The Last Battle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Last Battle

First edition dustjacket original
Author	C. S. Lewis
Illustrator	Pauline Baynes
Cover artist	Pauline Baynes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Series	The Chronicles of Narnia
Release number	7
Genre	Children's fantasy novel, Christian literature
Publisher	The Bodley Head
Publication date	4 September 1956
Media type	Print (hardcover)
Pages	184 pp (first edition) 42,854 words (US)
ISBN	978-0-00-671682-2 (full-colour; Collins, 1998)
OCLC	752428300
LC Class	PZ8.L48 Las
Preceded by	The Magician's Nephew
Text	The Last Battle online

The Last Battle is an exciting fantasy novel by British author C. S. Lewis. It was published in 1956 and is the seventh and final book in The Chronicles of Narnia series. Just like the other Narnia books, it features beautiful illustrations by Pauline Baynes. Her artwork is still loved in many newer editions of the book.

This story mostly takes place in the magical world of Narnia. The English children who help in the adventure arrive partway through the tale. The events in The Last Battle happen about 200 Narnian years after The Silver Chair. It's also about 2500 Narnian years since the world of Narnia was created, as told in The Magician's Nephew.

In this story, a tricky ape creates a fake Aslan in Narnia's northern lands. This causes a big conflict between true Narnians and those who are tricked. This struggle also mixes with a war between Narnia and the Calormenes, who worship a different god named Tash. The book ends with the world of Narnia coming to a close, guided by Aslan, after a difficult "last battle."

C. S. Lewis and The Last Battle won a special award called the Carnegie Medal. This award is given each year to the best children's book by a British author. Lewis even wrote to his illustrator, Pauline Baynes, suggesting it was "our" medal, showing how much he valued her illustrations.

The Story Unfolds in Narnia

A Deceptive Plan

In the western parts of Narnia, a clever but greedy ape named Shift tricks a kind donkey named Puzzle. Shift makes Puzzle wear a lion's skin, pretending he is the great Aslan. This is like the old story of "The Ass in the Lion's Skin" from Aesop. Shift then tells the Narnians that he speaks for Aslan. He uses Aslan's name to make them cut down trees for wood, but Shift keeps the money for himself.

Shift also gets help from the Calormenes, led by Rishda Tarkaan. He tells them that Aslan and their god, Tash, are the same. Tash is a powerful god worshipped by the Calormenes. If anyone questioned Shift, they were invited into a large stable where "Tashlan" supposedly lived. But those who went in disappeared mysteriously.

King Tirian's Discovery

King Tirian, a brave descendant of King Caspian X, learns from Roonwit the Centaur that strange and bad things are happening. The stars also show signs of trouble. Tirian and his best friend, Jewel the Unicorn, hear that the Dryads (tree spirits) are in danger. They rush to face the problem.

They find two Calormenes being cruel to a Narnian Talking Horse. Tirian and Jewel fight them off. Feeling bad about their anger, they decide to surrender to "Aslan." While waiting for judgment, Tirian realizes that Shift, Rishda, and a talking cat named Ginger are all part of a big trick. When Tirian bravely calls Shift a liar, he is tied to a tree for the night. The woodland creatures feel sorry for him but are too scared to go against "Aslan."

Help Arrives from Earth

Tirian calls out to the real Aslan for help. He sees a vision of High King Peter and other friends of Narnia. Soon after, Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole arrive in Narnia from Earth. They explain that Peter and Edmund Pevensie had tried to find magic rings to send them to Narnia. But instead, Eustace and Jill felt a strange jolt on their train and found themselves in Narnia. Tirian is very happy to see them.

Eustace and Jill quickly free Tirian and rescue Jewel. Inside the stable, Jill finds Puzzle the donkey. Puzzle realizes he was tricked and joins Tirian's side. They also rescue a group of Dwarfs. However, these Dwarfs have lost all faith in Aslan and declare, "the Dwarfs are for the Dwarfs!" Only one Dwarf, Poggin, remains loyal to Aslan and joins Tirian's small group. Tirian then learns that Shift and Rishda have accidentally brought the real Tash to Narnia. They see Tash moving towards the stable.

The Final Confrontation

Farsight the Eagle brings sad news: Roonwit and Tirian's loyal Narnian army were defeated by the Calormenes. The Calormenes have also taken Cair Paravel, Narnia's capital. Tirian and his small group head to the stable to reveal Shift's lies. Ginger the cat, who was helping Shift, runs out in terror, having lost his ability to speak.

Emeth, a Calormene soldier who truly believes in Tash, insists on seeing his god. Rishda tries to stop him, but Emeth enters the stable. Inside, he finds a soldier who was meant to silence rebellious Narnians. Angry at the deception, Emeth fights the soldier before vanishing into the stable.

Outside, Tirian's group fights Shift and the Calormenes. Many Narnians are defeated or forced into the stable. Tirian throws Shift into the stable, and Tash takes him away. Rishda, now terrified, tries to force the remaining Narnians into the stable. Tirian, fighting alone, drags Rishda into the stable too.

Beyond Narnia's End

Inside the stable, Tirian finds himself in a beautiful, vast plain. Tash takes Rishda and moves towards Tirian. But then, the "Friends of Narnia" appear: Digory Kirke, Polly Plummer, Peter Pevensie, Edmund, and Lucy. Susan is not there because she no longer believes in Narnia. Peter commands Tash to return to his own realm, and Tash vanishes with Rishda.

The real Aslan appears and praises Tirian for his brave fight. The Dwarfs who lost faith are also there, but they cannot see Aslan's beautiful country. They still think they are trapped in a dark stable. Aslan shows that without faith, even he cannot help them see the truth. The Friends ask Aslan to fix Narnia, but he explains that the evil cannot be undone. He brings the world of Narnia to its end.

Father Time awakens and calls the stars down into the sea. All the creatures of Narnia gather to be judged by Aslan. Those who were faithful enter Aslan's country. Those who opposed or deserted him become ordinary animals and fade away into the shadows. The land changes dramatically, with creatures transforming and the world itself fading. The sea rises, and the land becomes cold as Father Time brings the world to its final rest. At Aslan's command, King Peter shuts the door on Narnia.

Aslan leads the faithful to his country, telling them to go "further up and further in." Soon they meet Emeth. Aslan accepts Emeth's faithful service to Tash because it was offered with a good heart. This means it was truly done for Aslan, as Tash is only served by evil.

Aslan takes the Friends to a "true" version of Narnia. The Narnia they knew was just a shadow of this perfect place. As they explore, the Friends meet characters from past adventures who had passed away long ago. Aslan reveals that the Friends can also stay, as they had journeyed from their world. Aslan then changes from his lion form. The series ends by revealing that this is just the beginning of a true story that goes on forever, with every chapter better than the last.

Main Characters

• Tirian: The last king of Narnia, who bravely leads the fight against the Calormenes.
• Eustace Scrubb: A friend of Narnia and cousin to the Pevensie siblings, who helps fight for the Narnians.
• Jill Pole: Another friend of Narnia, who joins the fight for the Narnians.
• Jewel the Unicorn: King Tirian's loyal friend and helper.
• Shift: A tricky ape who works with Calormen and creates the fake "Tashlan" story.
• Puzzle: A kind donkey who is tricked by Shift into wearing a lion's skin.
• Rishda Tarkaan: The Calormene captain leading the battle against Narnia, who is taken away by Tash.
• Ginger: A talking cat who works with Rishda Tarkaan.
• Tash: The powerful god of the Calormenes, who is the opposite of Aslan.
• Griffle: A black Dwarf who leads a group of Dwarfs who have lost faith in everyone.
• Emeth: A righteous Calormene soldier who discovers his true devotion to Aslan.
• Aslan: The great Lion, who is the true God of Narnia and son of the Emperor-over-the-Sea.

See also

In Spanish: La última batalla para niños