Why C.S. Lewis set The Magician’s Nephew in 1900

In a new adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, the setting appears to be shifted from 1900 to the 1950s, a change that could alter one of Narnia’s most iconic symbols: the gas-lit lamp-post. In the original text, the lamp-post is a powerful symbol of the ordinary becoming extraordinary and is deeply rooted in the Gothic literature of the 19th century. This article explores the potential ramifications of this timeline change, the historical context of London’s streetlights, and the profound symbolism of the lamp-post as a beacon of divine light that guides characters and readers alike toward Aslan.