Author: Walter Farley
Published: 1962, Renewed 1990, Yearling (Imprint of Random House)
Genre: Fictional Biography for Ages 10+, 352 pages
Rating: 5/5
As a child I read several novels from The Black Stallion series and was absolutely in love with the movies. Last spring I went on a horse racing book buying escapade when Man o' War showed up in the Amazon results. I did a double take when I saw the author's name. Never before had I even heard of this novel by Farley.
Danny is a teenager whose only desire is to be with the race horses he admires. One night, he witnesses the birth of a great chestnut colt who captures his heart. When the colt is sold he follows Man o' War to his new home and watches the glory of his beloved horse unfold. Man o' War, while considered over-sized by some, was a demon on the track winning 20 of his 21 races. In his two year racing career he won $249,465 in purses and shattered several records. The greatness of this colt captured the attention of racing fans across the United States and he was named Horse of the Year in 1920.
Farley did not only write a great tribute to Man o' War but to horse racing as well. Readers will feel their heart swell with excitement as his prose carries them through the races. They will be able to hear the cheering of crowds, feel the heat of summer, and see the streak of red crossing the finish line as shouts erupt in the stadium. With his excellent use of imagery, Farley recreated the races so readers could imagine them with the greatness Man o' War brought to the track. When a reader feels anticipation and excitement at the starting gate the author has indeed brought glory to the equine writing world.
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