The Chronicles of Narnia in 17 Minutes: A Condensed History of C.S. Lewis' World

[@lucypreece7581]

Fun fact. The reason why the lamppost appears in The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe is because C S Lewis and J R R Tolkien were drinking buddies and both writing their well known fantasy novels around the same time and Tolkien said that nobody could put something as ordinary, boring and innocuous as a lamp post into a children's fantasy story and make it interesting and Lewis saw it as a challenge and wanted to prove Tolkien wrong and did just that and put the lamp post into Narnia.

[@moisesinfantes2797]

Tolkien was a Class A hater. Lol He hated everything that his friends and other authors made.

[@MortonMcCastle]

​@@moisesinfantes2797 Well, I can imagine both being true.

[@a-s-greig]

"Hello lamp-post, what'cha knowin'?"

[@rachelfox8108]

​@@moisesinfantes2797 Iirc, that's why he wrote Lewis into his works as an Ent.

[@xDracolich]

Well they were a bit more than just drinking buddies, they were colleagues at Oxford and best friends, where they were both professors. They specifically sat down to write stories because “Well if no one wants to write the stories we want to read, we shall write them ourselves.”

[@spencernaugle]

"Based & Aslan-Pilled" is an amazing line. (Edit: Timestamp 12:51 )

[@calebgonzalez599]

Legit a great description of puddleglum

[@symbolguy3609]

12:51 timestamp

[@madmonkee6757]

WTF is it supposed to mean though?

[@spencernaugle]

​@@madmonkee6757 It's based on "Red pilled" Which itself is based on the movie series, "The Matrix" It means you're aware of the Truth that other people around you are not, no matter how unpleasant the Truth is. Unfortunately, it's often used by people who believe in conspiracy theories that are the complete opposite of any Truth. But in this context, Aslan-Pilled means that anything that Aslan told them to do is the right thing to do, Even if they don't want to do it.

[@TheSeptacle]

I’m subscribing just because of that 🤣

[@alastairchong4824]

The ending of the series is very bittersweet but beautiful at the same time

[@ashfordwyrd7458]

everybody but Susan died in a train derailment. Only reason Susan survived is that she grew up.

[@heathergarnham9555]

If I remember correctly, even their parents died in the train accident.

[@Michaelkayslay]

Waaatt really?

[@ProfSir1]

In life, nobody makes it out alive.

[@andresromero488]

​@@MichaelkayslayYes, the Aslan's country is actually the paradise. In the end all are actually dead. They died in the train while they were going to grab the rings. The parents also died, because they were waiting for them when the train has an accident and also kill the people in the train station. All Narnia is actually talking about Christianity. Aslan is Jesus and Aslan's country is Paradise. So the reason Susan is not at the end is beacause she stop bealiving in Aslan aka Jesus. She is not allowed in Heaven for being an heretic

[@helencourtnell5621]

I think The Magician's Nephew is the best of all the Narnia books. The description of Aslan creating the world of Narnia is one of the most moving pieces of text I have ever read.

[@graceross4888]

The horse and the boy is my favorite. I don’t even know how that happened but I find the story so interesting and self contained

[@Victoria-_]

It’s my favorite!

[@keleynal4424]

Yes, but it’s an absolute travesty to read it first. The wonder of discovering the origins of Narnia, the Witch, the lamppost, the wardrobe, the Professor… all of that mystery and discovery is lost. Yes, I am still bitter over the reordering of the books and I aggressively reorganize any store shelves I see.

[@Daymickey]

I love that creation scene! I replay it in my mind from time to time

[@westonhokanson6060]

It my favorite story as a whole, but I only read the first 3 fully.

[@UnknownHumanJoe]

The world needs more Narnian content. So good job, this was a great video.

[@JPKloess]

Thanks

[@n1nj4l1nk]

There are a number of books written by other authors: The Centaur's Cavern Brave Again The Stone Table There are also five Game/choose your own adventure books.

[@babsybrrrnz]

My thoughts with Susan is that she is actually C.S. Lewis's self-insert. Like the books are famously known for being an allegory to christianity but Lewis was not always devout. In his young adulthood he was a known athiest only becoming born again around his 30s. I think if he had the chance he could have wrote one more book about Susan finding her spirituality through God/Aslan and how there is never a wrong time to look back and start believing again. (prefacing I'm not religious, im just narnia-pilled)

[@chrisbolland5634]

I totally agree, and people being so harsh on Lewis for his treatment of Susan kinda overlook this often. As a Christian myself, my journey of faith has and will be so long and winding, it'd indeed be a very boring 'grown up' story for a kids book.

[@kittylemeu1373]

​@chrisbolland5634 you are being less critical because you are Christian I don't care if she's a self insert. Susan no longer being a "friend of Narnia" is stupid and he even mentions that she wears lipstick and things like that as if that's evil. It's preachy, and weird.

[@chrisbolland5634]

@@kittylemeu1373 yup. If you were a christian, no doubt you might see it from a different persepctive as well. Lewis's focus on nylons and lipstick is mentioned in character by Lucy: an important point. LUCY sees the root of susan's problem as vapid materialism, but I forget who, one of the male characters then says that Susan is wasting her life trying to 'grow up' away from Narnia. I think this is the real heart of susan's turning away, it's not about 'being girly is bad' is that susan is hiding from the reality she experienced (a metaphor for spirituality) by pretending that it was all just a childish dream. She's denying that which she knows to be true deep down because she's afraid, as another of lewis's characters says in another book, of making 'a break with the spirit of the age.' I think that susan 'no longer being a friend of narnia' is actually a good way to include people whose journies of faith, much like lewis's own, are not something a children's story could explore. Lewis doesn't just pretend everything is peachy with susan, he specifically went out of his way to mention in his later letters to concerned fans like yourself that Susan isn't 'damned' or any nonesense like that. Her road is just different than her siblings and lewis didn't feel the need to explore it. Or perhaps he does in round-about ways in his other writings like The Great Devorce. You are perfectly within your rights to think that this is 'weird,' but this is a story where a random dude with goat legs invites a little girl into his home and gives her sardines on toast in the middle of a 100 year winter. This story is weird. If that's a dealbreaker on enjoying it I'm amazed you made to the end of the last book.

[@kittylemeu1373]

@@chrisbolland5634 because Christians generally don't handle criticism well, so they scramble to give benefit of the doubt. It's still weird writing.

[@chrisbolland5634]

@@kittylemeu1373 I 100% agree. Did anything I say contradict that? I just think there's more to it.

[@John-bm4mq]

the last book really gave some of that good ol' existential dread Alsan really just shut off the world and made it void. how terrifying.

[@clarissagafoor5222]

You didn't finish the book, did you? All worlds are recreated, including our world. It's the New Creation.

[@Nukatha]

For Lewis's one other attempt at visualizing heaven, I strongly recommend "The Great Divorce".

[@DavidRay_40]

Alsan??? Seriously?! Can't you spell check your comment? It's Aslan, not Alsan!

[@DavidRay_40]

​@@clarissagafoor5222 they're not recreated; they were always there. They were "transported" into the real Narnia, or heaven, or Aslan's country. All are correct. That's what happened when they went through the stable door.

[@helioske]

Well yes it's an allegory for the book of revelation

[@johnwatchorn6548]

Fantastic video as per usual! :) Dawn Treader was always my favorite book, and it certainly has the most unique entrance into the world with the water spilling out the painting. Lewis definitely got creative with that one Also... could you say that Narnia in the Last Battle went a little... Ape Shift??? I will show myself out now.

[@JPKloess]

Thanks John. Prince Caspian is still my favorite (though Horse and His Boy has grown on me), but the water coming out of the painting is a great transition into Narnia.

[@ArchiduquesaMA]

The silver chain twist was so unexpected when i was a child, it blew my mind

[@maxius7119]

Chain or Chair?

[@rb1691]

​@maxius7119 Bless you, mon ami. I was ferociously confused at the mention of a "chain".

[@ShadowOfCicero]

Back in the day, I wrote my college application essay about Puddleglum. His statement before destroying the chair featured.

[@davidelabarilemobile7094]

Aaaaaaah finally you are back!!! The king of fantasy recaps Is finally back!!!

[@GotA-do4ob]

On the tree, the reason the wardrobe was able to create portals was because Digory buried the teleporting rings along with the apple core, and the tree absorbed their power. Also like how you skated around the fact that everyone died in a train crash to get to new Narnia while Digory, Polly, and Emeth were killed upon entering the stable. Gotta get to heaven somehow, lol

[@claressalucas8922]

Everyone EXCEPT for Susan, because she liked nail polish and boys and stuff.

[@GotA-do4ob]

@@claressalucas8922 You're comment makes zero sense

[@claressalucas8922]

@@GotA-do4ob It makes senses if you've read the book.

[@GotA-do4ob]

@claressalucas8922 I have read the books, and no, your comment doesn't make sense.

[@JPKloess]

I skipped a lot of things, because I want people to be able to still enjoy the books and have some secrets left to reveal - if for some reason they didn't read them before watching this video

[@ren4issance-754]

Yeah, the ending had me in tears not going to lie. But it really is an exemplar of art imitating life, particularly loss, acceptance and faith (or lack thereof) even if you’re not religious, Susan’s denial of the whole thing hits really hard.

[@joaco101097]

As someone who only watched the films as a kid and never read the books, this is such an interesting world!

[@kingsmill738]

The apple tree was cut down and was made into the wardrobe, that is how it is a portal.

[@Anniegrazie14]

the resurrection of Aslan was not just about magic. It was about sacrifice. If it was Edmund, Jadis would have the right to kill him, but since she killed Aslan in place of Edmund who was not guilty of the crime, the death has no power over Jadis' victim (Aslan). jadis has no power to kill Aslan in the 1st place

[@DavidRay_40]

Jadis, not Jadin.

[@ArzybgVideeoo-ng9oc]

YES no power over.

[@BlackDiamond2718]

I love that line he said. “If a willing victim that has committed no treachery, is killed in a traitor’s stead, the stone table will crack. And even death itself will turn backwards.”

[@dmnemaine]

You missed an important aspect of "The Last Battle". The protagonists return to Narnia by dying in a train wreck.

[@mr_coffee9917]

I loved the books when young because they were everywhere in book stores but now I feel they were pretty dull with its characters. Still sure the ending was really scary as a teenager

[@JPKloess]

I intentionally omitted a lot of details because I want people to still be able to enjoy the book if they haven't read it.

[@erikaheck8261]

Omg that means Susan is still alive and lost all her siblings😢

[@mr_coffee9917]

@@erikaheck8261 ohh yes ryt! but maybe she might just be happy to have survived, hehe. I dont think Lewis Caroll thought about her or this situation

[@Radahn_is_ez]

What happened to Susan? Was she just left on Earth?

[@unkiindg]

The rings being used. Full circle. Makes me wanna read them beginning to end. Bruh. Great video. I got goosiessssss

[@englahoelstad2356]

do it!! my favourite books are the first and last one because they give so much depth and explain the "simpler" but so much more popular story of the lion the witch and the wardrobe. almost all arguments that I have heard about narnia being a dumb story with weird morals are completely overruled by paying attention to the wider lore

[@alfonsopayan09]

Felt like a little elementary kid again Good times never read the rest of the books but definitely remember the movies, such a great breath of fresh air getting more lore of childhood series

[@DeclanRhodes-v7s]

Fun and somewhat dark fact: beloved author Neil Gaiman (Coraline, American Gods, etc.) wrote a short story titled, "The Problem of Susan" that recounts the rest of Susan's life after all her immediate family has died in a derailed train crash. It's an interesting read for sure and makes you think about Susan in a different way from Lewis sorta just writing her off for forgetting Narnia and Aslan because she "fancied boys and makeup." I would love someone to make an analysis video on that too!

[@ArzybgVideeoo-ng9oc]

ooooOoooOoo

[@ren4issance-754]

Boy have I got good news for you.

[@philgamer_309]

Jesus christ that last part is insane

[@GotA-do4ob]

Actually it gets even more insane because the new Narnia is an allegory for Heaven. Digory, Polly, and Emeth were killed upon entering the stable (supposedly) while everyone else except Susan died in a train crash, bringing them all together again in paradise. The implication is that Susan will not go to heaven because she was faithless along with those Narnian's which rejected Aslan.

[@gavanhill5132]

“Further up and further in!”

[@turtleduck2085]

"The dream is over, this is the morning."

[@alicehuseland6846]

The Aslan delusion book made me chuckle

[@ArcPhaseus]

I honestly think one of the best ways to experience Narnia is through the Radio Theatre produced by Focus on the Family. It was directed by C.S. Lewis' stepson, Douglas Gresham, as a faithful audio adaptation of the original series. It really brings the books to life through stellar acting and sound effects. You'll also hear the British pronunciation for many words, including: Jadis - "Jah-dis" Archenland - "Ark-en-land" Aravis - "Air-a-vis" ... and so on and so forth.

[@JPKloess]

I think I listened to those as a kid, I remember the stepson doing introductions to the books

[@romansalas4719]

Nice to relive my childhood memories ❤️

[@ArzybgVideeoo-ng9oc]

me 🎟

[@bellamaz1972]

I remember being 10 and physically reordering these books in chronological order within their boxed set cardboard frame. Thanks for the nostalgia trip :)

[@JB-cd8eb]

I've done the same but for publication order

[@JordanGriz]

This video conjured up so many old memories and emotions. What a great story.

[@jaredjadlowski2433]

Lewis actually did put out the official order he wanted people to read them in, most Chronicles editions today have them in this order

[@mothernyx4933]

whats the order?

[@jaredjadlowski2433]

@@mothernyx4933 the order he goes in the video The Magician’s Nephew (1955) The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe (1950) The Horse And His Boy (1954) Prince Caspian (1951) The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader (1952) The Silver Chair (1953) The Last Battle (1956)

[@vincent4205]

@@jaredjadlowski2433 GRRM could learn something from CS Lewis's writing pace

[@abnercliff9624]

​@@vincent4205The narnia books are all very short. More novellas than epics like GoT

[@jaredjadlowski2433]

@@vincent4205 are you referring to Martin? I tried reading and watching GOT a couple of times, not my cup of tea

[@dashy227]

Watching this recap sent me back to read the ending of this series. I forgot how wonderful these books were, blast from the past (usually a grim dark, or violent action scifi novel reader.) What a stark contrast from the trappings of modern life.

[@JB-cd8eb]

Publication order makes the most sense for reading, I'll never change my mind. Chronological makes sense for summarizing the world's history though

[@JPKloess]

My favorite order would be lion the eitch in the wardrobe, then magician's nephew, then chronological.

[@alexwarren1637]

Loved this! Only inaccuracy I saw was your reasoning for why Emeth was embraced by Aslan. It was not bc he was a faithful servant of Tash, but bc he was always seeking the truth.

[@JPKloess]

I think that amounts to the same thing. He believed his religion was true, though it was false, and that he worshipped the True God.

[@alexwarren1637]

@@JPKloess I see what you’re saying. But I think it’s an important distinction in that sincerely held belief isn’t what ‘saved’ him, but him being a man who sincerely wanted to find the truth no matter what. People can be sincerely evil.

[@nick-np1bb]

The boy amd the horse was my favorite as it's the one that expanded the world of Narnia with different countries and cultures besides the country of Narnia. I didn't remember (or realize) that digory form the first book was the old man from the wardrobe 😅. I remember Peter, Edmund and Lucy fighting in the last battle too. I guess i was wrong and memory failed there. So the died at a train wreck in Earth instead of the battle huh.

[@JPKloess]

Yeah Peter, Edmund, and Lucy were beyond the door already and didn't participate in the fight I don't think.

[@akshaydeep30]

Peter , Edmund and Lucy not being in Narnia was already told by aslan. Peter in Prince Caspian and Edmund and Lucy in voyage of dawn treader.

[@runningcommentary2125]

I love that their entire world only existed for a few hundred years.

[@bodvarson1933]

Not true. The last battle takes place 2555 years after magicians nephew in narnia.

[@autumn3686]

No. The siblings arrive some 1000 years after Narnia's creation and come back some 1000 years after that and Narnia is destroyed in the year 2555

[@brotherhogan6880]

Its funny looking back at the movies as a adult. When your younger watching these movies you thought they where awesome and thinking that the big battles where end game/no going back situations. And indeed they are still pretty good. Especially the 2nd one which definitely brings in a lot more fantastical spectacle in the action pieces. I guess the directors tried making them was trying to make pg LOTR, but no one can achieve that.

[@JayTillaeon]

A little nitpick: after Lucy came back and told everyone about Narnia, Edmond went to the wardrobe and went to Narnia himself. It was there he saw the White Witch and she bribe him with candy (Turkish Delight) to bring his other siblings back with him, in which they listened to him and not Lucy.

[@Emperorarenicos]

The horse and his buy is one of the best narnian books

[@lorierush6561]

Agree 💯👍

[@JXEditor]

Narnia is a bit like Star Wars, in that you should save your Chronological experience for the second time and begin with the order in which it was released.

[@DarkestKnightshade]

Nah

[@JXEditor]

@ Cool talk, brah

[@quokkkan]

I remember reading The Last Battle at 13 and my heart dropped in shock when one of the Pevensie siblings said: “My sister Susan is no longer a friend of Narnia.” and the transition from Old Narnia to New Narnia. It was then I realized how similar it is to the Revelation in the Bible, as I was reading much of the Bible at that age as I am Catholic and still am now but not as devout. I don’t know… those scenes were quite striking to me from the series.

[@Kyumifun]

You forgot to mention how 'Father Chrismas' gave Lucy both the healing potion and a dagger/knife. The knife is what Edmund would have gotten if he didn't betray the group. A dagger is a very obvious symbolism of backstabbing, which adds to Ed's parallel to Judas. I do love that he got redeemed in the end but also got a new gadget in the next adventure which was the ever so almighty ...flashlight. No dagger. Instead of (back)stabbing, he now uses the light of God to guide him and the group.

[@Gabelebabele]

That's a great observation

[@itscarlsanity]

As a person who enjoyed and have only known the movies, this made me want to read the books. Time to rewatch, I guess haha. Also, reading the comments made it much more interesting. The fact you only have 10k subscribers is criminal to me, you deserve more recognition.

[@JPKloess]

I wouldn't say deserve. I make like one of these videos a year. That's probably too few. 😅

[@lara1208-b1p]

what a great summary! succinct and accurate!

[@oxoelfoxo]

definitely agree with the librarian that pub-order is the right way to read the books!

[@Rudnaz_127]

*slowly revealing the middle finger, with all due respect included*

[@Blaize24]

Agree. That's how they were sold (in a set and in the illustrated omnibus later on) when I was a kid. It was only decades later that the publisher started selling them in chronological order.

[@jedirayden]

They should be read in published order, but only because CS Lewis makes references to the previously published books in the later books. If not for that one detail, I would completely agree that the correct order is 6, 1, 5, 2, 3, 4, 7

[@DavidRay_40]

​@@jedirayden wait, which book is six in your list?

[@ArtsofZhen]

The order makes much more sense. I'm going to read it again. Thank you.

[@disintegratesintobinary655]

Waiting for this to blow up. Amazing video

[@JamesDoesStuffGood]

Excellent video, keep it up!

[@DavidRay_40]

If you're reading Chronicles of Narnia for the very first time, the best reading order is as follows: 1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 2. Prince Caspian 3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 4. The Silver Chair 5. The Horse and his Boy 6. The Magician's Nephew 7. The Last Battle Publication order is the BEST order for first-time readers. The reasons? 1. The beginning spoils the ending. 2. Chronological grouping doesn't make sense. 3. Some lines don't make sense chronologically. 4. Publication order mattered to Lewis. 5. New readers like _Wardrobe_ better. 6. Narnia is a journey, Lewis is our guide. (Credit to the KZbin channel Into the Wardrobe. Watch his video about the correct reading order for more info on the subject.) If you're a veteran reader of the series, then I suppose chronological order would be okay. But for first-time readers, the order listed above is the BEST order.

[@JPKloess]

I agree that lion the witch and the wardrobe is the best first, but after that I think chronological makes the most sense. Go back and read Magician's Nephew, Horse and His Boy, then Prince Caspian. It's the clearest narrative.

[@DamZ1428]

Actually the best order is : 1. The Last Battle 2. The Silver Chair 3. The Magician's Nephew 4. Prince Caspian 5. Voyage of the Dawn Treader 6. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 7. The Horse and his Boy

[@SilverScribe85]

Susan, I think is an example of how one can "grow up" the WRONG way. Growing older doesn't mean forsaking the memories and joys of your youth

[@lostvarius]

She’s mainly a great example of Lewis’s misogyny

[@momomo768]

He couldn’t have a happy ending for everyone. Had to give one last self righteous kick to his daughters and grandchildren by saying “hell is full of little girls who like lipstick and dresses!!”

[@Expyrial]

​@@lostvarius Nope, Susan was his self-insert

[@Expyrial]

​@@momomo768 Not at all, he was saying she lost her way. He never said she was irredeemable

[@lostvarius]

@@Expyrial it can be both you know. Where did he say she was his self insert ?

[@garyhughes1664]

Thank you for this wonderful summary of one of my favourite series.

[@dwilborn1257]

Silver Chair is my favorite. It's a lesson in trust. Plus Puddleglum is the best original character Lewis created.

[@Warzi]

Really underrated channel

[@planes3333]

Thanks for making the video it was nostalgic going back to Narnia.

[@rubenvandebelt8979]

Why are you not more popular yet? you make amazing videos.

[@JPKloess]

Thanks, and probably because I only upload like one of these a year

[@clarissagafoor5222]

not just Narnia - our world too! read till the very end of the Last Battle.

[@danielbaldwin5756]

All I remember about the silver chair is at the end they just go "oh that snake lady must have been the white witch. Weird" with no further explanation

[@frankievalentine6112]

My brain just shuts off around Trumpkin. Luckily I was in the play of Magicians Nephew so I get that part! But everything after the wardrobe is just gobbledegook to me at this point.

[@tybehny5722]

First time readers need to end with the Magicians nephew, not start with it. While reading the Chronicles of Narnia in chronological order can be good for understanding through-lines, The Magicians Nephew is a book of spoilers for those who have yet to read any of the previously written books, especially for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. If you do read The Magicians Nephew first, beware: you will still enjoy the story that remains, it just loses that luster of mystery, intrigue, and wonder. Think of it as... forbidden fruit.

[@JPKloess]

Magician's Nephew is good anywhere except as the ending. It has to go before last battle at the absolute least, since last battle references it.

[@evaleo7306]

This video is so well made and i keep coming back to it ❤

[@LemonBreadPie]

I was mad when Susan turned her back on Narnia because she was my favorite from The lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

[@BlackDiamond2718]

Mine was peter surprisingly. But now i feel like i lean more on lucy and edmund.

[@InvaderCom]

The Christian overtones in these books are a lot stronger than I remembered.

[@AerChungus]

This was brilliant! Thank you!

[@IainTheJust]

Publication order makes more sense to me than the chronological order. The prequels were actually written in a sense as if you already knew what happened next and/or could be a spoiler. It’s a long time ago since I read it and I was still a kid.

[@davidesquivel4326]

If they could do the magicians nephew like they did fantastic beats , I’d be down

[@Telmarine55]

Many people prefer to read the books in publication over. I read them in publication order but I agree with you 100%. The books should be read in chronological order. I remember reading them in publication order and was frequently confused by the constantly shuffling timeline by reading them in publication order. Thank you for your intentionally vague summary.

[@MultiAnikan]

I was told all the kids died IN a train Only Susan Survivors Im confused

[@JPKloess]

Correct.

[@YouDontKnowMeSoYouDontKnowJack]

Susan wasn't on the train.

[@JPKloess]

@@YouDontKnowMeSoYouDontKnowJack which is why she survived

[@bouel2709]

Not only them, but also the brothers' parents Poor Susan, she lost her brothres, cousin, sister, foster father and parents in the same day

[@JordanGriz]

You forgot the major plot twist when everyone died.

[@JPKloess]

Gotta leave some twists for people to enjoy who might still read it.

[@a-s-greig]

​@@JPKloessyes, because that's an "enjoyable" twist. 😆

[@mekbebtamrat817]

C S Lewis would weep if he heard the summary 'based and Aslan-pilled' of his work. Gen Z Shakespearean level work right here.

[@JPKloess]

I'm not so sure he would. Were he acclimated to our culture he might think it funny. This is the man who showed up to a non-costume party as a polar bear.

[@mekbebtamrat817]

@@JPKloess Weep tears of joy* 🤣🤣😂

[@ryttyr14]

This made me realise that The Horse and His Boy and The Last Battle are the only two books in the series I've not yet read. (The Horse and His Boy because I didn't realise the story started in Narnia and not on Earth and thus I was so confused about what was going on I stopped reading, The Last Battle because I just never got around to reading it)

[@ScorpionIII]

One little mistake in Dawn Treader - the island where water turns things and people to gold wasn't named Goldwater(though this name was suggested by Caspian while he and Edmund started to go gold crazy for a moment), it was named Deathwater at the suggestion of Reepicheep. And Aslan wasn't Jesus, he was Jehovah.

[@JPKloess]

Aslan is Jesus, while his father across the sea is clearly God the Father. The three persons of the Godhead are Jehovah.

[@gargoyles9999]

Aslan refers to an emperor in LWW and acts annoyed when Lucy asks if Aslan can work against his magic

[@DavidRay_40]

​@@gargoyles9999 that was Susan, not Lucy.

[@DavidRay_40]

​@@JPKloess Jehovah is another name for Jesus. And Aslan is not literally Jesus; He is the form Jesus would take in Narnia if it were a real place. The Godhead, contrary to popular belief, are made up of three separate and distinct Beings: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The first two have bodies of flesh and bones, while the Holy Ghost is only a spirit, though God has promised Him thst He will get a physical body. Not the mortal kind that we have, but the kind that God has, one of flesh and bones.

[@JPKloess]

​@@DavidRay_40 "Aslan is not literally Jesus; He is the form Jesus would take in Narnia if it were a real place. " God the Son is identical with the person of Jesus, so it's true to say that Aslan is supposed to be Jesus hence "there I have another name" which Aslan tells Lucy. "The Godhead, contrary to popular belief, are made up of three separate and distinct Beings: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost. " I don't know how that's contrary to popular belief. That's just ordinary trinitarian doctrine in most forms of Christianity. "God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The first two have bodies of flesh and bones, while the Holy Ghost is only a spirit, " God the Father does not have a body, nor will he ever have a body. I'm not sure if you misspoke here or what you meant.

[@Rathause]

Forgot to mention how all of the protagonist characters died on Earth in the final book and their souls were brought to Narnia, and then paradise.

[@WatchMeWatchStuff]

Awesome recap. But I am like your librarian, also consume stories in publication order! Lol

[@enzorossi9853]

Awesome video man, i wish youtube had a super like button or something, i would use it here, maybe top 3 videos I have seen this month, maybe the best actually

[@niiickwalsh]

This is the first time I’ve heard anyone agree with the publishers bizarre decision to number the novels chronologically. I thought I’d misheard when it started with that. (Stopping to read A Horse and His Boy before finishing The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe??? Yeah sure. That’s totally what everyone does.)

[@JPKloess]

I don't think I ever suggested you stop reading Lion to switch to reading Horse and His Boy, it was just easier to explain the chronology that way.

[@minicle426]

Something interesting I found out. The anime, Digimon Adventure, was loosely inspired by Narnia.

[@clich6673]

I’m still mad we only got 3 marina movies, could have been an amazing series

[@JPKloess]

It was going off the rails by the third one - they forcefully injected an overarching narrative that conflicts with the adventure seeking original.

[@Grokford]

I still think order of publication. Is best, because later context informs what you’re reading. The Magician’s nephew is better when you know what it’s leading towards, I think it’s what creates the tension.

[@momomo768]

If you ever want an acid trip for free - watch the original movies. ESPECIALLY the Silver Chair. Free nightmares for years 😅

[@countcampula]

The implication that they all got beheaded was pretty dark. As was how Peter/Edmund lost their lives in a train accident

[@Volnas97]

"Former children" I believe they're called adults.

[@BlackDiamond2718]

Not the adults in my society. 😂😂

[@jazzi11xa]

I hope they make more film or series adaptations of the rest of the books

[@knightofsvea604]

"I aint fighting that." 7:51

[@Jackool-69Sixty96]

Basically, Jill and Eustace just wanted to avoid bullies and somehow got themselves on a slew of adventures (courtesy of Aslan) because of that xD

[@BlackDiamond2718]

Love how eustace was a pain in the ass and then he gets dragged into narnia with his cousins.

[@DavidRay_40]

15:06 - "Digroy"???

[@rosariograsso1659]

You should definitely read them in publication order! There are way to many spoilers if you read them in chronological order

[@Reepicheep-1]

Good summary, thanks. 'Don't read in publication order, but chronoligical.' Man is bad and should feel bad.

[@sebastian-k3x]

this is amazing. good job!

[@jumpingpeppers2263]

I only read the first book eons ago in elementary school. It's interesting the learn of the whole series. It would be neat if you did the same thing for his (C.S.Lewis) Space Trilogy.

[@ArzybgVideeoo-ng9oc]

i want to visit caspian sea now

[@BlackDiamond2718]

“Prince Caspian Sea.” “Prince Caspian Sea. Yes i thought you might.”

[@cora1334]

"They meet Father Christmas which is British for 'Santa'"

[@symbolguy3609]

So even though Susan went to Narnia twice, and lived there for 15 years, she fooled herself into thinking it was all childish imagination, because she pursued womanly interests? Even J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) and Phillip Pullman (His Dark Materials) criticized this.

[@oremstale8558]

It wasn't because she persued womanly interests, it was because she focused more on earthly things and rejected narnia. The rest of her actions are just a result of that lost connection to Narnia

[@draleks9112]

​​​@@oremstale8558rejected Aslan* and never tried to "know Him by another Name." And we all know that Name is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God and Savior. The Only begotten Son of God. Who "if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord you shall be saved." Because "God so loved the world He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." "All who put their trust in Him shall never be ashamed." "All who call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved."

[@sillythewanderer4221]

I do not think that prioritizing sex and parties above loving siblings are particularly good “womanly interests” There are two things keeping Susan from entering Narnia. 1. she hasn’t died yet. 2. Her vices. If she were to die without abandoning vice, then we have no certainty about her final fate. If she were to die after abandoning vice, then she probably would enter Narnia. Although we do not know if she dies as a friend of Narnia, as her death is not portrayed in the books. I think that we can reasonably hope that in the end Susan will die as a friend of Narnia.

[@lara1208-b1p]

I always sort of read Susan as a parallel for someone who believe in a religion when they are younger and loses their faith when they are older, becoming more invested in this Earth than the next life. But, there were also shadowlands, or afterlife versions of Earth where their parents went. So maybe Susan would go there when she dies? If she 'got to know Aslan by another name'?

[@GameAholicsVideo]

Susan doesn't disbelieve in Narnia -- she can't get back, and has therefore moved on and developed other interests. The real question is why Peter is still devoting so much time to Narnia!

[@Wyll77]

Please do the Hyperion cantos

[@dalecooper9942]

So, Prince Caspite is mentioned in two books of the series

[@Alphapkmn]

1:27 I thought Aslan was Jesus, while the Emperor Over Sea I think it was called, was God

[@JPKloess]

Exactly, I'd say that the Emperor over the sea is supposed to be God the Father

[@John_the_Paul]

Jesus is God

[@kiakaha307]

1 God in three persons

[@YoungMule]

Would love to learn how the story of narnia is an allegory in depth

[@zachfromthe1900s]

The chronological order was never intended and never made sense. It was basically a BS marketing gimmick by a publisher long after Lewis’s death.

[@JPKloess]

If you want to read Magician's Nephew after Lion that's fine, I just really object to reading the rest out of chronological order - which is what one has to do if you follow publication order. It seems a little stupid. Edit, it seems Lewis agrees with me. He wrote a letter to a fan suggesting the chronological order: www.reddit.com/r/Narnia/comments/whoj41/official_reading_order/

[@GameAholicsVideo]

It's also the reason the Chronicles of Narnia's popularity has waned. Do not start with the Magician's Nephew. Start with the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

[@alexwolfeboy]

I honestly only knew there was more than one book to this universe, because of the show The Magicians which uses this as like … the plot for several seasons I think.

[@aschmidty11]

I’ve never really understood why Eustace got to go back to Narnia in the Last battle while Edmund and Lucy could not

[@lycaon6467]

And my dumbass thought Aslan in the real world was Winston Churchill

[@thebawse15]

no way lmaooo. aslan pretty much is the abrahamic god here

[@BlackDiamond2718]

@@thebawse15i saw him more like jesus but yeah.

[@bentogomes944]

I don't understand how could he turn such a beautyful story into something so resumed. I think if you haven't read the books yet this is a fine resumed version of it, since the guy leaves out some interesting parts. But, doesn't matter who you are or what do you know, DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIES! They just destroy our whole image upon Lewis' genious mixing the mythical with the reality of Aslan. Well done JP Kloess, CS would be proud. Still I'd leave the first part out since it is important to read the books

[@jessicab5888]

You need to do the wheel of time series

[@JPKloess]

I tried to read eye of the world and got too bored to finish it. From everything I've heard about that series, that's one of the easier reads; I doubt I'd make it through the whole series.

[@doggofighter8024]

read the first 3 books, the quality and enjoyability dropped massively so I dropped the series

[@JPKloess]

I think the series is Pretty consistent in terms of quality; Lewis' work is pretty similar across the books.

[@doggofighter8024]

@ i mean kinda sad that in the second and third books (idk about the rest) the inhabitants of narnia are humans as well. also how was it that in the 1st book it takes max few hours to 70 years pass in the narnia yet the king from the second book is alive and well by the time of the third and why was there a book „are humans real” when all the neighouring kingdoms were ruled by humans

[@JPKloess]

@@doggofighter8024 Maybe you need to reread. The presence of humans is explained in the books

[@doggofighter8024]

@ yeah its been like 7 years

[@موسى_7]

So the White Witch of Ni No Kuni is inspired by Narnia. Cool.