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: 22 (6 in Narnia series)
Review Date: 12 October 2020
Title: The Silver Chair
Author: C. S. Lewis
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1953
Genre: Fantasy
“I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it.”
We’ve had the desert and the high seas, now it’s time for the marshes and the underground.
These arguable limitations mean that The Silver Chair in my view doesn’t quite reach the heights of The Horse and His Boy – and the superior The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
Yet it will probably be no surprise to learn that Lewis has still concocted another excellent adventure. How little I remembered when it’s such an engaging story.
The boy Eustace from the previous tale is back in Narnia with a school friend Jill. Many years have passed in Narnian time and they have been summoned to help King Caspian X (i.e. Prince Caspian). He is now an elderly man and his son Prince Rilian is missing. Their noble and important quest from Aslan is to find him.
By the way, Eustace is no longer a troublesome child as his previous experience in this magical land changed him for the better. I think 21st century writers could learn a lot from how Lewis handles this transformation. It’s simply and elegantly done.
The hunt for the prince is naturally an eventful affair. The children have to overcome a lot of challenges and they are helped by one character I did remember. This is Puddleglum, a morose but fearless ‘Marsh-wiggle’. A humanoid creature – a bit like a scarecrow and toad combined.
Puddleglum’s name clearly hints at his personality – and the interplay between him and the children is lively. He does have some good lines:
“And you must always remember there’s one good thing about being trapped down here: it’ll save funeral expenses.”
You may be wondering why it’s called The Silver Chair. Well, that would give the game away.
But it’s a clever title for a very intelligent adventure.
“Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things – trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself.“