The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (1950) I first knew when a teacher read it to us at school. I didn't then understand the Christian theme in it, and that C S Lewis wrote it from a Christian perspective. I wonder what kinds of books teachers now expose their charges to, not sure I want to know.

Four children enter a magical land trapped in winter, but a winter that never has a Christmas Day. It is this magic that spoke to me, the Witch pouring sorcerous drops to create Turkish Delight, the alien street light glowing in the woods, Mr Tumnus's comfortable cave. Aslan breathing on petrified giants to revive them. The wardrobe which sometimes was just a wardrobe, and sometimes was not.

This is fantasy in a tradition of fantasy. Good versus evil. Prophecies coming to fulfillment. People (in this case children) discovering their great purpose. Strange beasts like talking beavers with sewing machines. The redemption of the world.

I still feel Aslan's dying was a little cheating, if you you're going to be resurrected then dying isn't so meaningful? Perhaps the humiliation of having your mane shorn off is worse?