Today, we are looking at the final Chronicle of Narnian history. It is both the bitterest and the sweetest of the series. I’ll try to share without giving too much away.
We are immediately introduced to Shift the ape and Puzzle the donkey, two Narnian friends who live near Cauldron Pool on the far west border of Narnia. They live an unusual life of Shift coercing Puzzle to do various chores or errands like a servant instead of a friend. Their relationship takes a very different turn when they come across an old lion skin. A short time later, King Tirian and his friend, Jewel the unicorn, are speaking of the possible return of Aslan, however Roonwit the centaur reveals troubling facts that indicate that the rumors are lies. Though reluctant to believe it, the king and unicorn slowly realize that the stargazing centaur spoke the truth. Calormens are enslaving Narnians, murdering and buying Talking Trees, and . . . answering to Shift? Alone and awaiting the judgement of “Aslan,” Tirian calls upon the Great Lion and the heroes from beyond the world. Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole are the answer to Tirian’s pleas. Together they gather a handful of allies, but will it be enough? Are the Calormens really here peacefully? Is there something more sinister among Shift and those in his council? And is Narnia doomed by the presence of the demon god of Calormen, Tash? Or, may the true Aslan have something far better in mind?
C. S. Lewis doesn’t back down from the fact that this is the end of Narnia as we know it. The opening words are “In the last days of Narnia, . . . .” King Tirian is introduced as “. . . the last of the Kings of Narnia . . . .” So even if the reader (or listener of the audio drama) just skims over those words, C. S. Lewis wasn’t afraid to be up-front that we are reading about Narnia’s version of the End Times. However this didn’t stop the book from becoming a favorite of the series among some readers. It even won the Carnegie Medal for children’s books the year it was published. For me, if it had ended near the end of Chapter fourteen: “Night Falls on Narnia” or the audio track of the same name, track 5 of the third disc, The Last Battle wouldn’t have had a chance of getting on my favorites list. Essentially we witness the death of Narnia, a world we have only ever really known as this wonderful, almost innocent place. Thankfully, the story continues so that we see a more beautiful ending than if Tirian, Jewel, Eustace, Jill, and the rest had defeated Tash and the Calormens.
Now where I would feel excited to possibly see The Magician’s Nephew and The Horse and his Boy on film, I would be nervous about this becoming a film. It’s not that I don’t think it would be good if done by the right people, but I have just heard of a couple different stories drawn out too long. (I am especially considering the Hobbit films released in 2012–2014. To my understanding the final film is dedicated to the large battle at the end of the one book of this film trilogy was based on/inspired by.) If I was to be completely honest, I may be slightly disappointed at the ending even if they remain true to the book and C. S. Lewis’s beliefs simply because . . . fallen, mortal man and faulty programs could never truly capture the beauty and perfection of a holy Heaven, based on Narnia or not. But I could settle for the film makers staying true to Aslan’s true identity in our world.
The book can be seen to be largely inspired by the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. And like the book of Revelation, it can be dark and scary at times, but the final chapters of both are beautiful and uplifting.
This was the seventh and final Narnia book written by C. S. Lewis and illustrated by Pauline Baynes. Lewis said that the stories had just stopped telling themselves and that seven was a good number. With the tale spanning roughly a hundred pages and divided into sixteen chapters, I’d say that this is a fine end to the series. A well-earned five out of five dragons.
As for the copy I have been basing my numbers off of this entire time, I shall now review and rate it. My now worn copy is black with a beautiful gold lion face on the front. The pages number at 768 and contains all seven Chronicles of Narnia. My only disappointment is the absence of many of Ms. Baynes’s illustrations. This brings the overall book to four dragons out of five.
I highly recommend The Last Battle and this seven-in-one Narnia book to all. Narnia fans, C. S. Lewis fans, Inklings fans (Lewis and Tolkien were members), or classics fans are sure to enjoy. However if you would like not only the stories but also all illustrations, look into buying the books individually or in a seven book set. Nostalgia may make me partial to the leather bound editions but simple hard- or paper-back editions should work too.
Until next time. Bye.
Other titles in the series:
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