C.S. Lewis loved horses. He once said, “I’d sooner have a nice thickset, steady-going cob that knew me and that I knew how to ride than all the cars and private planes in the world.” (He’s no Judith Tarr, though! Be sure to check out her excellent SFF equines series here at Tor.com!)
Lewis wrote the entirety of The Horse and His Boy in 1950. So this book, the fifth of the Narnia books to be published, was the fourth to be completed (The Silver Chair was written partially before, but finished afterward). It’s also the third chronologically, taking place during the final few pages of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. He and his publisher considered a few other titles, including Shasta and the North, Narnia and the North, Over the Border, Cor of Archenland, The Horse Bree, and The Desert Road to Narnia. It seems to me they chose wisely.
We could spend a lot of time debating exactly what this book is about—much like The Silver Chair, it feels like a straightforward adventure book—but Lewis has kindly let us know in one of his letters that he sees this book being centered on “the calling and conversion of a heathen.” Which, oh boy, we’re going to need to unpack that in the posts to come!
The story centers on a young man named Shasta who has grown up in faraway Calormen, a vaguely medieval dream of Central Asia and the Middle East. He lives a life of near-slavery in a small hut until he discovers, by accident and on the eve of being sold into actual slavery, that there is a talking horse named Bree (full name Breehy-hinny-brinny-hoohy-hah) who desires to run away to Narnia, across the northern desert. Shasta jumps at the chance, and together they head for freedom and the dream of an enlightened medieval Europe that is Narnia. Along the way they encounter lions, meet a horse and her girl, escape jackals, and set out from the tombs of Tashbaan for life and freedom in the North.
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There are a few topics of particular interest to pay attention to as we enter this story. One, notice the shift in Lewis’s presentation of the feminine in this book versus the other Narnia books. Something is certainly changing here. Marriage is talked about in a different way (still not particularly positive); Aravis takes on some interesting attributes as a hyper-competent young woman. We also get some important foreshadowing of what’s to come for dear Susan in The Last Battle. An interesting sidenote: Lewis dedicates this book to the children of his future wife, Joy Davidman. They had begun corresponding in January of 1950, and Lewis’s brother tells us that Jack thought of her as “a most interesting American woman” from that first letter. Lewis wrote the book before he knew her well, but had met her and the children by the time publication rolled around.
Interestingly, Ms. Davidman was a recent convert to Christianity, and it’s tempting to think the theme of this book might have been influenced by her letters. It’s unlikely, though, given the speed at which Lewis was writing and the freshness of their acquaintance. Nevertheless, we get a much different picture of Aslan in this book, as we see him through the eyes of some Calormenes and displaced Narnians who don’t know much about him. If you’ve never read this book before, be sure to flip through once you hit the end and study the ways that Aslan is presented and how he’s talked about by the Calormenes.
Pay attention, too, to Lewis’s treatment of race and ethnicity in this book. Obviously, this book isn’t a treatise on race, but there are some clear indicators of his thoughts about those heathens to the south of Narnia (it’s not all negative…Lewis is far too interested in literature and other cultures for that. So keep an eye out for the things he loves about Calormen as well.).
If you’re reading along with us, here are a few more things to watch for and note as you read The Horse and His Boy:
- This is a tale about conversion, which Lewis believes is the end result of honest exploration. Pay attention to how curious Shasta is, and how often he asks questions.
- Be watching for themes of twins, reflections, siblings, doubles, mirror images (like Shasta and Aravis, Bree and Hwin).
- Look out for the “split self”…partings and reunions, opposites coming together, and the appearance of a singular Person in more than one place at a time.
- If you haven’t read the story of Moses recently, your enjoyment of The Horse and His Boy will likely be enriched by a refresher—Shasta’s story echoes that of Moses.
- Lewis clearly spent some time re-reading the Arabian Nights stories when he was building Calormen. Be watching for some echoes of those stories.
- This is a book about messages, good news, stories, and the power of words. Pay attention to the enormous number of flowery speeches, and who gives them.
- Keep an eye on those Pevensie kids. This is the clearest we see their reign during the Golden Age of Narnia and there are some fun callbacks to the original book (including the story as understood by the Calormenes!).
As always, I look forward to the conversation with all of you. I am thankful for your insights, your comments, and questions. See you here in a couple of weeks. To Narnia and the North!
Matt Mikalatos is the author of the YA fantasy The Crescent Stone. You can follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.
This is a fun book. It’s never been my favourite of the Narnia books(probably 6 of 7?), but every time I re-read, I’m a bit surprised by how much I enjoy it. (But I’m biased, there are very few Lewis books I dislike. Actually…can’t think of any at the moment! Miracles is probably the one I’ve enjoyed the least of his that I’ve read, but that’s partly probably me being aware that Lewis is addressing arguments that are not as prevalent in today’s culture).
Anyways! Sorry for the digression and thanks for the prompting of things to think about as we dive into this one. I’m eager to read your thoughts!
As a kid this one and The Last Battle were difficult to get into, possible because the BBC had not adapted them and they lack the charm of The Magician’s Nephew. When I got older I found it to be a much easier read. Looking forward to the discussion going forward as always.
Lewis clearly loves the fact that Calormene children are taught to tell stories. He spends a lot of time on the beauties of Tashbaan and the palace. The place is clearly not all bad. It exists in the perfected Narnia of Aslan’s Country suggesting it’s basically good just problematic in spots.
The Horse and His Boy has always been one of my favorites. As a kid, I liked that we were instantly in the world of Narnia. There is no time spent in our drab world, or pages spent describing a newcomer to Narnia’s reactions. We are off to the races at once.
I think having all the central characters of the story be from this magical land, and not from ours, makes the Narnian world also seem much more real. The four thrones in The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe Cair Paravel make it seem that Narnia was created just for the four Pevensie children to rule. The various animals and beasts seem to exist just to interact with these children from England. In the Horse and His Boy we learn that everyone from this magical world–man, myth or beast has a soul and that boy from Archenland is just as real as a boy from England.
And Aravis just rocks. She’s practically a Mary Sue she’s so cool. But Lewis gives her a very real and believable flaw, so she is back to just rocking.
@1/Sonofthunder. It’s probably the most straightforward and fast paced of the books. It was fun to read!
@2/Perene. I’m looking forward to it too! I am so interested at all the people who have such fond attachment to the BBC adaptation and looking forward to watching those when the series is done.
@3/princessroxana. I agree completely that Lewis loves the culture and especially the storytelling of the Calormenes. And Aravis is a straightforward hero as much as any other kid in the Narnia books.
@4/templar. I love Aravis! She definitely rocks!
This and Prince Caspian are my favorites and this is my favorite favorite.
@6/SaintTherese. I just favorited your comment about your favorite favorite!
THE HORSE AND HIS BOY is, in fact, one of my particular Favourites from this series – I’ve long been surprised that it has never received a cinematic adaptation, since it’s one of the most self-contained and straightforwardly adventurous of all the novels.
Also, Prince Corin Thunder-Fist is hilarious (I’m just relieved that he and Reepicheep never got a chance to meet, since the an alliance of the inexhaustibly gallant and the thoughtlessly adventurous would probably wreck fantastical amounts of havoc across the Lands of Narnia et al).
This one is my favorite of all the Narnia books. Lewis was a really good storyteller, and it shows, as soon as he is not busy with heavy-handed religious allegories. Not that there is no religious purpose here, as Mr. Mikalatos explains, but it’s much more subtle than in other books. Here, Lewis allows himself to tell a ripping adventure, without Aslan appearing to spoil the fun (he appears, but doesn’t spoil the fun). I also enjoyed the cameos of the Pevensie kids.
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@9/Ed. Prince Corin is great. I love how he rejoice at being a prince forever! Now I really want to read the time-traveling adventures he and Reepicheep had that were never published.
Also since Aravis has been (rightfully) praised so much, I’d like to give some respect for Shasta. He’s a good kid, and he believably does the right thing almost all the time. Interestingly, his few faults are largely chalked up to his impoverished background. In many stories, the characters who are poor are generally shown as virtuous, courteous and intelligence. Shasta has virtue in spades (how he got it is a good question), but he is ill-mannered and his ignorance hinders him throughout his adventure. Lewis was no fan of schools, but apparently even the noblest of savages could use some education.
Looking forward to it :) I also love that he took the time to write a story set basically completely in this world, and giving some of the other realms more of a spotlight. It’s perhaps one of the few things I found lacking in Tolkien’s treatment of Middle Earth (although that is truly a quibble, given how much time he spent on so many other aspects) – I want stories about the Easterlings and Khandians and all that!
@@.-@ That summarises why it was my favourite.
My favourite book in the series. Native Narnians make more interesting protagonists than English schoolchildren, and Aslan limits himself to occasional nudges until the invasion attempt has already been dealt with decisively.
My favorite too. Let me put in a good word for Lasaraleen, who, though silly and shallow, proves herself a good friend to Aravis. The scene where she and Aravis are hiding from the Tisroc, and she’s suddenly terrified, always stands out in my mind because it shows how even those who seem to flourish under tyranny are really poised on the edge of a cliff and are just as much in danger as everyone else. I also love the scene where the Dwarfs feed Shasta breakfast. In fact, there are a number of places where the children (and the Horses) get help from the kindness of strangers. Hmmm, maybe I’ll re-read it this weekend!
A sequel was written, about Bree’s further adventures in Narnia. Apparently he couldn’t settle down, and attracted a gang of wild young Humans and colts. It’s called Horsez ‘N’ Their Boyz.
Lasaraleen, I always loved her name, is silly and shallow but Lewis allows her her pov. She thinks Aravis is silly and doesn’t grasp the importance of a good marriage. She honestly can’t comprehend why Aravis would prefer to runaway to a strange country with a slave boy and two talking horses. Interestingly her husband talks to her a great deal about current events etc. He is clearly trying to cultivate her political awareness. He seems to understand she is still very young and has a lot of maturing to do and is trying to guide her. Political awareness is a skill she will badly need. She is competent enough to realize that even if she’s got the Tisroc’s favor eavesdropping on a very private high level discussion is extremely dangerous.
Aravis, to her credit, grasps that Lasaraleen is just a very different person from herself and that doesn’t make her wrong. ‘ I’m sure you’ll have a lovely life,” Aravis tells her friend as they part, “but it wouldn’t suit me!”
Have to wonder whether Joy Davidman’s being American influenced the plot as well. Because, you know, the earlier books are very much English mediaeval in feel, with English kids becoming kings and queens in castles. But when you have a story about a boy sold into slavery in the South and making a run for it to the North, where he knows he won’t be a slave any more… that isn’t so much King Arthur as Huck Finn in feel.
This is my favorite Narnia book, though I can’t put my finger on what, exactly, I like in it.
I do have one problem with the series – I’m very religious and not christian, so reading books with straight-forward christian messages is a little hard for me.
I’ve run past you, finished this book, and also finished Magician’s Nephew, which was the low point in the series for me so far. I’ve come to the conclusion that everything that happens in the characters in these books is to tie us in with them so that we’ll understand their encounters with Aslan, which are really the best parts of the series. All of the best moments in the series are when Aslan shows up. And I guess that’s as it should be, leading us back to how we need to find Him in our own world….
Some of the best stories in the world are about journeys! A journey is a well-worn (and good-fitting, I might add!) metaphor for life. The Horse and His Boy is my favorite of the Chronicles, and during a difficult period of my life…well, I read it once a week! I find it to be extraordinarily meaningful. In the next (later) post I see there are arguments about racism, ethnocentrism, and many other ‘isms, and I am sure they are important to discuss. However, as we critique a work intended first to engage, help us, and inspire us, let us remember that we are each the heroes of our own stories. “Everyone else” is seen through our own eyes first, and on some level we can each identify with a solitary human making a run for his life! We each face danger, must use our wits, must hold on and keep going when we are tired, hot and thirsty. And sometimes when we think we are simply helping ourselves, we unwittingly help other people. When that happens, it may lead us to become more intentional in helping others, and growing in the process. This book reminds me that there is hope ahead, and – surprise! All the bad horrible things that have happened to me actually have meaning and will be redeemed into something wonderful. Yup. It’s my favorite!