Narnia is marking a major milestone. It is 75 years since the fictional land first appeared in print, with the publication of CS Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe happening on 16 October 1950.
Since then, it has reportedly sold more than 115 million copies globally and been translated into around 60 different languages.
The popular novels feature children being transported into a magical country full of Christian symbolism, most notably in the lion Aslan, who represents Christ.
To mark the 75th anniversary, Radio 4’s Today programme brought together former Archbishop Rowan Williams and acclaimed novelist Francis Spufford who both spoke of the enormous influence of the whole Narnia series.
The Royal Mail has also issued eight commemorative stamps. Two depict scenes from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, while the other six stamps each represent an event from one of the other books in the series.
Meanwhile, TV streamer Netflix is developing new live-action adaptations of the Narnia stories, beginning with The Magician’s Nephew, which tells of the origin of the land. The film is set to be released in cinemas in late November next year. Director Greta Gerwig, known for the films Little Women and Barbie, among others, has reportedly said: “I’m slightly in the place of terror because I really do have such reverence for Narnia, I loved Narnia so much as a child.”
