Post by tintin on Nov 7, 2011 16:31:08 GMT 1
Behind every great man, they used to say, was a great woman. Behind every great general there is often a rather special horse.
I have just finished reading “Traveller” which tells the tale of the horse of the same name, a grey gelding, who was General Robert E Lee’s charger when he commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.
The book employs the unusual technique of having Traveller tell his own story. Even more unusually he tells his story in the form of reminiscences to General Lee’s family cat. General Lee retained Traveller in civilian life when he was in charge at Washington College, now Washington and Lee College.
What did I like about the book?
The Traveller of the book is a very engaging character, I grew quite fond of him. The book is meticulously researched. An expert in equine behaviour and two dialect experts were consulted and the research into the American Civil War seems meticulous. The author himself saw combat in Holland during the NW Europe campaign of 1944-5 and his depiction of battle is sober and has the ring of truth. It is good on what it is like to be cold, wet, hungry and in fear of one’s life and limb. By all accounts the portrait of Traveller is accurate – General Lee was the epitome of military and gentlemanly characteristics so, deservedly, he had a horse who was a bit of a paragon.
What did n’t I like?
If you have no knowledge of the Civil War it will be more than a bit confusing. My knowledge of the conflict is above average (just) and I often found myself frustrated as to who was doing what, where and when. Someone needs to bring out an annotated edition (even better if it had maps and illustrations). Every so often in the book also Traveller is displayed as extraordinarily naieve. This does not blend at all well with the majority of the narrative where he is very prescient and switched on as to what is happening. It comes across as false, even a bit disrespectful to the character. You almost feel the author used this naievity when he wanted to make a point.
I have not given a vote in the poll myself because I am still unsure what I thought of this book. Great character, well researched and well written but it just seemed to lack any real drive.
I have just finished reading “Traveller” which tells the tale of the horse of the same name, a grey gelding, who was General Robert E Lee’s charger when he commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.
The book employs the unusual technique of having Traveller tell his own story. Even more unusually he tells his story in the form of reminiscences to General Lee’s family cat. General Lee retained Traveller in civilian life when he was in charge at Washington College, now Washington and Lee College.
What did I like about the book?
The Traveller of the book is a very engaging character, I grew quite fond of him. The book is meticulously researched. An expert in equine behaviour and two dialect experts were consulted and the research into the American Civil War seems meticulous. The author himself saw combat in Holland during the NW Europe campaign of 1944-5 and his depiction of battle is sober and has the ring of truth. It is good on what it is like to be cold, wet, hungry and in fear of one’s life and limb. By all accounts the portrait of Traveller is accurate – General Lee was the epitome of military and gentlemanly characteristics so, deservedly, he had a horse who was a bit of a paragon.
What did n’t I like?
If you have no knowledge of the Civil War it will be more than a bit confusing. My knowledge of the conflict is above average (just) and I often found myself frustrated as to who was doing what, where and when. Someone needs to bring out an annotated edition (even better if it had maps and illustrations). Every so often in the book also Traveller is displayed as extraordinarily naieve. This does not blend at all well with the majority of the narrative where he is very prescient and switched on as to what is happening. It comes across as false, even a bit disrespectful to the character. You almost feel the author used this naievity when he wanted to make a point.
I have not given a vote in the poll myself because I am still unsure what I thought of this book. Great character, well researched and well written but it just seemed to lack any real drive.