Recently Read: The Horse and His Boy, by C.S. Lewis

The Horse and His Boy is probably the least essential of the Narnia books (in its chronological narrative), but it's a rousing adventure nonetheless, distinct by virtue of it being from the viewpoint of someone who lives in the world of Narnia, but was not raised Narnian.

The protagonist, Shasta, has a ruthless Calormene father and steals away to Narnia on a talking horse, Bree. Bree turns out to be one of Lewis' strongest characters, a brave, haughty friend who is as flawed as any human. Along the way they combine forces with a young lady, Aravis, also escaping on a talking horse. They eventually cross paths with Aslan and the grown Pevensie children. Even old Tumnus makes a guest appearance.

For those who find satirical jabs at other cultures intolerable, The Horse and His Boy may be what's now euphemistically called problematic. Otherwise, it's a quite enjoyable and suspenseful romance.

Pin It

Tweet

Recently Read: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader strikes me as the most melancholy of the Narnia books I've read so far; it benefits from being the one book in the series without a clear villain and is simply a picaresque voyage to the end of the world (aka Aslan's country).

Like Edmund in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, newcomer to Narnia Eustace Scrubb undergoes a change of character as the narrative proceeds. Most of the book takes place aboard the ship the Dawn Treader, led by Prince Caspian, who's attempting to find the seven lost Lords of Narnia (see the book, Prince Caspian). The islands explored and adventures undertaken are by turns disturbing, exciting and amusing. A standout is Lucy Pevensie's creepy journey through the upstairs quarters of a magician named Coriakin.

The novel culminates in a remarkably metaphysical setting, as the Dawn Treader can literally go no further into the end of the world and Lucy, Edmund, Eustace, and Reepicheep journey on into the strange, dreamlike, lilly-filled water in a small boat. One could argue that Aslan's country is as much a metaphor for mortality as heaven and Reepicheep's mysterious fate brings a poignancy to bear that most children's novels don't attempt.

Pin It

Tweet

Recently Read: The Silver Chair, by C.S. Lewis

The Silver Chair is an epic tale that stands in good comparison with C.S. Lewis' other Narnia books. Eustace Scrubb (from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader) and a bullied classmate, Jill Pole, are sent on a mission by Aslan to find Prince Caspian's son, Rilian, held under the spell of a snake-like witch.

Their journey introduces them to a classic and hilarious character, the gloomy Marsh-wiggle, Puddleglum, brings them to a creepy castle of giants, and then to an vividly described underworld kingdom, where a revolutionary plot is being put forth in motion on a grand scale.

To tell more would be to tell too much. Best that Lewis himself entertain you with it.

A side note: I'm continually and alternately amused and a bit saddened by the jabs and criticism of the Narnia books by younger readers who see threatening un-PC ideologies at work in the books. One review I just read said: "The writing style of the book continues to stink of the date of its publication". I can only say in response A) in the course of human history, a book written in 1953 was written practically yesterday. Blame the author if you must, but don't blame the date of its publication. B) Writer H.L. Mencken defined Puritanism as "The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” Similarly, hyper-sensitive reviews of Narnia lead me to think some readers have the haunting fear that someone, somewhere may think differently than they do. Getting used to the idea of diversity, though, is an essential part of maturation.

Pin It

Tweet

Recently Read: Prince Caspian, by C.S. Lewis

I'm in the minority when I write that I enjoyed the second Narnia book C. S. Lewis wrote,
Prince Caspian (1951), better than the first, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (though the initial inspired sequence of Tumnus under the lamp post, holding a package under his arm, may be the most resonant image of the entire series). Prince Caspian has classic political intrigue, as Caspian, suppressed by the usurper to the throne, Miraz, doesn't realize it's he who is destined for the throne.

Prince Caspian takes place 1,300 years after The Lion..., but only one year in British time. When Caspian calls back the four Pevensies, they're still children, but up to the task to battle for the soul of Narnia. As with The Lion..., Lewis creates wonderful characters, morally shaded. I especially appreciated the scenes of the gods Bacchus and Silenus which, with their intimations of the irrational and primal, create a thematic British link between the crazy modernist ending of G.K. Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday (1907) and Patrick McGoohan's exuberantly surrealistic ending of The Prisoner (1968). In any event, Prince Caspian is worth the reading, and rereading. The illustrations by Pauline Baynes are also delightful.

Pin It

Tweet

Recently Read: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, First Edition Replica

This edition of C.S. Lewis' classic children's fantasy is a reprint of the first, 1950 edition. Pauline Baynes' charming and evocative original illustrations are all included (they were truncated, or not used at all, in many later US editions).

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe's classic status is due to many reasons, foremost being that Lewis tells a relentlessly compelling story, with characters flawed (thus, true to life) and engaging, told in homey, confidential language. The world of Narnia seems infinitely exploratory. Atheists may dislike the transparent central allegory. That's okay; there are hundreds of thousands of other books for them to read. This book's emotional resonance is such, though, that only the most hard-hearted curmudgeon could put up a shield against it.

Pin It

Tweet