C.S. Lewis week: "The Horse and His Boy"

During the reign of High King Peter, Queen Susan, King Edmund and Queen Lucy of Narnia, there lived in Calormen the land to the south of Narnia by the sea a boy named Shasta. One day a great lord came to his house and offered to buy Shasta from his father. It is then Shasta learned that his father was not his real father at all but he found Shasta as a baby early one morning on the shore in a boat.

Shasta did not want to be sold into slavery to the lord and tried to figure out how he could escape, then he learned that the stranger’s horse is really a talking horse from Narnia named Bree. Bree offered to help him escape and head to Narnia. Shasta agreed and the two began their journey. One night they were chased by lions and met a girl named Aravis who was also trying to escape to Narnia on a talking horse named Hwin. The four agreed to travel together to Narnia.

The Horse and His Boy is the fourth book C.S. Lewis wrote of the “Chronicles of Narnia” series, though it was published fifth. The events of the book take place during The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe however when the books are published in chronological order it comes third. As I have said before “The Chronicles of Narnia” are my favorite series of books, of the seven books this is my seventh favorite, which is not the same as my least favorite. I enjoy this story but I like the other books more.

While the spiritual themes of this book are less obvious than some of the other books in the series they are still present. Shasta, Bree, Aravis and Hwin all feel they do not belong in Calormen and long to be in Narnia where they know their lives will be better. As Christians this world is not our home, and we long for our true home in heaven.

Note: This week I am highlighting “The Chronicles of Narnia” to read about the other books of the series click on their titles: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Magician's Nephew, and The Last Battle.

If there is a book you would like reviewed please write it in the Comments section.

Soli Deo Gloria!