The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis will be well known to many. A magical world of classic fantasy written for children, but enjoyable to any age group.
I am rereading the entire series and sharing succinct spoiler-free reviews. If you want some background to Narnia – it’s all in the first book review.
The reading order is open to debate. However, it’s being done in (Narnian) chronological order – and not the date they were published: The Magician’s Nephew (1955), The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950), The Horse and His Boy (1954), Prince Caspian (1951), The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952), The Silver Chair (1953) and The Last Battle (1956).
Review Number: 21 (5 in Narnia series)
Review Date: 30 September 2020
Title: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Author: C. S. Lewis
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1952
Genre: Fantasy
There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.
What a glorious adventure! If you’re into heroic naval exploits from distant wars or the journals of explorers charting unknown pleasures and treasures, then this fantasy tale should be entertaining.
Two of the children from the Prince Caspian story and an unpleasant boy (Eustace) find themselves transported into the world of Narnia via a picture of a ship at sea and to the ship ‘Dawn Treader’.
Prince Caspian is now a king and on a voyage in search for the seven friends of his father long since lost on a dangerous mission to the Eastern Islands.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is ultimately a simple quest but Lewis does a superb job of keeping the action flowing.
There’s a memorable moment as Eustace lets greed get the better of him and is transformed into a dragon. I’ve read a lot of fantasy, but the way this metamorphosis and the implications are handled is a masterclass in storytelling.
Elsewhere there are some clever vignettes on magic and moments which seem to be inspired by Jonathan Swift’s brilliant Gulliver’s Travels. That doesn’t matter as we’re all influenced and inspired by other creations.
Despite being written in 1952 it doesn’t feel that dated, which is probably due to the speed and mix of events.
I am biased in my appraisal of this tale as enjoy reading about Horatio Nelson and others from the Napoleonic Wars or the journals of Captain Cook.
But with that said, I still believe most people will be enthralled by this charming voyage of discovery.
“One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts.”