C.S. Lewis 1950My favorite book in this fantasy series, Book 2 opens with the discovery of the Wardrobe built from the magical apple tree planted by Digory Kirke in Book 1. Professor Digory hosts siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensies in his house and they magically disappear to Narnia via the Wardrobe. Fanciful adventures once again ensue when they find that the Witch Jadis has transformed Narnia into an ever white wintry place and they meet Mr. Tumnus, Father Christmas and Giant Rumblebuffin. After a great sacrifice from Aslan changes the course of events, the siblings become the next Kings and Queens of Narnia.
'Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. This story is about something that happened to them when they were sent away from London during the war because of anti-raids. They were sent to the house of an old Professor who lived in the heart of the country...'(opening lines)
"Meanwhile," said Mr. Tumnus, "it is winter in Narnia, and has been for ever so long, and we shall both catch cold if we stand here talking in the snow. Daughter of Eve from the far land of Spare Oom where eternal summer reigns around the bright city of War Drobe, how would it be if you came and had tea with me?"(13)
'At last the Turkish Delight was all finished and Edmund was looking very hard at the empty box and wishing that she would ask him whether he would like some more. Probably the Queen knew quite well what he was thinking; for she knew, though Edmund did not, that this was enchanted Turkish Delight and that anyone who had once tasted it would want more and more of it, and would even, if they were allowed, go on eating it till they killed themselves.'(39)
'All four of them bundled inside it and sat there, panting, in the dark. Peter held the door closed but did not shut it; for, of course, he remembered, as every sensible person does, that you should never never shut yourself up in a wardrobe.'(57)
"We're following a guide we know nothing about. How do we know which side that bird is on? Why shouldn't it be leading us into a trap?"
"That's a nasty idea. Still-- a robin, you know. They're good birds in all the stories I've read. I'm sure a robin wouldn't be on the wrong side."(67)
'At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer.'(74)
'Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.'(85)
"... and it's on that she bases her claim to be Queen. But she's no Daughter of Eve. She comes of your father Adam's" (here Mr Beaver bowed) "your father Adam's first wife, her they called Lilith. And she was one of the Jinn. That's what she comes from on one side. And on the other she comes of the giants. No, no, there isn't a drop of real human blood in the Witch."(87)
"But in general, take my advice, when you meet anything that's going to be human and isn't yet, or used to be human once and isn't now, or ought to be human and isn't, you keep your eyes on it and feel for your hatchet.'(88)
'... but if you have been-- if you've been up all night and cried till you have no more tears left in you-- you will know that there comes in the end a sort of quietness. You feel as if nothing was ever going to happen again.'(173)
'Have you ever had a gallop on a horse? Think of that; and then take away the heavy noise of the hoofs and the jingle of the bits and imagine instead the almost noiseless padding of the great paws. Then imagine instead of the black or gray or chestnut back of the horse the soft roughness of golden fur, and the mane flying back in the wind. And them imagine you are going about twice as fast as the fastest racehorse. But this is a mount that doesn't need to be guided and never grows tired. He rushes on and on, never missing his footing, never hesitating, threading his way with perfect skill between tree trunks, jumping over bush and briar and the smaller streams, wading the larger, swimming the largest of all.(180)
'Giants of any sort are now so rare in England and so few giants are good-tempered that ten to one you have never seen a giant when his face is beaming. It's a sight well worth looking at.'(187)
"Of course," said Aslan. "And now! Those who can't keep up-- that is, children, dwarfs, and small animals-- must ride on the backs of those who can-- that is, lions, centaurs, unicorns, horses, giants and eagles. Those who are good with their noses must come in the front with us lions to smell out where the battle is. Look lively and sort yourselves."(191)
'But amid all these rejoicings Aslan himself quietly slipped away. And when the Kings and Queens noticed that he wasn't there they said nothing about it. For Mr. Beaver had warned them, "He'll be coming and going," he had said. "One day you'll see him and another you won't. He doesn't like being tied down-- and of course he has other countries to attend to. It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. He's wild you know. Not like a tame lion."(200)
'Once a King in Narnia, always a King in Narnia.'(206)
HarperCollins first renumbered Edition
206 pages
Book borrowed from JRMD
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