Hey, everybody! Welcome back to Tumnus’ Bookshelf, where we review any and all books written by, about, and inspired by CS Lewis, The Land of Narnia, and The Inklings. For this special edition review we will be looking at the brand new release The Chronicles of Narnia Deluxe Edition: 7 Books in 1 Hardcover Edition.
Title: The Chronicles of Narnia Deluxe Edition: 7 Books in 1 Hardcover Edition.
Author: CS Lewis
Illustrator: Pauline Baynes.
Publisher : HarperCollins
Publication date : October 28, 2025
ISBN-10 : 0063451905
ISBN-13 : 978-0063451902
This year marks the 75th anniversary of CS Lewis beloved classic The Lion , The Witch and The Wardrobe and the stewards of his story, Harper Collins publishers has been pulling out all the stops. While the new paperback editions feature some of the best cover art I’ve seen in a long time, probably on par with Chris Van Allsburg’s work from the early 2000s. However, there is little need for me to review the seven books themselves, nor is there need for me to summarize the stories, having already done so here for the site.
For me, as a life-long Friend of Narnia, real highlight is the release of a brand-new edition of the Narnia omnibus, featuring all seven books in one volume. There has certainly been a lion’s share of these collected editions for the past few decades or so, many of which included trade paperback editions that featured poster art from the movies. Few of these however, truly felt like “special“ editions of the books, as if they belonged on a shelf alongside collected volumes of Hans Christian Andersen or the Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales, something that truly celebrates how these books have been loved and cherished by generations of readers for 75 years.
Until now. In an age in which books for children and young adults seem to favor pseudo-anime look, or generic stock photos, this deluxe edition for The Chronicles of Narnia maintains a timeless feel that reminds readers that this is a classic story. There’s a sense of weight and texture to the book that seems to be alive with memory.
The pages are emblazoned in red, with a symbol corresponding with each of the seven books running down the side, from the Ring that took Digory into that other world in The Magician’s Nephew, to the Wardrobe from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, all the way down to Tirian’s sword form The Last Battle. Further beneath the dust jacket on the books deep red cover, is Pauline Baynes timeless illustration of the Wardrobe emblazoned in gold and seemingly beckoning the readers to come in for the adventure.
Even the binding is stunning featuring a Celtic inspired interlocking ring, giving the book a perfect mythic resonance. This isn’t just a children’s fantasy story, or even a bedside fairy tale. These books are truly modern day myths that deserve a place alongside The Illiad, The Odyssey, the Prose Edda, The Poetic Edda, The Mabinogion, the Kalevada, The Fall of King Arthur, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Finally, the foil emblazoned cover image of Aslan gives the dust jacket an almost magical feel of motion and in many ways it makes it feel like the Magician’s book in Voyage of the “Dawn Treader”, drawing you into this story. I can safely say I have not been this excited to pick up a copy of the Narnia books nor have I been so drawn into them since my mom first ordered our paperback boxed set from a school book order. I gives me the same sense of magic and wonder that I did in the winter of 1994. If you don’t already have a collected edition of all seven books in one volume, then place this one on your Christmas list. You’ll be glad you did, as it is certain to make you fall in love with our beloved land of Narnia all over again.
Five out of Five Shields.
Order the book from Amazon.com
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