Farewell to the Horse
The Final Century of Our Relationship
Ulrich Raulff author Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp translator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Published:22nd Feb '18
Should be back in stock very soon
Exploring the profound relationship between humans and horses, Farewell to the Horse reveals their significant role in shaping history and civilization.
The relationship between horses and humans has been both profound and complex, spanning thousands of years. In Farewell to the Horse, Ulrich Raulff delves into this intricate bond, exploring how horses have shaped human civilization. From their role in transportation and agriculture to their significance in warfare, horses have been integral to our development. As they provided strength and speed, they influenced the way we traveled, farmed, and fought, leaving an indelible mark on history.
However, the 20th century brought drastic changes. The once-ubiquitous presence of horses in daily life began to wane, leading to a world where they now exist primarily in niche environments such as racetracks and pony clubs. Raulff's narrative reflects on the historical significance of horses, illustrating how they were not only essential to human endeavors but also cherished and revered. Yet, this relationship was not without its darker moments, as horses faced abuse and danger throughout history.
Farewell to the Horse is more than just a historical account; it is a moving tribute to the horse's role in shaping our world. From the Roman Empire to the Napoleonic era, horses have been central to the stories of great leaders and historical events. This beautifully written work serves as a reminder of the majestic creatures that have so often shared our fate, inviting readers to reflect on the profound impact they have had on our lives.
A beautiful and thoughtful exploration of the role of the horse in creating our world... lyrical and creative...I very much enjoyed it. Some of the scenes in it will stay with me for a long time to come * James Rebanks *
Intellectual and passionate ... Raulff's material is gloriously diverse ... [a] refined and ambitious book * The Sunday Times *
It becomes evident within three paragraphs that you have never read a book like it ... his writerly pace is exhilarating -- Kate Kellaway * Observer *
Covers ground as rapidly and thrillingly as a Cossack horseman. It lays bare a dizzying network of connections and repeatedly offers unfamiliar approached to old themes * Literary Review *
Sex, violence and 6,000 years of horse power... an elegy to the way horses have galloped through our culture' -- Melanie Reid * The Times *
This is not the Pony Club Manual or a trot through the more familiar sights of equestrian art history; it's Kafka, Aby Warburg, Tolstoy, psychoanalytic theory, Nietzsche and bleak monochrome photos in the style of Sebald. This epic enterprise is relieved by Raulff's spare, vivid style and deep learning -- Susannah Forrest * Literary Review *
A brilliant, entertaining tour-de-force * Die Zeit *
Amazing insights sweep through the book - an entrancing history packed with stories * Neue Zürcher Zeitung *
Great cultural history * Der Tagesspiegel *
Ulrich Raulff is a wonderful storyteller * Südwestrundfunk *
A fabulous book -- Uli Hufen
An exciting and entertaining ride through various landscapes -- Harry Nutt
Strange and fascinating . . . A sweeping cultural history, more kaleidoscopic than totale, as bibliographical as it is historical . . . Farewell to the Horse is a whirlwind that seems capable of drawing into its vortex almost anyone who ever thought of a horse. -- Verlyn Klinkenborg * New York Review of Books *
A remarkably nimble, creative thinker . . . Raulff's text is somehow dreamy but not sentimental . . . A brilliant examination of our complicated and violently unilateral relationship with Equus caballus . . . Though this book is about horses, it is just as much about thinking as a devotional act. -- C. E. Morgan * New York Times Book Review *
ISBN: 9780141983172
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 20mm
Weight: 330g
480 pages