For some reason (I’m not sure why) The Horse and His Boy was not on my
radar as one I would particularly enjoy. I have a dim memory of one of my
brothers not liking it much, but I couldn’t very well skip it, now could I? And
now, knowing what I do, I would never have forgiven myself if I had.
I think the most off-putting thing
at first is the fact that the lead character is not a Pevensie, or even the
relative of a Pevensie. But Shasta is a hero in his own right. The slave-son of
a poor fisherman, Shasta sets off on a grand adventure to flee to Narnia and escape
his country of Calormen with Bree, a talking Narnian horse. Another escapee and
her talking Narnian horse join them
on the way. Each of the four traveling companions has their own flaws and
strengths. Each has to learn how to cooperate and “play well” with the others,
often in the face of impossible circumstances. The teamwork their journey
requires brings about a level of character growth that stands out even from the
other Narnia books.
While on the surface the plot
sounds a bit thin (simply leaving their country doesn’t sound that
interesting), the setting and background plots were what really grabbed me.
Calormen is frequently talked about in the other Narnia books, and at least you
get to visit it. Lewis built quite a beautiful country, though it is a sharp
contrast to Narnia – a pagan desert land, ruled by Tisrocs and Tarkaans (this
land’s version of sheikhs and sultans), reigning in magnificent palaces while
their people live in squalor.
Add to the setting a conspiracy
against the Narnian kings and queens, the Pevensies, a plot to force Queen
Susan to marry against her will, and the possibility of a three-nation war, and
I found myself glued to this book.
As with the other Narnia books, I
saved a few of my favorite quotes, some meaningful, some simply comical.
Natural
affection is stronger than soup and offspring more precious than carbuncles.
…In
Calormen, story-telling (whether the stories are true or made up) is a things
you’re taught, just as English boys and girls are taught essay-writing. The
difference is that people want to hear the stories, whereas I never heard of
anyone who wanted to read the essays.
Strong
hands wrenched [his] sword from him and he was carried away into the castle,
shouting, threatening, cursing, and even crying. For though he could have faced
torture he couldn’t bear being made ridiculous.
…Draw
near. Nearer still…Do not dare not to dare.
Aravis
also had many quarrels (and, I’m afraid, even fights) with Cor, but they always
made it up again: so that years later, when they were grown up, they were so
used to quarrelling and making it up again that they got married so as to go on
doing it more conveniently.
I have to say, that last quote may
be my all-time favorite variation on “and they all lived happily ever after.”
"Do not dare not to dare" is one of my favorite quotes EVER! I LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteThis was also one I had to learn to love. :D (My favorites being LWW & Voyage of the Dawn Treader with Caspian being a great intro to Reep.)
I do prefer Pevensie adventures but they are all just fantastic.