The Chronicles of Narnia : The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe — The Blitz : An Overview

In the opening to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (first published in England in 1950, just five years after World War II ended), C. S. Lewis makes spare mention of the air raids over London, the historical event that opens the film. The bombings of London by Hitler's air force began September 7, 1940 and ended May 11, 1941. Some 30,000 Londoners were killed in the intense bombings. C.S. Lewis knew that even referring in a children's book to "the Blitz," as this period of intense fire-bombing was known, would instantly telegraph to readers the enormous danger faced by the four Pevensie children. (In fact, during the War more than one in ten air raid victims were under the age of 16.) Lewis made mention of the Blitz to stir readers' imaginations from war-time reality toward a deeper understanding of the battle between good and evil the Pevensie children face in Narnia.

For modern-day readers unacquainted with the book's historical backdrop, it may be necessary to build background about the Blitz. See the opening lesson "The Blitz" in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Educator's Guide.

Online Resources:

To read more factual information about the air raids see "The London Blitz, 1940" at www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/blitz.htm.

The Museum of London has a vivid online Blitz exhibition titled "Remembering the Blitz" featuring facts and figures, stirring photographs, eyewitness accounts by survivors, and much more. See www.museumoflondon.org.uk.

The Imperial War Museum's Online Collection includes detailed catalogue information for over 160,00 items from the Museum's collecting departments, images of over 3,000 highlights from the collection, photographs, works of art, aircraft, vehicles, objects, and selected soundbites from its Sound Archive. See www.iwmcollections.org.uk, especially the section titled "Civilians."

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