In another letter, he wrote: “I could not write that story myself. Though, contrary to a popular internet rumor, Lewis never planned to finish writing Susan’s story himself. I think that whatever she had seen in Narnia she could (if she was the sort that wanted to) persuade herself, as she grew up, that it was ‘all nonsense’” But there is plenty of time for her to mend, and perhaps she will get to Aslan’s country in the end-in her own way. She is left alive in this world at the end, having been turned into a rather silly, conceited young woman. “The books don’t tell us what happened to Susan. Haven’t you noticed in the two you have read that she is rather fond of being too grownup? I am sorry to say that side of her got stronger and she forgot about Narnia.” In an early 1955 letter to a girl named Marcia, Lewis first revealed his decision to have Susan lose her way in The Last Battle. “My sister Susan,” answered Peter shortly and gravely, “is no longer a friend of Narnia.” The Last Battle Has not your Majesty two sisters? Where is Queen Susan?”

“If I have read the chronicle aright, there should be another. “Sire,” said Tirian, when he had greeted all these. It seems everyone has an opinion on Susan’s fate.

Perhaps the most controversial topic surrounding The Chronicles of Narnia, drawing criticism from the likes of Neil Gaiman, J.K Rowling, and Philip Pullman, is the handling of Susan Pevensie in The Last Battle. Look for “Did you know” articles on NarniaWeb on the first of every month.

The final battle cs lewis