Book Appearances: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Overview: The books in Mr. Tumnus’ cave-home are a small but memorable sign that Narnia is a literate, cultivated world, something richer than a wilderness of talking creatures.
What they show about Tumnus
The books tell us Tumnus has a private life before Lucy ever walks in. He reads. He keeps a home. He has tastes and habits that make him feel like a person, not a stock faun from a storybook.
That helps set the tone of Lucy’s first evening in Narnia. The cave feels cozy and civilized, which makes the later danger hit harder.