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What Day Was Susan's Horn Blown Again?

Col Klink
(@col-klink)
NarniaWeb Junkie

Rereading Prince Caspian today, an inconsistency jumped out at me that never did before. It's from the Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance scene. 

"You know well enough," said a voice ("That's the King," whispered
Trumpkin), "why the Horn was not blown at sunrise this morning.
Have you forgotten that Miraz fell upon us almost before Trumpkin
had gone, and we were fighting for our lives for the space of three
hours and more? I blew it when first I had a breathing space."

By my count, three nights have passed since the day Caspian blew the horn. (Trumpkin mentions hearing it from faraway and wondering why it wasn't blown sooner, setting up this surprise attack that delayed it.) Did C. S. Lewis just forget how much time had passed since the ancient kings and queen were called back to Narnia? Or is there a typo in my copy of the book? 

For better or worse-for who knows what may unfold from a chrysalis?-hope was left behind.
-The God Beneath the Sea by Leon Garfield & Edward Blishen check out my new blog!

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Topic starter Posted : April 30, 2024 10:49 am
Narnian.In.the.North
(@narnian-in-the-north)
NarniaWeb Nut

I'd never noticed that discrepancy before but my copy (HarperCollins ebook) is the same.

"I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia." ~ Puddleglum, The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

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Posted : June 27, 2024 6:55 pm
Courtenay
(@courtenay)
NarniaWeb Fanatic Hospitality Committee

I've just checked my copy (Puffin edition, the first paperback edition after the original hardcovers) and it's the same too. I'd never noticed that inconsistency either, but I'm guessing it must just be a mistake on Lewis's part.

Unless of course "the usual muddle with times" (as Eustace puts it in LB) has somehow happened within Narnia itself, and while three days and nights have passed for the Pevensies at Cair Paravel and in the woods, less than one day has passed for Caspian and his friends inside Aslan's How. Maybe the presence of the broken Stone Table slows down time for those who are around it... Grin  

(I'm joking. I'm convinced it's Lewis's own "usual muddle" about consistency, though that normally only happens between his books, not within the same one!!)

"Now you are a lioness," said Aslan. "And now all Narnia will be renewed."
(Prince Caspian)

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Posted : June 28, 2024 6:21 am
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