The Chronicles of Narnia – what order?

Which comes first—the wardrobe or the magician?

C. S. Lewis published one Narnia book a year from 1950-1956, in this order:

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Prince Caspian
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
The Horse and His Boy
The Magician’s Nephew
The Last Battle

At some point, Lewis allegedly told someone that the books should be read in chronological order, beginning with The Magician’s Nephew.  Alhough I usually agree with authors about their own work, I think Lewis was suffering from temporary insanity 😉 if he really said that.

Does anyone know where that’s documented?  (Other than on the copyright page of the new rearranged editions?)

Lewis wrote The Magician’s Nephew with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in mind, and I don’t see how someone who isn’t familiar with LWW could possibly appreciate all the nuances of Nephew.  The planting of the lamppost, the revelation that Digory grows up to become a Professor, and the use of the timber from the Narnian tree in a wardrobe are much more powerful when the reader can experience that magical moment of recognition.
I don’t think the placement of The Horse and His Boy really matters all that
much, but The Magician’s Nephew is sooooo much richer when you’ve already
read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  I can’t imagine entering Narnia for the first time by any means other than the wardrobe.

Mary Jo Tate

P.S. – As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.  In fact, you’re welcome to make a case for putting The Magician’s Nephew first if you like. I’d be interested to see the other point of view.