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Inside Prince Caspian: A Guide to Exploring the Return to Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia series has sold over 85 million copies worldwide and introduced people of all ages to the central doctrines of Christianity. Anticipating the May 2008 Walden Media/Walt Disney Pictures release of The Chronicles of Prince Caspian, this book guides readers through the second novel of the Chronicles of Narnia series. As he did in the successful Inside Narnia, Devin Brown takes readers through Prince Caspian chapter by chapter, illuminating the features of C. S. Lewis's writing, providing supplemental information on Lewis's life and other books, offering comments and opinions from other Lewis scholars, and uncovering the work's rich meanings. Long-time fans of C. S. Lewis and those who have met him through the movies will want to read Inside Prince Caspian.
253 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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95 people want to read
About the author
Devin Brown
49 books48 followersDevin Brown (PhD, University of South Carolina) is a Lilly scholar and professor of English at Asbury University. A C. S. Lewis aficionado, Brown has written, taught, and lectured on Lewis extensively for more than ten years. He has written a number of books related to Lewis, including Inside Narnia and Inside Prince Caspian, and lives in Kentucky. In 2008 Brown was invited to serve as scholar-in-residence at the Kilns, Lewis's home in Oxford.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 21, 2022
Much like the previous book Inside Narnia: A Guide to Exploring the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Brown dives into Prince Caspian with a chapter-by-chapter literary breakdown, threading in relevant details from Lewis's life to fill out the context for us. Just as with the first one, I was enthralled by the connections Brown made. I've read Prince Caspian a number of times, and Lewis has always amazed me with how I learn something new each time I read his books. But Brown still made connections that I found fascinating.
Caspian has arguably been my favorite Narnian story since I was a child. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe does compete for the title, but Caspian has always enchanted me and touched something deep in my heart that even the LWW did not. I've never really quite understood why Caspian's story resonated so deeply until now. After reading through Brown's analysis, I see themes and Lewis's brilliance anew. But the connections Brown makes in the literary analysis explained the themes of awakening, maturing, renewal, restoration, return, and growth that hit me square between the eyes. That's why this book has always settled in my heart like an old friend. It gave me all new eyes for one of my favorite books, and that's incredible.
Unlike the first book, Brown included discussion questions at the end of each chapter this time. Though they were a nice addition, I can't say they were my favorite part. Truly, the meat of the book is Brown's analysis and careful consideration of Lewis. It's an excellent source and again, Brown is very methodical, clear, well-organized writer. I greatly anticipate reading his thoughts on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
As mentioned with the first, I must caution that this guide does include spoilers. Don't read this first! It even includes spoilers for the other books in the series, so be aware of that as you begin. If you're at all a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia, I'd most highly recommend this companion guide and its predecessor. An absolutely excellent and worthwhile read.
Caspian has arguably been my favorite Narnian story since I was a child. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe does compete for the title, but Caspian has always enchanted me and touched something deep in my heart that even the LWW did not. I've never really quite understood why Caspian's story resonated so deeply until now. After reading through Brown's analysis, I see themes and Lewis's brilliance anew. But the connections Brown makes in the literary analysis explained the themes of awakening, maturing, renewal, restoration, return, and growth that hit me square between the eyes. That's why this book has always settled in my heart like an old friend. It gave me all new eyes for one of my favorite books, and that's incredible.
Unlike the first book, Brown included discussion questions at the end of each chapter this time. Though they were a nice addition, I can't say they were my favorite part. Truly, the meat of the book is Brown's analysis and careful consideration of Lewis. It's an excellent source and again, Brown is very methodical, clear, well-organized writer. I greatly anticipate reading his thoughts on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
As mentioned with the first, I must caution that this guide does include spoilers. Don't read this first! It even includes spoilers for the other books in the series, so be aware of that as you begin. If you're at all a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia, I'd most highly recommend this companion guide and its predecessor. An absolutely excellent and worthwhile read.
March 27, 2023
I guess I am not the public for this book. It seems to be a help to people who never read Narnia or are maybe not able to understand it- Reading Lewis's book itself seems like better option to me.
September 6, 2024
I've read Prince Caspian at least 5 times, and when I found this book in the Alkantrant library I wasn't expecting much. Prince Caspian is a fairly straightforward children's story based on a theme common to many fairy tales -- an evil usurping king who suppresses the true heir to the throne, is eventually deposed and the rightful ruler is restored. How much can you say about that that isn't said in the story itself?
But Devin Brown has quite a lot to say about it, and a lot of what he says is quite illuminating. It makes me want to read his earlier book, about The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, if I can find a copy anywhere. At the time I first read it, in September 1965, I was struck by the parallels between the White Witch's rule in Narnia, and the Vorster regime in South Africa (though Verwoerd was Prime Minister, Vorster was Minister of Justice, and was turning South Africa into a police state). The raid of Maugrim the wolf, head of the Witch's secret police, on the home of Tumnus the faun had many parallels with the Security Police raids of those days, and the statues in the witch's castle represented for us the banning and detention without trial of opponents of the National Party regime.
Those themes, while not absent from Prince Caspian, do not appear quite so strongly. What had always struck me most strongly about Prince Caspian was Lewis's attitude towards pagan myths and deities. In Prince Caspian they are not the enemy, but are part of the army of liberation.
What Devin Brown brings out most strongly, however, is Lewis's anti-racism, and the parallels between the policies of the usurper Miraz and the apartheid ideology. Miraz's policy is based on Telmarine supremacy, with all others being banished to the woods (read "homelands").
Brown draws parallels between the anti-colonialism of Prince Caspian and that of the Oyarsa of Malacandra's comments to Weston in Out of the Silent Planet. He also notes many other literary allusions, to Shakespeare, Tolkien, and other authors, .
The themes that Brown brings out most strongly are Lewis's emphasis on diversity and environmentalism before they became popular causes.
But Devin Brown has quite a lot to say about it, and a lot of what he says is quite illuminating. It makes me want to read his earlier book, about The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, if I can find a copy anywhere. At the time I first read it, in September 1965, I was struck by the parallels between the White Witch's rule in Narnia, and the Vorster regime in South Africa (though Verwoerd was Prime Minister, Vorster was Minister of Justice, and was turning South Africa into a police state). The raid of Maugrim the wolf, head of the Witch's secret police, on the home of Tumnus the faun had many parallels with the Security Police raids of those days, and the statues in the witch's castle represented for us the banning and detention without trial of opponents of the National Party regime.
Those themes, while not absent from Prince Caspian, do not appear quite so strongly. What had always struck me most strongly about Prince Caspian was Lewis's attitude towards pagan myths and deities. In Prince Caspian they are not the enemy, but are part of the army of liberation.
What Devin Brown brings out most strongly, however, is Lewis's anti-racism, and the parallels between the policies of the usurper Miraz and the apartheid ideology. Miraz's policy is based on Telmarine supremacy, with all others being banished to the woods (read "homelands").
Brown draws parallels between the anti-colonialism of Prince Caspian and that of the Oyarsa of Malacandra's comments to Weston in Out of the Silent Planet. He also notes many other literary allusions, to Shakespeare, Tolkien, and other authors, .
The themes that Brown brings out most strongly are Lewis's emphasis on diversity and environmentalism before they became popular causes.
March 19, 2020
This author brings so many varied and interesting ideas to the story of Caspian and the wider Narnian world. He backs his views up with examples from other Narnia stories, ancient classics, Tolkien and more varied sources.
Immensely readable for a critical analysis of a novel. And the author is skilled to be able to cause one to ponder and reflect on many life events, views and morals.
Immensely readable for a critical analysis of a novel. And the author is skilled to be able to cause one to ponder and reflect on many life events, views and morals.
October 5, 2020
(see my review of 'Inside the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' by this same author)
January 1, 2017
As I mentioned in my review of the first book in Brown series, my respect for C S Lewis’s writing skills has broadened. My respect for Devin Brown’s knowledge of C S Lewis’s works—and literature in general—has also grown as I have read the first two Inside books.
As Brown reminds us in the Introduction, Lewis had originally planned on writing the second book about Narnia about a boy named Digory who had the gift of speaking with trees. The book about Digory would, of course, come much later, with many details changed. This false start, found in what Lewis scholars refer to as the “LeFay Fragment,” is one of the rare unpublished Lewis writings that have survived, since Lewis had the habit of discarding old manuscripts—much to the dismay of today’s scholars. JRR Tolkien’s son, Christopher, was able to compile the History of Middle-earth series from the myriads of manuscripts which Tolkien left. There will never be a “History of Narnia,” so scholars like Brown must rely on other sources, such as Lewis’s other works and correspondence, to help understand the process Lewis went through to create his stories. I am grateful grateful for their diligence and insights.
Brown takes the time to comment on the first Walden Narnia film before moving on from the Introduction. He is very gracious and complimentary, although pointing out some areas where he feels the film was lacking. He does, however, point out three ways the film was able to improve on the book. I will leave it to the reader to discover the specifics.
As Brown takes us chapter-by-chapter through Prince Caspian, he emphasizes the important themes Lewis put into the book. One of these is Providence. While some have criticized Lewis for the “coincidences” in the book, Brown sees the unseen hand (or paw) of Aslan behind what happens. Trumpkin just “happens” to get captured by the Telmarines, who decide to give him a “grand execution,” sending him by boat into the woods and to the “ghosts.” It turns out that this gets the Dwarf to where the Pevencies are at just the right time, and also provides the transportation needed for the group to get up the river. Brown reminds us that Lewis’s friend and colleague JRR Tolkien often uses the hand of Providence in The Lord of the Rings. This plot device is not mere laziness on the part of the writers, but a reflection of their belief that their God is always working behind the scenes.
Another theme that Lewis brings to Prince Caspian is growth. Although Aslan is providentially guiding circumstances, he also limits his direct involvement. He does not go to the How and intervene against Nickabrick’s treasonous use of sorcery, but directs Peter, Edmund, and Trumpkin to “deal with what you will find there.” Aslan does not do for the characters what they have been trained to do for themselves. Peter, who has been a reluctant leader until this time, will “take charge” and volunteer his services to fight Miraz in single combat. The characters will not only find that Aslan is intervening behind the scenes, but that he is also allowing them to face more realistic dangers than they had to face in the first book as he forces them to take the next steps in their growth. I think this is why Peter and Susan are told, at the end of the book, they will not be coming back. They have not “outgrown” Narnia (as Susan will someday mistakenly believe), but have grown beyond it.
Peter has been having trouble leading because he expects Aslan to act exactly like he has before. He does not realize that “nothing happens the same way twice.” Another theme Brown explores in the book is limited expectations. Peter can not believe that Lucy has seen Aslan because he has never been invisible to any of them before. The plans to get to Aslan’s How did not anticipate that Narnia might now be different, and that the River Rush would flow through a deep gorge.
One criticism of the second Walden Narnia film was that it was “too dark.” Lewis intended the book to be darker because the growth of the characters required that they face tougher challenges and more “realistic” problems.
As Brown reminds us in the Introduction, Lewis had originally planned on writing the second book about Narnia about a boy named Digory who had the gift of speaking with trees. The book about Digory would, of course, come much later, with many details changed. This false start, found in what Lewis scholars refer to as the “LeFay Fragment,” is one of the rare unpublished Lewis writings that have survived, since Lewis had the habit of discarding old manuscripts—much to the dismay of today’s scholars. JRR Tolkien’s son, Christopher, was able to compile the History of Middle-earth series from the myriads of manuscripts which Tolkien left. There will never be a “History of Narnia,” so scholars like Brown must rely on other sources, such as Lewis’s other works and correspondence, to help understand the process Lewis went through to create his stories. I am grateful grateful for their diligence and insights.
Brown takes the time to comment on the first Walden Narnia film before moving on from the Introduction. He is very gracious and complimentary, although pointing out some areas where he feels the film was lacking. He does, however, point out three ways the film was able to improve on the book. I will leave it to the reader to discover the specifics.
As Brown takes us chapter-by-chapter through Prince Caspian, he emphasizes the important themes Lewis put into the book. One of these is Providence. While some have criticized Lewis for the “coincidences” in the book, Brown sees the unseen hand (or paw) of Aslan behind what happens. Trumpkin just “happens” to get captured by the Telmarines, who decide to give him a “grand execution,” sending him by boat into the woods and to the “ghosts.” It turns out that this gets the Dwarf to where the Pevencies are at just the right time, and also provides the transportation needed for the group to get up the river. Brown reminds us that Lewis’s friend and colleague JRR Tolkien often uses the hand of Providence in The Lord of the Rings. This plot device is not mere laziness on the part of the writers, but a reflection of their belief that their God is always working behind the scenes.
Another theme that Lewis brings to Prince Caspian is growth. Although Aslan is providentially guiding circumstances, he also limits his direct involvement. He does not go to the How and intervene against Nickabrick’s treasonous use of sorcery, but directs Peter, Edmund, and Trumpkin to “deal with what you will find there.” Aslan does not do for the characters what they have been trained to do for themselves. Peter, who has been a reluctant leader until this time, will “take charge” and volunteer his services to fight Miraz in single combat. The characters will not only find that Aslan is intervening behind the scenes, but that he is also allowing them to face more realistic dangers than they had to face in the first book as he forces them to take the next steps in their growth. I think this is why Peter and Susan are told, at the end of the book, they will not be coming back. They have not “outgrown” Narnia (as Susan will someday mistakenly believe), but have grown beyond it.
Peter has been having trouble leading because he expects Aslan to act exactly like he has before. He does not realize that “nothing happens the same way twice.” Another theme Brown explores in the book is limited expectations. Peter can not believe that Lucy has seen Aslan because he has never been invisible to any of them before. The plans to get to Aslan’s How did not anticipate that Narnia might now be different, and that the River Rush would flow through a deep gorge.
One criticism of the second Walden Narnia film was that it was “too dark.” Lewis intended the book to be darker because the growth of the characters required that they face tougher challenges and more “realistic” problems.
November 21, 2019
I found this book at library sale, and it's one of the best finds I've ever had. It's full of all kinds of interesting information regarding both the book and the author. Rereading Prince Caspian is a lot more fun now having read this book. Part analysis, part devotional - I loved this book.
September 29, 2011
An insightful and though-provoking exploration of the world within C.S. Lewis' Prince Caspian. Devin Brown uses comparisons with other works by the same author, as well as considering those he would have been familiar with to good effect. However, this also makes the book much better for those already versed with Lewis' books than those who are new to them. I would recommend this to anyone loves the world of Narnia (preferably straight after reading the story which it is about).
July 23, 2015
Fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable. It was entertaining, very interesting, and I definitely learned a lot about Lewis's genuis. And it proves that there is a lot more to Prince Caspian that meets the eye (although Ben Barnes is good looking, hehe lol).
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews