Well, I can hardly believe it, but I’ve stuck to the schedule for Chris’s Narniathon and have made it to the final book in the series – “The Last Battle”, first published in 1956. Alas, as I’ve mentioned before, this is not my original copy from my childhood as that’s currently AWOL (though hopefully somewhere in the house); I have substituted with this cheap and temporary copy with a modern cover and I can’t say I like it much – anyway, onward and inward as they say! ;D
As the book opens, Narnia is in decline; Aslan appears to have deserted his land, and the last King, Tirian, is full of excitement when a rumour reaches them that the lion has returned. However, he soon discovers how wrong things are going when he hears that trees are being felled and sold to Calomen as well as talking beasts enslaved – all apparently on the orders of Aslan. It soon becomes clear that this is no true Aslan, simply an imposter which needs to be dealt with quickly. However the Narnians appear to be outnumbered by the Calormenes, faith in Narnia and its king has fallen by the wayside, and Tirian has no option except to call for help from the children who came from our world in the country’s past. Amazingly, Eustace and Jill appear from nowhere; and the battle is on to save their beloved Narnia from betrayal and colonisation. The Last Battle will indeed be a mighty one…
I must admit to approaching this book with a little trepidation… Although I recall not being over-fond of “The Horse and His Boy“, I also remember finding “The Last Battle” hard to take because it’s so sad at the beginning. Seeing Narnia in decline, the horrors of occupation and the dominance of those with vested interests is very painful (and actually still very resonant nowadays). Although things take a turn for the better when the true Aslan appears, the loss of the world we’ve become used to is very moving (and having Digory there at start and finish a lovely touch). Lewis’s writing is still stellar, though; in the same way as he painted some marvellous word pictures with the creation of Narnia in “The Magician’s Nephew”, he deals with its end equally brilliantly, leaving you quite stunned and emotional. Having almost all the human characters together is wonderful, though I’m sure I’m not alone in regretting Lewis’s dismissal of Susan; presumably she’s being used to reject the idea that religion is something childish you should grow out of, but it does come across as a bit of a betrayal of her, and a tad misogynistic.
Re-reading these books now, I certainly found this one to be the most overtly religious of the series. It’s quite obvious what Aslan’s Country is meant to represent, and here Lewis does conjure a beautiful land containing all the countries you might ever want to see. It’s clever to portray this as the *real* version of all worlds too; but I’m not well-versed enough in theology to know if his shadowlands and real world concepts are original. There are a number of explorations of what I would call faith or lack of it, too; the dwarfs are a case in point, declaring “the Dwarfs are for the Dwarfs” and stubbornly refusing to recognise the reality around them. Then there’s the fearsome god Tash; an evil figure, it’s made clear that only bad actions can be done in his name, and any good actions supposedly taken on behalf of Tash are actually in Aslan’s name.
Getting to the end of any immersive series of books, ones where you’ve lived rather than read them, is always an emotional experience, leaving you feeling a little bereft. I certainly always felt so with these books when I was young – and also with the “Lord of the Rings” series. In both cases, I’ve gone through phases of finishing them and going right back to the start to relive the experience; and having now got to the end of the #Narniathon I can still feel that pull to do so… It’s been quite wonderful revisiting this series of books, which were so important to me in my younger years and still are! Thanks to Chris for setting up the #Narniathon – I most likely wouldn’t have gone back to these right now without it, and it really has been a heck of an experience!
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Jun 29, 2022 @ 08:45:19
You have captured and conveyed my feelings about the Narniathon perfectly, thank you. I’m grateful to Chris for encouraging me to re-read these books which were so much a part of my childhood. The start of the Last Battle is difficult to read and I felt sadness at what had been lost, I imagine we as readers are supposed to feel that way. The heavy handed religious aspects were, I think, obvious to me even as a child and I found it difficult to read and if I’m honest a bit overwhelming. As an eleven year old I went straight back and read the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe again to remind me of the original joy. The Susan issue feels unnecessarily cruel to me, both now and then.
Jun 29, 2022 @ 15:49:09
Thanks, so kind! I never would have picked these up again if it wasn’t for the Narniathon, and it’s been such a wonderful experience to re-read. LB is definitely a painful read in places, and the religious aspects slightly too much for me. Like you, I used to go straight back to the beginning again to relive the magic, and I’m so glad I was nudged into reading these now!!
Jun 29, 2022 @ 09:28:37
Ugh, scary picture on that cover! There have been a number of bad Narnia covers over the years but that has to be the worst I’ve ever seen. Interestingly, though it suggests the battle is against Tash, Tash itself is not portrayed as an enemy, it seems to have a rightful place in the world ruled by Aslan, taking possession of those who choose to belong to it.
As for the “shadowlands” — it’s all in Plato, all in Plato! Seems to be Lewis’s version of the Allegory of the Cave. I do love what he does with it, and I must say that for me all the children’s books I reread so often still “stick” with me more than philosophical classics.
So glad you enjoyed this journey, I have too and will be sad to see it end. I can understand the wish to start reading all over again!
Jun 29, 2022 @ 15:47:41
It’s a horrid cover, isn’t it? I really need to find my old version. But that’s a very good point about Tash having its own position in the cosmos – there’s a lot going on in the books!
As for Plato, I’ve not read him (no university education I’m afraid) but the whole concept is fascinating and agree that children’s books are a good way to get these things across.
But it’s been wonderful to revisit these books – I totally get why my younger self just wanted to start the sequence all over again. I’m feeling that about a lot of re-reads right now!!!
Jun 29, 2022 @ 12:10:34
It always is quite the experience, isn’t it, to go back to a series like that you loved in childhood. I think that’s especially true of a series like this one, that completely takes you to another reality. You make an interesting point, too, about the slightly over-religious nature of part of the story. Authors do run that risk when they try to balance sending a message with telling a story. Still, what a trip it’s been for you. Thanks for sharing it!
Jun 29, 2022 @ 15:36:01
It is, Margot – this sequence of books was very important to me, and there’s always that risk of it not having the same magic. Fortunately, it did and the revisit was lovely. The religious element was slightly to much for me here, particularly as an adult, and Lewis did of course have an agenda. But the re-read really was wonderful!
Jun 29, 2022 @ 17:27:07
I loved reading this review, Karen, and pleased that you, like many others, have found the excuse for a read or reread very worthwhile. I’m also grateful that you’ve been one of the leading Narniathoners who’ve remained enthusiastic about the whole project throughout: I’ve been really buoyed up by that knowledge, thank you!
My review’s scheduled for tomorrow and turned out altogether more positive than I was expecting; I’ve also scheduled a discussion post about TLB in a week’s time which will have something about Tash, though not the insectoid figure on this cover!
Jun 29, 2022 @ 20:34:26
Thanks Chris, and I’m so glad you set this up because it’s taken me not only back through Narnia, I think it’s also had much to do with my LOTR re-read and another one which I’ll write about next month. It’s been such a rewarding experience! 😀
Jun 29, 2022 @ 17:48:01
That is a weird cover isn’t it. I admit to not being fond of this one, it used to make me feel really panicky as a child and it’s so sad. And then overtly religious. But you have to read the set, right?!
Jun 29, 2022 @ 20:32:07
It’s a horrid cover! I agree totally, it’s very sad and too much religion for me. But I *did* have to read them all!!
Jun 29, 2022 @ 20:26:30
Oh my that cover picture is horrible, I suppose children would think it great. 🤣 I understand the sadness at seeing the decline of Narnia in this one. It’s such an incredible world, with so many messages. So glad you’re enjoying these all over again.
Jun 29, 2022 @ 20:31:33
LOL, maybe, but it’s not how I think of Narnia. It was sad seeing things come to an end – it always is when you’ve loved a book series – but I did enjoy the re-reading experience.
Jun 30, 2022 @ 08:08:57
Lovely review Kaggsy. It does still sound so resonant in many ways. I don’t think I read this as a child, you’ve certainly encouraged me to do so as an adult!
Jun 30, 2022 @ 15:44:49
Thanks Madame B – although many parts are downbeat, some of this is lovely and I do think reading these as an adult is a very different but just as good experience!
Jul 01, 2022 @ 07:00:31