Part of the Narnia series by C. S. Lewis, The Horse, and His Boy is an underdog story about a struggle between the good people of Narnia, their equally good allies in Archenland, the nation to the south of Narnia, and the evil, amoral Calormene empire. The story is intended to introduce the growing threat of the Tash-worshipping Calormene culture, which is gradually strengthening and beginning to overwhelm Narnian and Archenlander culture.
Readers who have followed the series from the initial The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and its prequel The Magician's Nephew are aware of the origin of Narnia and of the role of its self-sacrificing lord Aslan. Aslan, a talking lion who is the leader of all the animals and human beings in Narnia, long ago sacrificed his life for the benefit of the Narnian people and animals. This is an allegory for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as depicted in the Bible. Although none of the Narnia novels mention any human religion, there are many religious and Biblical metaphors and allegories throughout the series.
The Horse and His Boy is the third volume sequentially in The Chronicles of Narnia, following the course of Narnia history. The kingdom is still being governed by the four Pevensie children who initially discover Narnia through an enchanted wardrobe. Narnia is therefore in its golden age. Yet this novel introduces a land beyond Narnia that includes the allied nation of Archenland and the southern nation of Calormen, which even now is becoming more powerful and potentially dangerous. In this book, C.S. Lewis plants the seeds that will eventually lead to the great war depicted in The Last Battle.
The nation of Calormen, in contrast to Narnia, is a feudal monarchy ruled by a leader named the Tisroc. In terms of government it is much like Narnia's and Archenland's, except that it is far more corrupt and slavery and arranged marriage are common cultural institutions. The Calormene people worship a bird-like god named Tash, whose name is reflected in that of their capital city, Tashbaan.
Shasta, the protagonist of the story, is the eldest son of King Lune of Archenland who, kidnapped as a baby and left in a boat on the water in a manner reminiscent of Moses, is raised by a Calormene man who plans to sell him as a slave. Shasta's escape from slavery, together with the young Calormene woman Aravis who is fleeing an arranged marriage, and the talking Narnia horses Bree and Hwin, is a reference to the escape of the Israelites from Egypt. Many practices in ancient Egypt, such as arranged marriage and slavery, are part of the Calormene way of life.
While escaping, Shasta and Aravis become aware of a Calormene plot to invade Narnia by way of Archenland. Shasta manages to thwart the plot, thereby saving the kingdom as was foretold at his birth. The notion of divine Providence appears in this book, as the lion Aslan is shown appearing at will and manipulating events to his satisfaction, much to the consternation of the characters.
