The Horse and His Boy

The Horse and His Boy is a novel by C.S. Lewis published by Geoffrey Bles in 1954. It was the fifth published of seven novels in The Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1956) and one of four Lewis finished writing before the first book was published. It is volume three in recent editions, which are sequenced according to Narnian history. Like the others it was illustrated by Pauline Baynes and her work has been retained in many later editions.

    The Horse and His Boy is the only book of the Narnia series featuring native rather than English children as the main characters, and the only one set entirely in the Narnian world. It is set in the period covered by the last chapter of the inaugural book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, during the reign of the four Pevensie children as Kings and Queens of Narnia. Although the Pevensies appear as minor characters, the main characters are two children and two talking horses who escape from Calormen north into Narnia. En route they pass through Calormen’s capital city, where they learn of Calormen’s plan to invade Archenland, Narnia’s southern neighbor. When they reach Archenland, they warn the king of the impending invasion.