Hello all! I am finally getting to a book review! I'm only going to cover chapters 1-5 today. Be sure to read the other Narnia posts, if you haven't done so already!
Title: Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia
Author: C.S. Lewis
Published: Originally published in 1951, it has been re-printed many times over the years. The particular copies I am reviewing are the same ones Dad read to us over the years, they are pretty old and falling apart! :-) (My brother Andrew has a newer copy with all the books in one collected version, however, I am still reading the old ones. :-)) Anyway, this particular copy is printed from Collier Books sometime in the 1970s.
Background Information: See other posts on C.S. Lewis and Narnia. Also, overall I like Prince Caspian, but it probably isn't my favorite in the series. Still has lots of humor though! :-)
Prince Caspian...
Here is how the first couple of pages start...
"Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, and it as been told in another book called The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe how they had a remarkable adventure. They had opened the door of a magic wardrobe and found themselves in a quite different world from ours, and in that different world they had become Kings and Queens in a country called Narnia. While they were in Narnia they seemed to reign for years and years; but when they came back through the door and found themselves in England again, it all seemed to have taken no time at all. At any rate, no one noticed that they had ever been away, and they never told anyone except one very wise grown-up. That had all happened a year ago, and now all four of them were sitting on a seat at a railway station with trunks and playboxes piled up round them. They were, in fact, on their way back to school. They had travelled together as far as this station, which was a junction; and here, in a few minutes, one train would arrive and take the girls away to one school, and in about half an hour another train would arrive and the boys would go off to another school. The first part of the journey, when they were all together always seemed to be part of the holidays; but now when they would be saying good-bye and going different ways so soon, everyone felt that the holidays were really over and everyone felt their term-time feelings beginning again, and they were all rather gloomy and no-one could think of anything to say. Lucy was going to boarding school for the first time." (p. 1-2)
After this, we learn that the railway station where they are is basically empty except for the kids. Lucy suddenly cries out (the book describes it as "like someone who has been stung by a wasp" (p 2)). Soon all of the children are crying out and feel as if they are being "pulled" Edmund says that it must be magic, and all the children hold hands and suddenly the railway station disappears and they are in a "woody place." Lucy wonders if they are in Narnia! After some difficulty they get out of the wooded area and find themselves on an island. They are delighted and begin wading in the water. After a bit, Susan points out that they need to "make some plans." A lengthy discussion ensues about what food they have and how they will find food, the four of them then do some exploring and they find a stream and some apple trees. They determine that the island must have been inhabited at one time. Soon they find some ancient ruins of a house and begin exploring, and they all have the feeling that somehow this place is familiar. They realize that it reminds them of their old castle at Cair Paravel!
They realize it is getting late and begin making preparations for the night, building a fire and eating the apples. Susan goes to get a drink from the well and comes back with a chess piece, and they recognize it as one of their old pieces from when they used to reign in Narnia. Peter says: "Now, it's about time we four started using our brains." (p. 16) Peter tells them that they are at the ruins of Cair Paravel! They discuss this at length and Edmund points out that they've only been gone a year though.
They remember that there should be a door, if they are at the right place, after some exploring and tearing down some ivy, they create an opening and with Edmund's new "electric torch" (flashlight) they go in! After going down some stairs, they find themselves in the treasure chamber. They recognize things and realize that that they really are at Cair Paravel! Remembering that they don't want to waste the battery, they gather up their gifts, Peter's sword/shield, Susan's arrows, and Lucy's bottle. Lucy notices that Susan's special horn is not there though. Susan says: "Oh bother, bother bother, I remember now. I took it with me the last day of all, the day we went hunting the White Stag. It must have got lost when we blundered back into that other place--England, I mean." (p. 24) (I love how she says "blundered back into that other place--England I mean" :-) ) They feel disappointed by this, as they are sure the horn would've come in handy for them. Peter wonders if Susan's bow strings still work, and Susan tests them, and they do! Peter looks at his sword, and remembers how he killed the wolf with it, then they all remember again about the battery and go back up the stairs. They all get settled on the ground for the night.
Chapter 3 begins:
"The worst of sleeping out of doors is that you wake up so dreadfully early. And when you wake you have to get up because the ground is so hard that you are uncomfortable. And it make matters worse if there is nothing but apples for breakfast and you have had nothing but apples for supper the night before. When Lucy had said--truly enough--that it was a glorious morning, there did not seem to be anything else nice to be said. Edmund said what everyone was feeling. "We've simply got to get off this island."" (p.26)
They begin discussing how to leave the island, swimming is suggested, however Lucy and Edmund can't swim well. Lucy wonders if since they were able to swim in Narnia last time if they would remember how to now. The rest are doubtful though, since they were grownups back then. Something occurs to Edmund and begins talking about how that it's only been a year since they left, but it looks like it has been hundreds of years since anyone lived at Cair Paravel, and when they got back home the last time, hardly any time had passed. He concludes by saying: "And that means, that once you're out of Narnia, you have no idea how Narnian time is going. Why shouldn't hundred of years have gone past in Narnia while only one year has passed for us in England?" (p.28)
The others are excited about this idea and agree with it. They are interrupted when they see a boat with two soldiers inside and someone tied up. The children hide and watch what happens. The soldiers are about the throw the tied up person (a Dwarf) overboard, when Susan shoots an arrow. Both soldiers are so frightened that they leave the Dwarf in the boat and swim away!
Peter and Susan rush into the water to bring the boat to shore and Edmund cuts the Dwarf loose. When the Dwarf is free he says: "Well, whatever they say, you don't feel like ghosts." (p. 30) He also tells them that he is "obliged" to them. Lucy wonders why they would be ghosts. The Dwarf then tells them that there has been rumors of ghosts on this island for years, which is why the soldiers left as fast as they did. :-)
The children ask why they were going to drown the dwarf, and he tells them that it is a long story and asks about having some breakfast. They inform him that all they is apples, and the Dwarf suggests fish. Peter is somewhat disgusted with himself for not thinking of that before. So, they all go in the boat, and catch some fish, and then have a somewhat messy breakfast of fish and apples. :-) The children also take the time to show/tell him about the castle ruins. Finally breakfast is finished and the children asks him for his story. He tells them that he is a messenger of King Caspian, the children want to know who he is, and says "Caspian the Tenth, King of Narnia, and long may he reign!" (p. 35) Then the Dwarf says "That is to say, he ought to be King of Narnia and we hope he will be. At present he is only King of us Old Narnians----" (p. 35) The children interrupt and the Dwarf tries to explain. The Dwarf finally realizes that he is not explaining it well, and starts at the beginning. Chapters 4-7 then change gears and we begin learning about Caspian.
The Dwarf begins his tale, he starts out when Caspian is little, and we learn that Prince Caspian lives in a castle with Uncle King Miraz and his Aunt Queen Prunasprismia. (how would you like a name like that girls?? :-)) His parents are dead and the book says "the person whom Caspian loved best was his nurse" (p. 37) We also learn that Caspian does not care much for his Aunt and Uncle. He takes walks with his uncle about twice a week, and during one of these walks, his Uncle tells him that soon they must teach him to "ride and use a sword" (p. 38) When his Uncle asks how he would like that, Caspian, isn't sure. and tells his Uncle that he wishes he "could have lived in the Old Days" (p. 38). His Uncle is surprised by this, and questions him further, and Caspian says,
"When everything was quite different. When all the animals could talk, and there were nice people who lived in the streams and the trees. Naiads and dryads they were called. And there were dwarfs. And there were lovely little Fauns in all the woods. They had feet like goat.
And--" (p. 38-39) The King interrupts and tells him that's all nonsense, and stuff for babies. He tells him that "At your age you ought to be thinking of battles and adventures, not fairy tales." (p. 39) Caspian disagrees, and begins going on some more about Aslan, the White Witch, the Kings and Queens (Peter, Susan Edmund, and Lucy) his Uncle interrupts him again, and wants to know who has been telling him "all this nonsense." Caspian doesn't want to tell, but is forced to admit that it is his Nurse. The next day, Caspian learns that his Nurse was sent away and now he is to have a "Tutor."
We learn about how Caspian is very upset about his Nurse being sent away, and is convinced he won't like this Tutor. However, he surprised to learn that he does! The book describes the tutor as: "the sort of person it is almost impossible not to like. He was the smallest, and also the fattest, man Caspian had ever seen. He had a long, silvery, pointed beard which came down to his waist, and his face, which was brown and covered with wrinkles, looked very wise, very ugly, and very kind. His voice was grave and his eyes were merry so that, until you got to know him really well, it was hard to know when he was joking and when he was serious. His name was Doctor Cornelius." (p. 41)
We also learn that Caspian liked his History lessons the best from Doctor Cornelius. We learn more about Caspian's ancestors, and that they aren't native Narnians, but are Telmarines. Caspian begins asking many questions and Caspian gets the idea that the "Old Narnia" stories about talking animals are true, but Doctor Cornelius doesn't admit this, because it is too dangerous, the lessons turns from History to Grammar. Caspian is excited and thinks that Cornelius will tell him more another time.
A few days later, Cornelius takes Caspian out at night to give him an Astronomy lesson. For a couple of pages the book goes on about the Astronomy thing Cornelius took Caspian to see, and then Cornelius tells him that there was another reason he brought him up there. Before he begins talking thought, he tells Caspian that they can never discuss what he is about to say anywhere but at this place, "the very top of the Great Tower." (p. 46) Doctor Cornelius then tells Caspian that everything he has heard about the old Narnia is true! But the Telmarines have now silenced the talking beasts and "are now trying to cover up even the memory of them." (p. 47) Cornelius makes a comment at one point, and after some discussion, Caspian is shocked to realize that his Tutor is actually...a dwarf! Caspian is delighted and Cornelius tells him that he is "not a pure Dwarf. I have human blood in me too." (p. 48)
Cornelius then tells Caspian why he told him these things. One reason is because he has wanted to tell someone for a long time and second reason is "that when you become King you may help us, for I know that you also, Telmarine though you are love the Old Things." (p. 49) Caspian then learns some more things, and we also learn that the Telmarines are afraid of the sea because "they can never quite forget that in all stories Aslan comes from over the sea. They don't want to go near it and they don't want anyone else to go near it So they have let great woods grow up to cut their people off from the coast. But because they have quarrelled with the trees they are afraid of the woods. And because they are afraid of the woods they imagine that they are full of ghosts." (p. 50-51) Cornelius talks some more, and then tells Caspian that they must to back to bed. Caspian is disappointed, but complies.
In chapter 5 we learn more about how Caspian and Cornelius have more secret conversations, and how Caspian begins learning sword-fighting, riding, etc. in addition to his lessons with Cornelius. Caspian also begin observing things about how his Uncle is reigning Narnia, and that the people seem unhappy. One night, Cornelius wakes Caspian up and tells Caspian to leave. Caspian is confused, and Cornelius explains that his Aunt, the Queen, has just given birth to a son and his Uncle will be wanting to kill Caspian! Caspian is very confused, and Cornelius explains how Miraz is a usurper and that Caspian should be the true King. Cornelius goes into some detail how Mirax accomplished getting rid of "all the great lords who had known your father." (p. 55) The only part I'll quote, since it comes up later, is when Cornelius says: "And finally he persuaded the seven noble lords, who along among all the Telmarines did not fear the sea, to sail away and look for new lands beyond the Eastern Ocean, and as he intended, they never came back." (p. 56)
Some more discussion occurs, and Caspian learns that Miraz also killed his father. Caspian has to go on his own, since it would be too dangerous for Cornelius to come too. Cornelius gives him several things, one of which is a horn. Cornelius tells him that it was Queen Susan's and tells him: "It is said that whoever blows it shall have strange help--no one can say how strange. It may have power to call Queen Lucy and King Edmund, and Queen Susan and the High King Peter back from the past and they will set all to rights. It may be that it will call up Aslan himself." (p. 58) Caspian is further instructed to use it in his greatest need.
Caspian heads off and for the next couple of pages it goes into some detail about his ride, a storm, etc. Caspian eventually Caspian rides into a tree, hits his head, and becomes unconscious.
When Caspian eventually wakes up, he hears voices talking about his and how they should kill him. Caspian asks that they be kind to his horse, and he is informed that his horse rode away before they found him. Caspian soon realizes that he is in a cave and there is a (talking) Badger name Trufflehunter, who is the nicest, a Dwarf named Nikabrik, who wants to kills Caspian, and another Dwarf named Trumpkin. A good deal of talking goes on for several pages, and Caspian eventually explains that he wants to stay and that the King wants to kill him. Nikabrik gets upset when he learns that Miraz is Caspian's Uncle and is about to kill him when Trumpkin tells him to behave, or Trufflehunter and himself will "sit on his head" :-) (p. 65)
More discussion happens, and after some arguing, it is decided to let Caspian stay.
I will try to get to some more of the book later this week, but no guarantees! Hope you have a great week!
