1917 he went to Oxford University, but his studies were interrupted by the First World War, from which he was sent home wounded. One of his friends at Oxford was J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was published in 1950. Fascinated by the difference in time between our own world and Narnia, Lewis wrote some of the books in a different order to the events which they portrayed. An example of this is The Magician's Nephew, which details the early history of Narnia and is intended to be read before the others. C.S. Lewis died in 1963.

An absolute must for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia, this is a beautifully rendered performance of every single volume in this beloved series. Balancing a solid narrative that relies on fantastical action sequences with an overarching mythology, this magical, immersive performance is not to be missed. 
 
C.S. Lewis's acclaimed and universally loved novels spring to life in these spellbinding full-cast BBC dramatisations. 
 
Anyone who's visited Narnia wants to go back again, and these radio dramas make for a hugely entertaining first-time or return journey, with a cast including Bernard Cribbins, Maurice Denham, Richard Griffiths, Martin Jarvis, Sylvester McCoy, John Sessions, Fiona Shaw and Timothy Spall. 
 
The Magician's Nephew: When Polly and Digory discover some magic rings, they begin the most exciting and dangerous journey of their lives - and encounter the mighty lion Aslan... 
 
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Lucy, Peter, Edmund and Susan enter a magical world of talking fauns and flying horses, where the evil White Witch has cast Narnia in perpetual winter. 
 
The Horse and His Boy: Shasta and his talking horse Bree flee from a life of slavery and head for the freedom of Narnia, facing many perils along the way. 
 
Prince Caspian: Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund are called upon to help Caspian free Narnia of his evil uncle's regime and reclaim freedom and happiness. 
 
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: Edmund, Lucy and Eustace join King Caspian on a perilous mission to find his friends, the seven lost Lords of Narnia. 
 
The Silver Chair: Jill and Eustace set out to find King Caspian's lost son, and in the grim land of the Earthmen they encounter the wicked Green Lady. 
 
The Last Battle: The King is in danger, and Narnia faces its darkest hour. Eustace and Jill must help its people fight for the future of the once-glorious kingdom. 
 
 
 ©2014 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2014 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the second adventure in C.S. Lewis' magical 'Narnia' series.

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the second adventure in C. S. Lewis' classic Narnia series. 
 
When Lucy comes across the old wardrobe standing alone in the spare room, she thinks she has found a good place for hide and seek. But then she tumbles headlong into a magical world of fauns, dwarves, and giants, of animals that talk and horses that fly – the land of Narnia. 
 
It is so extraordinary that at first her brothers and sister don't believe it can be real. Soon, though, Peter, Edmund and Susan find Narnia too and the adventures really begin. Together they must battle against an evil White Witch to break her cruel grip on Narnia, a land she has cast in perpetual winter, without Christmas. Only one thing can hold fast against such wickedness: the mighty Aslan. 
 
The excitement which C. S. Lewis must have felt in creating this enchanted world is conjured up once again in this thrilling dramatisation of one of the best stories ever told. 
 
Starring Maurice Denham as the Professor, Camilla Power as Lucy, Henry Power as Edmund, Neil Jeffrey as Peter, Abigail Docherty as Susan, Rosemary Martin as Jadis and Stephen Thorne as Aslan. 
 
Written by C. S. Lewis 
Dramatised by Brian Sibley 
Produced by Geoffrey Marshall-Taylor 
Music by Elizabeth Parker of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop 
Text ©1950 C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. (P)2005 BBC Audiobooks LTD 
Narnia® and The Chronicles of Narnia® are trademarks of CS Lewis Pte Ltd.

A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisation

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Horse And His Boy

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the third adventure in C.S. Lewis' magical 'Narnia' series.

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the third adventure in C. S. Lewis' classic Narnia series. 
 
Life in a small fishing village in the south of Calormen is all that young Shasta knows until, one day, he overhears his father planning to sell him into slavery to a stranger and discovers that he is not a fisherman's son after all. Things become even more surprising when the stranger’s horse starts to have a conversation with him! 
 
Shasta dicovers that the horse is called Bree, and that he comes from a magical land in the North. Together they decide to flee Calormen and slavery and head for the freedom of that land – Narnia. So begins a hazardous journey, fraught with mystery and danger. They must endure a harsh desert, climb the high mountains of Archenland and overcome many enemies before they reach their destination. 
 
Join Shasta on an adventure beyond his wildest dreams in this third thrilling instalment of The Chronicles of Narnia. 
 
Starring James Graves as Shasta, Martin Jarvis as Bree, Fiona Shaw as Hwin and Stephen Thorne as Aslan. 
 
Written by C. S. Lewis 
Dramatised by Brian Sibley 
Produced by John Taylor 
Music by Elizabeth Parker and Peter Howell of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop 
Text ©1954 C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. (P)2005 BBC Audiobooks LTD 
Narnia® and The Chronicles of Narnia® are trademarks of CS Lewis Pte Ltd.

The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the fourth adventure in C. S. Lewis' classic Narnia series. 
 
Narnia has been at peace since Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy helped rid the kingdom of the evil White Witch. But now the children have returned to their own world, and in their absence a dark presence rules the once harmonious land. 
 
Wicked King Miraz has imposed a destructive new order of persecution and imprisonment, but the King's nephew and rightful heir, Prince Caspian, realising the evil of his uncle's regime, vows to revive Narnia's glorious past. 
 
Fearing for his life, he is forced to flee and calls on the four children, the magic of the mighty lion Aslan and an army of fauns, dwarfs and woodland spirits to help him in his seemingly impossible task. 
 
Follow Aslan and his human friends on yet another escapade, as they take up the challenge to win back freedom and happiness for the magical land of Narnia. 
 
Starring Maurice Denham as the Professor, Richard Puddifoot as Prince Caspian, Richard Griffiths as Trumpkin, Tom Wilkinson as Dr Cornelius, Tom Puccin as Peter, Susie Hay as Susan, Ellie Beavan as Lucy, Peter England as Edmund and Sylvester McCoy as Reepicheep. 
 
Written by C. S. Lewis 
Dramatised by Brian Sibley 
Produced by John Taylor 
Music by Elizabeth Parker and Peter Howell of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop 
Text ©1951 C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd (P)2005 BBC Audiobooks LTD 
Narnia® and The Chronicles of Narnia® are trademarks of CS Lewis Pte Ltd.

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the first adventure in C.S. Lewis' magical 'Narnia' series.

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the first adventure in C. S. Lewis' classic Narnia series. 
 
Polly Plummer and her next-door neighbour, Digory, are exploring one wet afternoon when the accidental discovery of some magic rings sends them off on the most exciting and dangerous journey of their lives. They fall through magic pools to the ruined city of Charn where Digory awakens the terrifying figure of Jadis, the last Queen. But with true evil comes true goodness, as the children discover when they come face-to-face with the mighty lion Aslan. 
 
Soon the children’s Uncle Andrew, along with an unwitting cabbie and footman, has joined them – and together they witness the lion Aslan’s creation of a wondrous new world… 
 
So begins the universally loved and acclaimed series of stories in which good and evil do battle in the spellbinding, magical land of Narnia. 
 
Starring Maurice Denham as the Professor, Rowena Snaith as Polly, Simeon Pearl as Diggory, Robert Eddison as Uncle Andrew, Rosemary Martin as Jadis and Stephen Thorne as Aslan. 
 
Written by C. S. Lewis 
Dramatised by Brian Sibley 
Produced by Geoffrey Marshall-Taylor 
Music by Elizabeth Parker of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop 
Text ©1955 C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. (P)2005 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
Narnia® and The Chronicles of Narnia® are trademarks of CS Lewis Pte Ltd.

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the fifth adventure in C.S. Lewis' magical 'Narnia' series.

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the fifth adventure in C. S. Lewis' classic Narnia series. 
 
In the enchanted land of Narnia, Edmund, Lucy and their cousin Eustace join King Caspian on a sworn mission to find his friends, the seven lost lords of Narnia. So begins a perilous new quest that takes them to the farthest edge of the Eastern world on board the mighty Dawn Treader. 
 
Sailing uncharted seas, the old friends see extraordinary things on their voyage of discovery. They must survive a terrible storm as well as encounters with sea serpents, dragons, and a band of invisible enemies. 
 
In the most thrilling encounter of all they meet the great Aslan himself, with whose help they will make their way through lands where magicians weave mysterious spells and nightmares come true. 
 
Courage, danger and magic combine in the incredible fifth tale from the amazing land of Narnia. 
 
Starring Richard Puddifoot as Prince Caspian, Marco Williamson as Eustace, Ellie Beaven as Lucy, Peter England as Edmund, Sylvester McCoy as Reepicheep and Stephen Thorne as Aslan. 
 
Written by C. S. Lewis 
Dramatised by Brian Sibley 
Produced by John Taylor 
Music by Elizabeth Parker and Peter Howell of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop 
Text ©1952 C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. (P)2005 BBC Audiobooks LTD 
Narnia® and The Chronicles of Narnia® are trademarks of CS Lewis Pte Ltd.

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Silver Chair

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the sixth adventure in C.S. Lewis' magical 'Narnia' series.

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the sixth adventure in C. S. Lewis' classic Narnia series. 
 
King Caspian has grown old and sad in the ten years since the disappearance of his only son. With time running out, Jill and Eustace embark on a perilous quest to find the Prince and bring back tranquillity to the magical land of Narnia. 
 
Journeying to the wild lands of the North, the friends and their companion Puddleglum have some hair-raising adventures. There are mighty storms to battle and a terrifying encounter with a race of giants who like nothing better than a tasty snack – of human children! 
 
Searching deep underground in the grim land of the Earthmen, they finally encounter the wicked Green Lady whose evil plan is to overthrow King Caspian and become Queen of Narnia. Can they stop her? 
 
This sixth adventure in the Chronicles of Narnia is a thrilling trip through an enchanted land where heroes must fight the forces of darkness. 
 
Starring Bernard Cribbins as Puddleglum, Richard Griffiths as Trumpkin, Victoria Shalet as Jill, Marco Williamson as Eustace, Frances Tomelty as the Green Lady and Stephen Thorne as Aslan. 
 
Written by C. S. Lewis 
Dramatised by Brian Sibley 
Produced by John Taylor 
Music by Peter Howell of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop 
Text ©1953 C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. (P)2005 BBC Audiobooks LTD 
Narnia® and The Chronicles of Narnia® are trademarks of CS Lewis Pte Ltd.

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Last Battle

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the seventh and final adventure in C. S. Lewis' classic Narnia series. 
 
Many Narnian years have passed since Eustace and Jill helped ensure the Royal line. But when they are jerked back violently into this strangest of lands, they find the present king in danger and Narnia facing its darkest hour. 
 
With a stupid and gullible donkey posing as Aslan and the devious ape, Shift, in charge, confused talking beasts and dwarves are allowing themselves to be sold into slavery in neighbouring Calormen. The once peaceful world of Narnia is moving towards destruction, until Eustace and Jill join forces with King Tirian and the nobel unicorn Jewel to help the remaining loyal subjects stand fast against the powers of evil and darkness. Together they must fight The Last Battle and decide the future of this once glorious kingdom. 
 
The concluding adventure in this amazing series moves heart-stoppingly from disaster to triumph as the forces for good make their final stand against evil. 
 
Starring Maurice Denham as the Professor, Timothy Spall as Puzzle, John Sessions as Shift, Paul Rhys as Tirian, Victoria Shalet as Jill and Marco Williamson as Eustace. 
 
Written by C. S. Lewis 
Dramatised by Brian Sibley 
Produced by John Taylor 
Music by Peter Howell of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop 
Text ©1956 C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. (P)2005 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
Narnia® and The Chronicles of Narnia® are trademarks of CS Lewis Pte Ltd.

C.S. Lewis

Books by C.S. Lewis

Series by C.S. Lewis

The BBC Radio 4 Chronicles of Narnia Dramatisations

Articles featuring C.S. Lewis

9 must-read classic children’s books, as chosen by our readers

On the particular pleasures of re-reading

Books for kids who are obsessed with Disney’s Frozen

10 audiobooks for a listen-aloud adventure

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