{"product_id":"the-horse-9780571384754","title":"The Horse","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eWilly Vlautin's novel \"The Free World\" is a poetic and deeply moving story about what it really takes to be a musician. It follows 65-year-old Al Ward, who is several years into an isolated stint living on old mining land in Nevada, and is broken by alcoholism and anxiety. Intercut with Al's present-day story are episodes from his long life as a songwriter and guitarist, beginning in Reno. The novel is a gorgeous homage to the uncelebrated musicians who make our lives more joyful and an exploration of loneliness, humanity, and resilience. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 224 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 02 May 2024\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Faber \u0026amp; Faber\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTremendously compelling . . . as succinct and wrenching as a well-honed folk song.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGUARDIAN\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA bruised and beautiful instant classic.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBEN MYERS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWilly Vlautin's most personal novel yet - a poetic and deeply moving story about what it really takes to be a musician.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere's a horse, he whispered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn old horse that's standing in front of my house.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe's blind and he won't eat and I don't know what to do.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e65-year-old Al Ward is several years into an isolated stint living on old mining land in Nevada left to him by his great uncle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne morning, the horse arrives outside his home, seemingly unable to feed itself or stay safe from coyote attacks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e6000 feet up, 30 miles from the nearest town and broken by alcoholism and anxiety, Al must decide what to do.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIntercut with Al's present-day story are episodes from his long life as a songwriter and guitarist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBeginning in Reno, we follow his chequered career as a touring musician, struggling to make ends meet and to survive the reality of a life devoid of the glitz and glamour of mainstream success.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVlautin's new novel is a gorgeous homage to the uncelebrated musicians who make our lives more joyful, and, as always, an exploration of loneliness, humanity, and resilience.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnother classic from one of America's greatest storytellers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJONATHAN EVISON\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA terrific parable of art and aging.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJESS WALTER\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 336g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 223 x 141 x 22 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9780571384754\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eEdition number\u003c\/strong\u003e: Main\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Willy Vlautin","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":45911280681210,"sku":"9780571384754","price":12.13,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/files\/1714765116540_book.jpg?v=1715413821","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/the-horse-9780571384754","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}