The Horse

There's a horse', he whispered. 'An old horse that's standing in front ofmy house. He's blind and he won't eat and I don't know what to do.'65-year-oldAl Ward is several years into an isolated stint living on old mining land inNevada left to him by his great uncle. One morning, the horse arrives outsidehis home, seemingly unable to feed itself or stay safe from coyote attacks. 6000 feet up, 30 miles from the nearest town and broken by alcoholism andanxiety, Al must decide what to do.Intercutwith Al's present-day story are episodes from his long life as a songwriterand guitarist. Beginning in Reno, we follow his chequered career as a touringmusician, struggling to make ends meet and to survive the reality of a likedevoid of the glitz and glamour of mainstream success.Vlautin'snew novel is a gorgeous homage to the uncelebrated musicians who make ourlives more joyful, and, as always, an exploration of loneliness, humanity andresilience.