Post by tintin on Jul 2, 2012 17:28:46 GMT 1
This is my favourite piece of horse literature, one of my favourite books ever and, to me, probably THE horse book next to Black Beauty (which really stands in a class of its own).
I will, however, try to review it at least a little bit objectively.
Having read Tan and Tarmac, which does n’t work for me, then this one straight after I can understand why it works so well.
Both books are about the same length (this one 157 pages, T&T 158), but this one is written by a real expert at the craft.
There is a comparatively large cast of characters, but, even without the useful descriptions at the beginning, we are not swamped with them. Each is a clearly drawn realistic individual. Each has their traits revealed slowly, but clearly.
There is only one real incident. A bank of fog comes down on the hunt. What happens in the fog and what it reveals of the riders’ characters is fascinating.
There is a riding accident, hounds run wild and lots of people ride around lost in the fog, but the author constructs a gripping story out of this.
There are no villains, but some people are better than others, and peoples’ deficiencies have consequences. Even the “anti” woman and the young lad who is n’t that keen (preferring TV) who a lesser author could have vilified and caricatured are treated gently and shown as having respectable opinions which suit them. The author is very gently praising responsibility and consideration for others, in a way that is much more effective than any sermonising.It is also great in that problems are seen as best surmounted by the application of reason and co-operation.
There are some great characters in the book (not least the truly dreadful amateur whipper in). The huntsman worried about his job and the over horsed riding school worker are also good. The budding romance between the young lady and the farmer’s son is lovely and very gently done. There is also the best depiction I have ever seen of a man’s love for and pride in his horse – very moving, but not much more than a sentence, but when you can write like this no more is needed.
PLUS - the illustrations actually match the text!
The only thing wrong with this book is it did n’t start a series.I would love to know what happened to them all.
Never fails to make me feel better.
I will, however, try to review it at least a little bit objectively.
Having read Tan and Tarmac, which does n’t work for me, then this one straight after I can understand why it works so well.
Both books are about the same length (this one 157 pages, T&T 158), but this one is written by a real expert at the craft.
There is a comparatively large cast of characters, but, even without the useful descriptions at the beginning, we are not swamped with them. Each is a clearly drawn realistic individual. Each has their traits revealed slowly, but clearly.
There is only one real incident. A bank of fog comes down on the hunt. What happens in the fog and what it reveals of the riders’ characters is fascinating.
There is a riding accident, hounds run wild and lots of people ride around lost in the fog, but the author constructs a gripping story out of this.
There are no villains, but some people are better than others, and peoples’ deficiencies have consequences. Even the “anti” woman and the young lad who is n’t that keen (preferring TV) who a lesser author could have vilified and caricatured are treated gently and shown as having respectable opinions which suit them. The author is very gently praising responsibility and consideration for others, in a way that is much more effective than any sermonising.It is also great in that problems are seen as best surmounted by the application of reason and co-operation.
There are some great characters in the book (not least the truly dreadful amateur whipper in). The huntsman worried about his job and the over horsed riding school worker are also good. The budding romance between the young lady and the farmer’s son is lovely and very gently done. There is also the best depiction I have ever seen of a man’s love for and pride in his horse – very moving, but not much more than a sentence, but when you can write like this no more is needed.
PLUS - the illustrations actually match the text!
The only thing wrong with this book is it did n’t start a series.I would love to know what happened to them all.
Never fails to make me feel better.