The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – A story with many twists | Review

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is written by author CS Lewis. Originally published in 1951, the book is a continuation of the adventures of the Pevensie children, who had previously visited the magical world of Narnia in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”.

The story begins when the Pevensie brothers are summoned back to Narnia, which is now under the rule of Prince Caspian, a young legitimate heir to the throne who is in danger. Caspian is fighting against his uncle, the usurper Miraz, who seeks to eliminate all traces of Narnia's ancient magic and culture. With the help of talking animals and other magical beings, the children join Caspian on a journey to restore justice and return Narnia to its magical splendor.

During their adventure, the Pevensie children meet old friends like the lion Aslan, the symbol of power and goodness in Narnia. They also face challenges, epic battles and discover hidden secrets. The book explores themes such as courage, loyalty, faith and the struggle between good and evil, as well as being an exciting and captivating story that delights readers of all ages, and is an essential part of the “Chronicles of Narnia” series. which is known for its rich imagination, memorable characters, and profound moral messages about human and spiritual values.

Image: Matheus Araújo, 2023

I read The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian in the luxurious edition of HarperCollins Brasil, which has fascinating details such as its remastered and colored illustrations by the original illustrator, Pauline Baynes, a hardcover with a velvety touch, pages with painting on the edge and a new translation by Ronald Kyrmse.

The illustrations are something very present in the book, in all chapters, and this enriches the story and causes greater immersion in the story. I believe that the only error in this luxurious edition is that the gold-painted spine has already worn out for a short time, apparently I wasn't the only one as I saw some comments from users reporting the same incident.

Read too: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Horse and His Boy – A moving story | Review

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is a fascinating work that takes us through a magical world full of adventures and teachings. From the first contact with the book, we noticed the attention to detail, especially on the endpaper in this edition of the book, where we find a magnificent and richly illustrated map. This map is a true jewel for lovers of the series, providing an even deeper immersion in the story, being one of the most beautiful maps ever found in the Narnia books.

For those who want an even more immersive experience, watching the Disney film based on the book could be an excellent choice. The film helps visualize the events of the plot, facilitating readers' imagination as they follow Caspian's adventures.

The narrative begins intriguingly, introducing the story of Caspian and his passion for the history of the past. The construction of the dialogues is exceptional, involving the reader from the first pages. The way Caspian is taken into tutoring to reign is captivating, and the reader feels deeply connected with the character, following all his challenges and discoveries.

Image: Matheus Araújo, 2023

The meeting between a messenger from Caspian and the kings of Narnia is a fundamental part of the story, and the way it is developed is remarkable. The narrative does not rush, allowing events to occur in a natural and engaging way, captivating the reader from beginning to end.

One of the most striking aspects of the book are the teachings of Narnia through the character Aslan, which are present throughout the entire plot. The main and secondary characters' initial doubt about Aslan's existence is an intriguing element, and as his existence is proven, the characters apologize, showing remarkable growth in their individual journeys.

The change in Caspian's age between the book and the Disney film is a point of contention, but I don't see it as a significant problem, understanding that film adaptations often require adjustments to meet the demands of visual storytelling.

However, it is worth mentioning that, despite all the charm of the book, I believe that the author exaggerates Aslan's powers at certain moments in the story, which may seem unnecessary and divert attention from other captivating elements of the plot.

“Go wake the others and tell them to follow you. If they don’t, at least you have to follow me alone.” – Aslan

Did you like the review? Leave your comment and follow me on social media!