Prince Caspian is the second part of the Chronicles of Narnia written by British author C.S. Lewis. This series is a fairy tale created for children, featuring many fantastical elements, religious undertones, and reflections of historical events and literary works. It is said to have had a significant influence on The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.
The first part, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, primarily tells the story of four children who discover the magical world of Narnia and, with the help of the lion king Aslan, defeat the White Witch. Narnia is somewhat like an alien planet where time passes differently; a long time can pass there while only a moment goes by on Earth. After ruling Narnia for many years, the four children return to the real world but are mysteriously brought back to Narnia one day, starting the story of the second part.
Prince Caspian is a story similar to Hamlet, where Caspian escapes after being persecuted by his uncle, organizes a rebellion, seeks help, and blows the magical horn to summon the four children and Aslan for assistance. The four children discover that hundreds of years have passed in Narnia, and it has undergone tremendous changes. On their way to help Caspian, initially only the youngest child, Lucy, can see Aslan, while the others cannot. After facing setbacks, everyone begins to believe Lucy and follows her to the right path as directed by Aslan, during which they gradually become able to see Aslan as well. With the help of the four children and Aslan, the usurping uncle is defeated, Caspian regains the throne, and the four children, along with others unwilling to live in Narnia, return to the real world through the door to heaven set by Aslan.
The lion king Aslan is a figure similar to God, and whether one can see him depends on their belief in him. As they grow older, the two older children no longer believe in fairy tales, and they will not be able to return to Narnia again, while the two younger children can still come back. In the world of Narnia, animals can talk, plants can dance, and there are strange creatures like giants, dwarfs, centaurs, and werewolves, along with magical healing potions. This world is quite similar to the magical worlds in The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, with the distinction that the villains are relatively less vicious.
Compared to the first part, Prince Caspian has a more complex story and introduces more unfamiliar English words, but it is still not too difficult for people from non-English-speaking countries, making it suitable for those who are just starting to read English originals as a process of adaptation.