The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

View books by C. S. Lewis.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - Rated

Third book printed, fifth book chronologically.

I began re-reading the Narnia series after coming across a beautiful boxed set of all seven novels. Mainly this was out of nostalgia, as these were favourites when I was young, and I was interested to see how they held up as adults. I found them all to be written very clearly with provocative descriptive prose, and narrative that often draws the reader immediately into the story.

This one's a fine companion to "Prince Caspian" and feels more like the second half of that novel rather than a novel in its own right, but this doesn't stop the enjoyment of the tail despite the feeling of implausibility that the reader gets at times. The growth of the characters following previous instalments is tangible and feels authentic however, and the whole thing is as entertaining as the books set before it.

7.5/10

Shipping forecast - Rated
This is one of the best of the "other" Chronicles of Narnia, a true piece of fairytale in which the younger two Pevensies, Lucy and Edmund, team up with their objectionable cousin Eustace Scrubb for a voyage to the end of the world with King Caspian, the hero of the previous book and now King of Narnia. The book also re-introduces Reepicheep, his mouse companion, of whom it has been foretold that he will sail or swim to the end of the sea.

It is part allegory, part morality tale (Eustace goes through the same process of redemption that Edmund went through himself in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe) and part traditional pantomime story, with the inevitable "fair maid" at the end. The illustrations by Pauline Baynes are as timeless as ever, though her treatment of the ship is not as flowing as some more modern renderings have depicted it. Aslan of course makes his entrance, and the ending is pure simplicity itself, a beautiful and mystical finale which sees Lucy and Edmund take their leave of Narnia (almost) for ever. Lewis' philosophy is voiced through Aslan as well, with some interesting and humbling views on what we are permitted to know and accepting what we may never understand. Lewis does get rather political in the way he describes Scrubb's parents, and this is a very politically incorrect book, but it is a refreshing taste nonetheless of his opinions more fully explored in his adult theology and works such as "The Screwtape Letters".

A lovely book to give a child - or indeed an adult: I know at least one lady (of my parents' age) for whom this book is a firm favourite and for whom I made a Reepicheep toy at Christmas.

Voyaging - Rated
The second volume of the Narnia Chronicles closed with the possibility of Lucy and Edmund -- though not their older siblings -- returning to Narnia. "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" makes good on that story, with the intrepid pair (plus a whiny cousin) returning on a strange sea voyage.

After the events of "Prince Caspian," Lucy and Edmund are sent off to stay with their obnoxious cousin Eustace. But when they admire a picture of a strange ship, suddenly all three kids are sucked in -- and land in a Narnian sea. On board the ship is King Caspian, now fully grown, who is determined to find a bunch of knights exiled by his murderous uncle, even if he has to go to the edge of the world (literally).

Lucy and Edmund are thrilled to be back in Narnia again, but Eustance proceeds to make trouble any way he can, complaining and causing trouble among the crew. But there are problems more horrifying than any of them can guess, from dragons to sinister "gold water" to a region filled with their worst nightmares.

"The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" is one of Lewis's most original and tightly-written Narnian adventures. It's also a bit of a break from form. After two books of battles against evil tyrants, "Voyage" simply goes where no man/woman/mouse has gone before, and gives us a view of the Narnian world as more than one isolated little region.

And in some ways, it's also the darkest Chronicle. Lewis explores the theme of greed here -- greed for power, beauty, money and magic -- and has some scenes both chilling and majestic. But his archly humorous style peeks through in several places, whether it's pompous mouse Reepicheep or tea with a reclusive old wizard.

Edmund and Lucy are their usual plucky selves, albeit a bit more mature than before. But "Voyage" also introduces one of Lewis' most interesting characters in Eustace Clarence Scrubb. Like Edmund, Eustace is initially a peevish, lying boy who generally makes trouble, but slowly learns his errors. But unlike Edmund, Eustace doesn't have to ally himself to the baddie to learn that.

"Voyage of the Dawn Treader" was a turning point for the Narnia Chronicles, as well as the one that began venturing into darker territory. Engaging and tightly written.