Years ago, it used to be that the British edition of The Chronicles of Narnia were numbered chronologically and the American edition were numbered in publication order. Yet, of course now, every edition of the books are only available chronologically (If you prefer to read them publication order, please feel free to do so. Just ignore the numbers on the spine.)
This thread will focus on LWW, since there had been revisions or changes from the British edition and the American edition.
Some notable ones are:
In the first chapter, the Pevensies discuss on what animals there could be. In the British edition, Edmund says foxes and Susan says rabbits and in the American edition, Edmund says snakes and Susan says foxes. I wonder if that since both foxes and snakes have a reputation of being sneaky and foxes has been known to be smart.
The name of the Chief of the White Wich’s Secret Police goes by two different names in each edition. In the British edition, his name is Maugrim and in the American edition, his name is Fenris Ulf. “Maugrim” might suggest “savaging jaws” and “Fenris Ulf” could be in reference to a Scandinavian folklore.
In the chapter where the White Witch and Aslan are having a conversation about the Deep Magic at the Stone Table, she says something different each edition. In the British edition, she says “the fire-stones of the Secret Hill” and in the American edition she says the trunk of the World Ash Tree”.
Some might wonder why couldn’t CS Lewis just left it alone. Though there were probably some reasons for these changes, right?
"And this is the marvel of marvels, that he called me beloved."
(Emeth, The Last Battle)
Topic starter
Posted : January 7, 2025 2:12 pm
Col Klink liked
Years ago, it used to be that the British edition of The Chronicles of Narnia were numbered chronologically and the American edition were numbered in publication order. Yet, of course now, every edition of the books are only available chronologically (If you prefer to read them publication order, please feel free to do so. Just ignore the numbers on the spine.)
I'm not certain this is true — does anyone have solid evidence for it? My 1960s / '70s paperback editions of the Chronicles are British (Puffin Books) and they're not numbered at all, but inside the books, the titles in the series are given in publication order. They're also listed in publication order on the side of the case (it's an early box set).
As far as I know, the chronological order only started being printed on / in the books from the 1980s onwards. I assume both British and American editions received this change at the same time, although I'd be interested to know if it did happen at different times. But I've never heard that before, if so.
The original differences between British and American editions occurred because of some technical reason — I think Lewis's American publishers demanded a change of typesetting or something similar (I know I've read the details in a Narnia commentary book, but can't remember which one, so it'd be good if someone has accurate info there), and Lewis took the opportunity to make some changes for the American editions. It's not clear exactly why, as almost none of the changes are substantial, and none of them are obvious things like changing typical British terminology to American.
It's also possibly worth noting that the British editions were also the ones sold in Commonwealth countries (Australia, New Zealand, Canada etc.), and that the "American" alterations were never made retrospectively to later editions published in Britain. In recent years — I think since some time in the 1990s — all new editions of the Chronicles, including ones published in America, have contained the original "British" texts.
I've always been pretty much baffled as to why Lewis made such minor and apparently unnecessary changes for the American market, so it'd be interesting to know if somebody's found definite reasons!
"Now you are a lioness," said Aslan. "And now all Narnia will be renewed."
(Prince Caspian)
Posted : January 7, 2025 3:33 pm
Col Klink liked
I actually have a book called Inside Narnia by Devin Brown and while it does give insights about the LWW book itself and it's an interesting read, it doesn't have anything on why CS Lewis made minor or unnecessary changes for the early American edition. Though I reckon that commentaries aren't always reliable
So it will be interesting to hear what others say if they've found any reason for those changes or revisions.
"And this is the marvel of marvels, that he called me beloved."
(Emeth, The Last Battle)
Topic starter
Posted : January 7, 2025 8:00 pm
@jasmine_tarkheena Devin Brown is a modern writer. It would be better to look in earlier commentators for explanations.
25 years ago we did discuss this on Into The Wardrobe forum, but I can't currently quote or suggest who to read. (I'm away from home and could look into some of my books in a week or two.)
There, shining in the sunrise, larger than they had seen him before, shaking his mane (for it had apparently grown again) stood Aslan himself.
"...when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards."
Posted : January 8, 2025 1:12 am
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