Post by tintin on Jan 30, 2016 19:02:48 GMT 1
This series comprises three books and they are largely instruction in story form. The author was a prominent expert on riding, horses and hunting in the forties and fifties.
Let's Go Riding - The most didactic of the three. Introduces brother and sister John and Jane and Mr Wisp the Riding Master. It is always interesting when experts differ and Mr Kearley's contemporary Colonel Hance would disagree with a lot here. It is quite funny when Mr Wisp says to his charges that he does not wish to overburden them with instruction, then the book itself completely beats you about the head with it. Each of the three volumes has a different illustrator. This one has very arty and slightly elongated wood cut type illustrations which give it a lot more appeal than it probably would have otherwise. It contains the clearest description I have ever read of how to age a horse by looking at his teeth. 3 Horseshoes
Let's Go Hunting - Volume 1 sold well and went through four editions by 1950. Volume 2 landed an introduction by the Duke of Beaufort! World War 2 has taken place since Volume 1. John and Jane have both been to the war and it is good on how what type of unit someone serves in affects their outlook and the confidence imparted by successful military service and also the ennui often felt on leaving the army. The book is again instructional, but there is a plot and the characters have acquired lives of their own beyond being training aids. They find Mr Wisp again by accident. He has had to re-locate his riding school due to the bombing and it is in a poor state. They go to help him which is the story and is enjoyable and charming. The book is largely about hunting and does include, literally, lectures on each type of hunting (bad weather stops the hunt so they have slide shows in the village hall). Not really for people who are n't keen on hunting. 4 horse shoes.
Let's Meet Again - The jewel of the series. The author has really got in his stride with a lot of characters who have real depth and interest. This is still an instructional book, this time mainly about schooling, but has an original and interesting story. Mr Flagg, who is embittered against Mr Wisp, through deliberate and prolonged cruelty turns the horse Barnone into a vicious man hater and then has him palmed off on his rival in the hope of either discrediting or disabling him. Wisp slowly wins the horse round. An exciting story with very well drawn characters. Barnone is exploited by Flagg who himself is being exploited by a social climbing woman. Interestingly the book raises the possibility of remorse and rehabilitation on the part of it's villain. 5 verging on Gold Cup. Has my favourite illustrations of the three.
Sad there were n't anymore, I grew to love the characters and wanted to know what happened to them (especially the beautiful, but slightly brittle, side saddle lady who everyone fell in love with, but did n't seem to be able to love/trust anyone and seemed scared of a lonely old age. I was willing her toward Mr Wisp like mad) Also the storytelling improved and he could have been a really great horse story author if he'd kept going.
Let's Go Riding - The most didactic of the three. Introduces brother and sister John and Jane and Mr Wisp the Riding Master. It is always interesting when experts differ and Mr Kearley's contemporary Colonel Hance would disagree with a lot here. It is quite funny when Mr Wisp says to his charges that he does not wish to overburden them with instruction, then the book itself completely beats you about the head with it. Each of the three volumes has a different illustrator. This one has very arty and slightly elongated wood cut type illustrations which give it a lot more appeal than it probably would have otherwise. It contains the clearest description I have ever read of how to age a horse by looking at his teeth. 3 Horseshoes
Let's Go Hunting - Volume 1 sold well and went through four editions by 1950. Volume 2 landed an introduction by the Duke of Beaufort! World War 2 has taken place since Volume 1. John and Jane have both been to the war and it is good on how what type of unit someone serves in affects their outlook and the confidence imparted by successful military service and also the ennui often felt on leaving the army. The book is again instructional, but there is a plot and the characters have acquired lives of their own beyond being training aids. They find Mr Wisp again by accident. He has had to re-locate his riding school due to the bombing and it is in a poor state. They go to help him which is the story and is enjoyable and charming. The book is largely about hunting and does include, literally, lectures on each type of hunting (bad weather stops the hunt so they have slide shows in the village hall). Not really for people who are n't keen on hunting. 4 horse shoes.
Let's Meet Again - The jewel of the series. The author has really got in his stride with a lot of characters who have real depth and interest. This is still an instructional book, this time mainly about schooling, but has an original and interesting story. Mr Flagg, who is embittered against Mr Wisp, through deliberate and prolonged cruelty turns the horse Barnone into a vicious man hater and then has him palmed off on his rival in the hope of either discrediting or disabling him. Wisp slowly wins the horse round. An exciting story with very well drawn characters. Barnone is exploited by Flagg who himself is being exploited by a social climbing woman. Interestingly the book raises the possibility of remorse and rehabilitation on the part of it's villain. 5 verging on Gold Cup. Has my favourite illustrations of the three.
Sad there were n't anymore, I grew to love the characters and wanted to know what happened to them (especially the beautiful, but slightly brittle, side saddle lady who everyone fell in love with, but did n't seem to be able to love/trust anyone and seemed scared of a lonely old age. I was willing her toward Mr Wisp like mad) Also the storytelling improved and he could have been a really great horse story author if he'd kept going.