Little is known about the Golden Age of Narnia. All that most people know is that it began when the Pevensies defeated the White Witch and ended when the kings and queens stumbled upon a lamppost and returned to their world. But we do have a single chronicle concerning an event that happened during those golden years. However . . . it does not start in Narnia.
Far away in the South of Calormen, a young boy named Shasta lived with a cruel fisherman named Arsheesh. Shasta’s life takes a different turn when he discovers that a Tarkaan’s horse is actually a talking horse from Narnia. Together Shasta and Bree the horse run away to the North, never imagining the adventure they would go on, nor who they would meet.
After a terrifying race from two lions, the runaways meet two similar to themselves: Aravis Tarkeena and her talking horse, Hwin. Their journey went fairly well until they reached the capital, Tashbaan. Shasta finds himself mistaken for Prince Corin and taken with the visiting Narnians. He overhears King Edmund and Queen Susan’s plans to escape the evil Prince Rabadash and his proposal to Susan. Aravis falls in with an old friend, Lasaraleen, who helps her and the horses get out of the city. However, she doesn’t escape until she overhears Prince Rabadash making plans to attack Archenland and steal back Queen Susan in revenge to the escape of the Narnians. Can Shasta, Aravis, Bree, and Hwin cross the vast desert and great mountain in enough time to warn Archenland’s king of the impeding massacre? Will Rabadash be successful in his vengeance? And why do Shasta and Prince Corin look so much alike?
I would dare to say that this story could almost be considered the lost book in the Narnia series. Not because it was the last book or that it was literally lost. Just simply because, it is difficult to place it the line up of the other books. This book quite honestly is somewhere in the middle of the last chapter of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Between “. . . and her own people called her Queen Lucy the Valiant.” and “So they lived in great joy . . . .” Despite this however, The Horse and his Boy is a wonderful addition to the series.
For two boys, now men, this book is extra special. One especially loved the Narnia books, and both were privileged to meet the author. After they and their mother became friends with C. S. Lewis, the creator of Narnia presented the boys with the manuscript. Special surprise, he had dedicated the book to the boys: David and Douglas Gresham. Many years later, Douglas Gresham would be the host for Focus on the Family Radio Theater’s dramatizations of all seven Narnia books.
C. S. Lewis crafted this tale in 15 chapters with roughly a hundred pages. Once again, Pauline Baynes captures the amazing Eastern-like Calormen styles and the familiar Narnian scenes. Once again, the page estimates are based off of a seven-in-one book compilation with missing illustrations. Though technically the third book, it is actually the fifth to be written.
If one is hoping to find Biblical parallels, that may be a challenge. I think that I came across something that maybe suggested echoes of Esther? Or maybe you can find Moses. I also believe that it is the only Narnia tale that doesn’t include any real mention of our world. Anyway, I greatly encourage you to read this book. It is a wonderful story. Or find Focus on the Family Radio Theater’s adaption and listen. Amazing either way. I would definitely give it five out of five dragons for storytelling and ending.
Until next time. Bye.
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