The Last Battle (The Chronicles of Narnia)

The final in the series of "Narnia" stories, The Last Battle works on the same two levels as the other stories. On the one hand, we have a an adventure story about children in a strange and magical world, and on the other we have a treatise on ethics and religion.

Lewis' world of adventure and magic is charming, vividly described and exhilarating. As with the other books in the series, this is fundamentally a human story of drama and pathos, where children are finding adventure and heroism. As a child, I was as enthalled with this story as with any of his others - real favourites. Even so, I found this to be the darkest and in many ways the most challenging of his works. Now, as an adult, I see this very much as a work to be a passionate statement of religious belief, which is skillfully articulated though uncompromising in the position it takes.

The work is really in two parts. The longer, first part, has an interesting opening in which a rather selfish and thoughtless creature sets in motion a chain of events that culminates in the destruction of a sacred forest and ultimately in a breakdown of social order. There follows revolt and warfare wrapped up with fragmentation and subversion of the previously unassailable cult of Aslan. The second part involves the transportation of the children and their friends to the land of Aslan and much discussion of their love of Aslan and much discussion of the wonder and beauty of Aslan's kingdom.

Clearly, Aslan represents God. The narrative part of the story has much to do with the nature of good and evil, and the difference between doing wrong innocently and doing wrong maliciously. Interestingly, it follows a strong thread through the nature of propaganda, the subversion of a worthy cause, and the uncontrollable chaos of politics. Slightly worrying are the casting of an apparently Middle-Eastern kingdom as devil-worshippers, the general feeling that the British class system is alive and well in Narnia, and the slightly mysogenistic criticism of Susan who as a young woman "has reached the silliest time of her life and wants to stay there for as long as possible". I think we can forgive this slight transgressions of political correctness in view of the time in which the novel were written; the "green" views concerning the cutting down of woodland and (horrors!) the march of civilisation would find, though, some resonance today.

The Christian element of the book is very firmly stated, especially in the second part, which is more or less a description of the Second Coming and the End of the World! Heavy stuff for a children's book! However, it works surprisingly well and a child will enjoy the story and probably find the sub-text at least posing some questions for them.

Technically the production is excellent, as might be expected from the BBC. It is the right length, seems to be unabridged (though I have not checked) and the voices and sound effects fit together nicely without being overdone.

I would recommend this, but not before you have read (or listened to) The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe plus a couple of the other works in the series.

Make a film of it please! (1/4 people found this helpful)

This is an awsome book. I just don't know why it was never as popular as the others. It may be slightly less adveturous i suppose, and some people may be put off by how many Christian ideas are in it; but it is very well written unlike most of the others.

The Magician's Nephew: Great idea, poorly written
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: Best Book, has got everything.
Horse and His Boy: Ok, but not brilliant.
Prince Caspian: Bit odd, a follow on rather than a separate novel.
The Silver Chair: Love it, adventurous, scary.
The Last Battle: WELL WRITTEN! Makes you anoyed and pleased in all the right places. Very satisfiying ending. Great twist!

Audio version - Superbe (2/2 people found this helpful)

The narration of this book by Patrick Stewart is extraordiarily good. He has a wonderful speaking voice, of course, but more than that, the different characters are portrayed with such a range of tones and accents that one can almost picture them. I dont know if Patrick Stewart has recorded any more Audiobooks, but I certainly hope he will do more in the future.

Oh dear... (4/24 people found this helpful)

Truly terrible ending to the otherwise great Chronicles Of Narnia saga (well, aside from 'Horse And His Boy'...) This time the Christian symbolism borders on propaganda and poor Susan is left without friends or family but nobody seems to care at all! The racist elements of this novel are well known and obviously a product of the time it was written in, but overall the book is just garbage, which is a real shame since the first chapter is really quite promising...

A fitting finale to the Narnia series (9/10 people found this helpful)

This book is a fine ending to the Narnia series: and far better when read after the preceding six, in my opinion. It has a rather different atmosphere to the others, I think- a bit less gung-ho adventure, a touch more symbolism. I think kids reading it will enjoy it a little less, as it isn't exactly clear what's going on.
It is difficult to discuss the book without giving away plot elements. But, as with the first book in the series, in wrapping things up The Last Battle is more overtly based on a Christian worldview than the other books in the series. This is no problem, in my opinion, as it gives the seven books a certain coherence and continuity; and the last paragraph is one of my favourite from any book. But this probably reflects the fact that I am a Christian.
This is one book where your own beliefs may affect your enjoyment of it. Still, if you want closure to the rest of the series- this is the one to read, even if it makes you uncomfortable.

The Last Battle (The Chronicles of Narnia)

C. S. Lewis

Reader Reviews:

Aptly named - listen to the other stories first. (3/3 people found this helpful)

Make a film of it please! (1/4 people found this helpful)

Audio version - Superbe (2/2 people found this helpful)

Oh dear... (4/24 people found this helpful)

A fitting finale to the Narnia series (9/10 people found this helpful)

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