In this article we will review The Horse and His Boy by Clive Lewis.
Book Plot
“The Horse and His Boy” is a novel by C.S. Lewis and is the fifth book in the “Chronicles of Narnia” series. It tells the story of a boy named Shasta who lives in Calormen with his abusive father, Arsheesh. One day, a powerful nobleman demands hospitality from Arsheesh and offers to buy Shasta as his slave. Shasta learns that he was not Arsheesh’s son, but was found as a baby in a boat. He escapes with a talking horse named Bree, who was also captured from Narnia as a foal. They meet a girl named Aravis and her talking horse, Hwin, and together they travel north to Narnia. Along the way, they learn of a plot by the Prince of Calormen to attack Archenland, and they warn the King of Archenland of the impending strike. The novel is set during the reign of the four Pevensie children as Kings and Queens of Narnia, and three of the Pevensies appear as minor characters in the book.
The Horse and His Boy Rating : 3,91
Also book has 208 pages
The Horse and His Boy Review
This is my third time exploring the world of Narnia, as I chose to read the books in order of events rather than the order they were published. Although I was most excited for this particular story due to its intriguing title, it did not have the same magical impact on me as the previous two books did. Unlike the others, this book is not told from the perspective of a human entering Narnia. While I still found enjoyment in the story, it did not meet my expectations and lacked the mystical qualities of the earlier tales.
The plot follows a young boy named Sashta and his talking horse, Bree, on a journey from savage lands to escape the threat of slavery. They are later joined by another pair, Avaris and the talking horse Hwin, as they embark on their adventures. Previous characters from the series also make appearances in their new roles as Kings and Queens of Narnia, adding an exciting element to the story.
Despite the thrilling adventures and exploration of the magical world of Narnia, I found it harder to immerse myself in the story due to its lack of connection to the human world. One aspect that particularly bothered me was the reliance on stereotypes of the “savage other” and the inclusion of racist elements that felt out of place for a modern reader. This detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book, as the stereotypes continued to bother me throughout my reading.
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