The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia S.)

I enjoyed this cassette, being very fond of C S Lewis's series of magical stories. The quality of recording was excellent but I cannot agree with the review which states Kenneth Branagh "gives the best reading of this unabridged version imaginable". I must protest that he did not. The story is surely "pure magic". However, articulate and smoothly read as the book was, there was no sense in Branagh's rendering of the extraordinary and exciting nature of the events taking place.I did not feel he engaged with the story with any commitment at all. As to his reading of the female parts "leaving something to be desired (especially Jadis)" : this is to put it very kindly.How could anyone read this book aloud without conveying the ghastliness, noisiness and power of whis awful woman? This is surely an essential ingredient for this and the stories to come.In many places the expression was misplaced losing the whole sense of what was said, again giving the impression that the reader was only partly interested. This is a thrilling story which Mr Branagh's half commited rendering did not manage to extinguish thank heavens, but I am at present trying to check to see if he has read the sequel, the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. If he has, then I will use a different story CD for the car and read it to my grandchildren myself!

one of the best ever children's novels, magnificently read. (12/14 people found this helpful)

The Magician's Nephew is the first novel in the seven Narnia stories by CS Lewis, and one of the best. It tells how the world of Narnia was created by Aslan, but what precedes it is almost as exciting.

Diggory and Polly live in the Edwardian London of long ago, "in the time when the Bastables were hunting for treasure and Mr. Sherlock Holmes still lived in Baker St." They meet because neither goes away for the summer holidays, and Diggory's mother is dying. His uncle is thought to be mad,but in fact turns out to be a weak but evil magician, who tricks Polly into putting on a magic ring that will take her out of our world and universe. Diggory follows her, and they discover the Wood between the Worlds, where innumerable pools leads to other worlds.
Plunging into one of these, they find themselves in the accursed and dying land of Charn, where Diggory wakes the Empress Jadis - the future White Witch. It is when they try to return her to Charn, after a hilarious but terrifying day with her in London, that they stumble upon Narnia - and the hope that Aslan may give Diggory's mother a fruit to make her well again.

Kenneth Branagh gives the best reading of this unabridged version imaginable. Although his women (especially Jadis) leave something to be desired, the characters of Diggory, Uncle Andrew, Aslan and all the animals spring into life. It kept my children absolutely quiet for three hours, even though the 7 year old had just read it himself. Pure magic.

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The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia S.)

C. S. Lewis

Reader Reviews:

A wonderful tale but read with apathy (9/12 people found this helpful)

one of the best ever children's novels, magnificently read. (12/14 people found this helpful)

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