Written by: C.S. Lewis

Illustrated by: Pauline Baynes

1956

I hope you have enjoyed your tour through Narnia! At last, we reach the final book: "The Last Battle". The color and vivid imagery that C.S. Lewis uses to describe entering into Aslan's Country (the imagery of Heaven) is simply breathtaking!! If entering into Heaven is ANYTHING close to what he describes, it will be the most wonderful feeling that we as mortal can ever hope to experience!! Wow!!

The picture he paints is almost identical to the accounts in the Bible in the Book of Revelations, yet you must read and ponder his words to "feel" the scene that he describes.....Here is an excerpt from the book:

"So I went over much grass and many flowers and among all kinds of wholesome and delectable trees ti lo! in a narrow place between two rocks the came to meet me a Great Lion. The speed of him was like an ostrich, and his size was an elephant's; his hair was like pure gold and the brightness of his eyes like gold that is liquid in the furnace. He was more terrible than the Flaming Mountain of Lagour, and in beauty, he surpassed all that is in the world even as the rose in bloom surpasses the dust of the desert. Then I fell at his feet and thought, Surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion (who is worthy of all honor) will know that I have served Tash all my days and not him. Nevertheless, it is better to see the Lion and die than to be a Tisroc of the world and live and not to have seen him. But the Glorious One bent down his golden head and touched my forehead with his tongue and said, Son, thou art welcome. But I said, Alas, Lord, I am no son of thine, but a servant of Tash. He answered, Child, all the service you have done to Tash, I account as service done to me. Then by reasons of my great desire for wisdom and understanding, I overcame my fear and questioned the Glorious One and said, Lord, is it then true, as the Ape said, that thou and Tash are one? The Lion growled so that the earth shook (but his wrath was not against me) and said, it is False. Not because he and I are one, but are opposites, I take to me the services which thou hast done to him. For I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath's sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn. though he knew it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted. Dost thou understand, Child? I said, Lord, thou knowest how much I understand. But I said also (for the truth constrained me), Yet I have been seeking Tash all my days. Beloved, said the Glorious One, unless thy desire had been for me thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they truly seek....."

Pretty incredible, huh? C.S. Lewis uses such imagery, imagination, and color throughout the whole book...in fact...the whole Chronicles of Narnia series. I truly encourage you to get the books and read, ponder, reflect, and absorb into your very being the picture that C.S. Lewis paints in these most wonderful books!

Though written for children, they are timeless...for children of all ages! Please, please, please... do yourself and your children a favor....and be sure to read and re-read the Chronicles of Narnia!!

Long Live Aslan!!