Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY THE YARNIA OF NARNIA..
Celebrating 70 years since East Belfast author wrote first book in famous series
THE 70th birthday of classic fantasy novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was celebrated yesterday.
The first published book in The Chronicles of Narnia series, created by East Belfast author CS Lewis, it has become a favourite for children and adults across the world.
It tells the story of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, children evacuated during the Blitz who are taken to the magical world of Narnia through a wardrobe.
There they meet popular characters such as Mr Tumnus, Mr and Mrs Beaver, the White Witch and Aslan.
Many of them can be seen around CS Lewis Square, off the Newtownards Road, which is dedicated to the author and his work.
The Eastside Partnership Trust, which helps organise the annual CS Lewis Festival which takes place next month, has been honouring the occasion by hiding seven copies of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe along the Connswater Greenway.
It has also placed Narnia-themed painted rocks along the greenway and is encouraging others to create and leave their own. Using #Narnia70, it is also sharing information about CS Lewis and the book.
O p e ra t i o n s ma n a g e r He a t h e r Chesney said: “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is an iconic book and one of Lewis’ best known works.
“Many people will have fond memories of reading it growing up and using their imagination to conjure images of the interesting characters created by East Belfast-born author CS Lewis. “These characters were the inspiration for CS Lewis Square, which we developed as part of the Connswater Community Greenway.
“CS Lewis Square, with seven Narnia-inspired sculptures, provides a great opportunity for lo cal s and v i sitors, young and old, to rediscover Narnia right in the heart of East Belfast.”
The partnership also runs the CS Lewis Trail on which you will see CS Lewis Square and The Searcher statue, as well as some of the locations that were instrumental in the author’s life such as Dundela Avenue, St Mark’s Church, Little Lea, Belmont Tower and Campbell College.
The CS Lewis Festival, which includes talks and tours, takes place from November 19 to 22.