Quote:
Originally Posted by DrNefario
I have a memory that my childhood boxed set of Narnia was numbered in internal chronological order, and I presumably read them in that order.
I can't speak to the reliability of that memory.
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That was later editions. I have had three versions as I bought my first boxed set in 1966 and one later set was a USA import (unlikely in UK, but happens in Ireland). The 1965 edition listed the original order on the back of the case, the later editions had numbers.
He did hold back at least one book till another was published. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Dawn Treader and the Silver chair were written in that order and are chronological. The Horse and His Boy has the Pensivies as adults with cameo appearance and Narnia barely features.
It does make some sense to read in internal chronology at least after the first reading. I was disappointed to discover (eventually) that he was dead and thus there would be no more inbetween books like The Horse and His Boy. Died same day as US President Kennedy so probably hardly made the news. But even that I only knew about in 1966 because a neighbour had a commemorative plate on the wall.
It's also a rare case where a USA edition of a UK/Irish author (he thought of himself as Irish) is better:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vo...rican_editions
Lewis made the revision to US edition.