Prince Caspian

C.S. Lewis was mocked by his colleagues at Cambridge for publishing children’s books, but The Chronicles of Narnia are still in print and widely read after seventy- five years.  In the second book in the series, Prince Caspian, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are called back to Narnia by the magic horn Susan left behind on their first visit. Though according to English time they’ve only been away for a year, in Narnia hundreds of years have passed and their glorious castle, Caire Paravel, is in ruins, a usurper is on the throne and Caspian, the rightful heir gathers true Narnians, including the four children, to take back the kingdom.

But his army of talking animals, dwarves, mythical creatures, and children are no match for Miraz. That is until Aslan arrives on the scene. 

To those of you who’ve read or watched The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, this second tale is every bit as charming. Lewis drops in a few items of particular interest to adults in this one, as in this conversation between Susan and Lucy: “Such a horrible idea has come into my head, Su.”

“What’s that?”

“Wouldn’t it be dreadful if some day in our own world, at home, men started going wild inside, like the animals here, and still looked like men, so that you’d never know which were which?”

Lewis never talks down to children, nor does he over-simplify life. His characters, human and animal alike, face real conflict with high stakes. Unlike so many stories pitched to kids these days, no political agenda lurks underneath the surface. Lewis’s theme, that virtue triumphs over vice, is unambiguous and refreshing.  

 Peace to my subscribers!

Have a blessed week!