The Black Stallion

Walter Farley (author)

Random House, UK: 1941; 187pp

ISBN: 9780679813439

Genres: adventure, animal stories

Issues: friendship, survival

The story of a young boy and a remarkable Arabian stallion who survive a shipwreck.

The boy ties himself to the horse, who swims him to a deserted island where they gradually come to know and trust each other. On returning to civilisation, the boy secretly trains the horse for the Grand National.

This is a wonderfully compelling narrative, considering there are really only two characters - the horse and the boy - for most of the novel. There is a very decent film of the book that avoids unnecessary dialogue and uses stunning scenic shots to catch the trust that slowly develops between the boy and the stallion.

Farley's love of horses shines in his writing and is strengthened by the great respect and admiration for them as animals that underpins his writing.

Series: multiple titles

Same Author: The Island Stallion