This was a precursor to three novels that he wrote on the theme of interplanetary adventure, usually called the Ransom Trilogy or the Cosmic Trilogy. In his thirties he published a long poem called “The Planets” which explains, in great detail, the qualities of the seven heavens as understood by medieval cosmology. He had a telescope on the balcony of his bedroom and enjoyed visiting the local observatory. When he was about the age that Prince Caspian is in this story he found that the idea of other planets exercised upon him “a peculiar, heady attraction.” As a boy he used to talk with his Uncle Gussie about astronomy and became interested in “the whole planetary idea as a mythology.” One of the earliest short stories he wrote was entitled “To Mars and Back” and the first poem he ever published was about Saturn and Jupiter.

Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia and I understand that this scene will take a very prominent place in the new feature film version of Prince Caspian, to be released on May 16.Ĭ.S. It’s a memorable moment from the second of C.S. There he sees the conjunction of two planets: “Tarva, the Lord of Victory, salutes Alambil, the Lady of Peace.” According to Dr Cornelius, “Their meeting is fortunate and means some great good for the sad realm of Narnia.” Cornelius, in the middle of the night and taken up a dark stairway to the top of a tower. The plain but very literary writing and simplicity of storytelling, combined exciting adventures and a moderate length make this book well-suited to middle-grade readers.Prince Caspian is woken by his tutor, Dr. Gone, for the most part, is the heavy dose of Christian symbolism, replaced by a hodgepodge of mythological elements, including Bacchus and his Maenads, nature spirits, and a river god. The novel is structured as two parallel, and eventually intersecting, stories: one of Caspian escaping from, and rebelling against, his evil uncle the other of the Pevensies rediscovering a Narnia that has changed a great deal in the centuries since their last visit. Edmund has learned his lessons well, and is stalwart and kind, while Susan - well, Susan mostly grumbles, and one can see Lewis already setting up her fall from grace, which occurs in the last book.

Once again Lucy is the heroine of heart and spirit, while Peter is the hero of the sword. PRINCE CASPIAN is an altogether simpler and more straightforward adventure tale than its predecessor, and far simpler than most modern fantasies.

Prince caspian by cs lewis