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A review by aeudaimonia
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
On the most basic plot level, this has always been one of my favorite Narnia stories since I was a child. I like (again, on a basic level) how it expands the world of Narnia, how it introduces us to types of people and places we don't get to see in the rest of the Chronicles, and the theological elements of justice, mercy, and God's presence throughout the book.
Rereading it as an adult, however, I can't forgive how extraordinarily racist this book is even by 1954 standards. The first half takes place entirely in Calormen-- Lewis's Middle Eastern-coded country and heavily saturated in the West's legacy of orientalism and imperialism--and frankly it made the first 120 pages almost impossible to read. The fact that I reread it directly after White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad probably has something to do with it.
Once the narrative departs from Calormen the plot begins to pick up and the racist undertones begin to die down (though unfortunately replaced by sexist ones). The last few chapters make for a legitimately fun read. I've rated this book 3.57 stars as a "proceed with caution." This is Narnia at its best and its worst.
Rereading it as an adult, however, I can't forgive how extraordinarily racist this book is even by 1954 standards. The first half takes place entirely in Calormen-- Lewis's Middle Eastern-coded country and heavily saturated in the West's legacy of orientalism and imperialism--and frankly it made the first 120 pages almost impossible to read. The fact that I reread it directly after White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad probably has something to do with it.
Once the narrative departs from Calormen the plot begins to pick up and the racist undertones begin to die down (though unfortunately replaced by sexist ones). The last few chapters make for a legitimately fun read. I've rated this book 3.57 stars as a "proceed with caution." This is Narnia at its best and its worst.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Sexism and Slavery
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse