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.
