Pamela Bruce

C. S. Lewis: "Prince Caspian" (The Chronicles of Narnia)



Posted: Wednesday, March 29, 2006

by
Love Beads Unlimited

f you recently watched the movie "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", you might be aware that C. S. Lewis wrote a total of seven books about Narnia:
  • The Magician's Nephew
  • The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
  • The Horse and His Boy
  • Prince Caspian
  • The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
  • The Silver Chair
  • The Last Battle"Prince Caspian" begins one year after the events in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" on a railroad platform where Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy are waiting for trains that will take them to their boarding schools. Suddenly they are transported into another world, and after a few adventures they realize that it is the land of Narnia, where many centuries have passed in the meantime.

    The second plot line involves young Prince Caspian, true heir to the throne of Narnia, who has to flee from his usurping uncle Miraz. Deep in a forest he discovers some of the "Old Narnians" - talking beasts and dwarfs - and eventually decides to challenge his uncle for the kingship.

    Things turn out bad for Caspian and his small army, and they end up besieged on Aslan's How, a hill built over the site of the ancient stone table that played such a crucial role in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". In dire need, Caspian uses his most precious object, Queen Susan's Horn, to summon help.

    This review does not want to give away too much more of the plot and spoil the reader's enjoyment, so let me just say that the two plot lines intertwine, there are thrilling battle scenes (including a formal duel) and a wonderful celebration at the end.

    Lewis does a great job of showing the gradual re-transformation of the four children, who once again turn from being English schoolchildren to becoming Kings and Queens of Narnia.

    To me, "Prince Caspian" is one of the three best books in the Narnia series, together with "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "The Magician's Nephew". In many ways, it repeats themes from "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", but adds an interesting perspective by having the events of the earlier book become the stuff of legend.

    • Pamela Bruce lives in Austin, TX. She is the owner of Love Beads Unlimited and sells the sterling silver and Swarovski crystal bead jewelry she designs and creates on her website at http://www.lovebeadsunlimited.com, where you can also download the free e-book "A Consumer's Guide to Buying Bead Jewelry Online".
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    Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)
    » left by Ashley Aitken from Los Angeles, CA 5 years 306 days ago.
    This is such an informative article! In my search for information on these books (only having read The Lion, the witch, and the wardrobe about twenty times when I was 12), this information made me excited about seeing the next movie.
    » left by Kelly Arrington
    from Cranberry Twp. PA     5 years 286 days ago.
    A very good book but a little hard to understsnd. Read it a few 100000 times. Read all of the boks in CS Lewis's order not in the order on the books. The book is ment to be read many times not just once.
    » left by raekwon
    from new jersey     4 years 324 days ago.
    can I get more facts
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