The Horse (Unabridged‪)‬

Award-winning author Willy Vlautin explores loneliness, art, regret and hard-won empathy in this poignant story – his most personal to date – that captures the life of a journeyman musician unable to escape the tragedies of his past.

Sixty-five-year-old Al Ward is living on old mining land in Nevada. One morning, a horse arrives outside his home, seemingly unable to feed itself or stay safe from coyote attacks. Six thousand feet up, 30 miles from the nearest town, and broken by alcoholism and anxiety, Al must decide what to do.

Intercut with Al’s dilemma are episodes from his long life as a touring musician. Beginning in Reno, we follow his chequered career as a guitarist and songwriter, struggling to make ends meet and to survive the reality of a life devoid of the perks and glamour of mainstream success.

A homage to the uncelebrated musicians who can make our lives more joyful, The Horse is a gorgeous journey of a novel, exploring loneliness, humanity and resilience.