C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis is an author and academic. The Belfast-born author of the Chronicles of Narnia. This page is a short guide for parents, teachers and young readers: who they are, which of their books we recommend and where to start.

About C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis, born Clive Staples Lewis on 29 November 1898 in Belfast, died on 22 November 1963. He was a scholar who taught at Oxford and Cambridge.

He wrote the seven Chronicles of Narnia between 1950 and 1956, beginning with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. His books for adults include Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters.

C.S. Lewis’s books in our all-time classics list

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950): number 5 in our best children’s books of all time. Four children step through a wardrobe and find a snowy land called Narnia.

Other well-known books and work

• The Chronicles of Narnia (seven books, 1950 to 1956)
• Mere Christianity
• The Screwtape Letters

Awards and recognition

• The Last Battle won the Carnegie Medal in 1956

Where to start

Start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Frequently asked questions about C.S. Lewis

Who is C.S. Lewis?

C.S. Lewis, born Clive Staples Lewis on 29 November 1898 in Belfast, died on 22 November 1963. He was a scholar who taught at Oxford and Cambridge.

Which books by C.S. Lewis are on your all-time list?

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (number 5). See our best children’s books of all time.

Where should I start with C.S. Lewis?

Start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Biographical details are drawn from publisher biographies, reference works and the author’s own site, and may have changed. The illustration is our own and is not a likeness of the author. See all the authors.