Farewell to the horse : the final century of our relationship

THE SUNDAY TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 'A beautiful and thoughtful exploration of the role of the horse in creating our world' James Rebanks 'Scintillating, exhilarating ... you have never read a book like it ... a new way of considering history' Observer The relationship between horses and humans is an ancient, profound and complex one. For millennia horses provided the strength and speed that humans lacked. How we travelled, farmed and fought was dictated by the needs of this extraordinary animal. And then, suddenly, in the 20th century the links were broken and the millions of horses that shared our existence almost vanished, eking out a marginal existence on race-tracks and pony clubs. Farewell to the Horse is an engaging, brilliantly written and moving discussion of what horses once meant to us. Cities, farmland, entire industries were once shaped as much by the needs of horses as humans. The intervention of horses was fundamental in countless historical events. They were sculpted, painted, cherished, admired; they were thrashed, abused and exposed to terrible danger. From the Roman Empire to the Napoleonic Empire every world-conqueror needed to be shown on a horse. Tolstoy once reckoned that he had cumulatively spent some nine years of his life on horseback. Ulrich Raulff's book, a bestseller in Germany, is a superb monument to the endlessly various creature who has so often shared and shaped our fate. The Relationship Between Horses And Humans Is An Ancient, Profound And Complex One. For Millennia Horses Provided The Strength And Speed That Humans Lacked. How We Travelled, Farmed And Fought Was Dictated By The Needs Of This Extraordinary Animal. And Then, Suddenly, In The 20th Century The Links Were Broken And The Millions Of Horses That Shared Our Existence Almost Vanished, Eking Out A Marginal Existence On Race-tracks And Pony Clubs.farewell To The Horse Is An Engaging, Brilliantly Written And Moving Discussion Of What Horses Once Meant To Us. Cities, Farmland, Entire Industries Were Once Shaped As Much By The Needs Of Horses As Humans. The Intervention Of Horses Was Fundamental In Countless Historical Events. They Were Sculpted, Painted, Cherished, Admired; They Were Thrashed, Abused And Exposed To Terrible Danger. From The Roman Empire To The Napoleonic Empire Every World-conqueror Needed To Be Shown On A Horse. Tolstoy Once Reckoned That He Had Cumulatively Spent Some Nine Years Of His Life On Horseback.ulrich Raulff's Book, A Bestseller In Germany, Is A Superb Monument To The Endlessly Various Creature Who Has So Often Shared And Shaped Our Fate. Machine Generated Contents Note: Pt. I The Centaurian Pact -- Energy: Hell For Horses -- A Pastoral Incident -- Riding West -- The Shock -- The Jewish Horsewoman -- Pt. Ii A Phantom Of The Library -- Knowledge: Blood And Speed -- The Anatomy Lesson -- Connoisseurs And Conmen -- Researchers -- Pt. Iii The Living Metaphor Pathos -- Napoleon -- The Fourth Rider -- The Whip -- Turin: A Winter's Tale -- Pt. Iv The Forgotten Player -- Histories: Teeth And Time -- Conquest -- Out Of The Picture -- Herodotus. Ulrich Raulff ; Translated By Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp. First Published In German By Verlag C. H. Beck Ohg Munchen 2015--title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 376-437) And Index. Translated From The German. Résumé tiré de la jaquette :"The relationship between horses and humans is an ancient, profound and complex one. For millennia horses provided the strength and speed that humans lacked. How we travelled, farmed and fought was dictated by the needs of this extraordinary animal. And then, suddenly, in the 20th century the links were broken and the millions of horses that shared our existence almost vanished, eking out a marginal existence on race-tracks and pony clubs. Farewell to the Horse is an engaging, brilliantly written and moving discussion of what horses once meant to us. Cities, farmland, entire industries were once shaped as much by the needs of horses as humans. The intervention of horses was fundamental in countless historical events. They were sculpted, painted, cherished, admired; they were thrashed, abused and exposed to terrible danger. From the Roman Empire to the Napoleonic Empire every world-conqueror needed to be shown on a horse. Tolstoy once reckoned that he had cumulatively spent some nine years of his life on horseback. Ulrich Raulff's book, a bestseller in Germany, is a superb monument to the endlessly various creature who has so often shared and shaped our fate." Zusammenfassung: The relationship between horses and humans is an ancient, profound and complex one. For millennia horses provided the strength and speed that humans lacked. How we travelled, farmed and fought was dictated by the needs of this extraordinary animal. And then, suddenly, in the 20th century the links were broken and the millions of horses that shared our existence almost vanished, eking out a marginal existence on race-tracks and pony clubs.Farewell to the Horse is an engaging, brilliantly written and moving discussion of what horses once meant to us. Cities, farmland, entire industries were once shaped as much by the needs of horses as humans. The intervention of horses was fundamental in countless historical events. They were sculpted, painted, cherished, admired; they were thrashed, abused and exposed to terrible danger. From the Roman Empire to the Napoleonic Empire every world-conqueror needed to be shown on a horse. Tolstoy once reckoned that he had cumulatively spent some nine years of his life on horseback.Ulrich Raulff's book, a bestseller in Germany, is a superb monument to the endlessly various creature who has so often shared and shaped our fate 'A beautiful and thoughtful exploration of the role of the horse in creating our world... Farewell to the Horse is a grown-up, but also lyrical and creative, history book, and I very much enjoyed it.' James Rebanks The relationship between horses and humans is an ancient, profound and complex one. For millennia horses provided the strength and speed that humans lacked. How we travelled, farmed and fought was dictated by the needs of this extraordinary animal. And then, suddenly, in the 20th century the links were broken and the millions of horses that shared our existence almost vanished, eking out a marginal existence on race-tracks and pony clubs. Farewell to the Horse is an engaging, brilliantly written and moving discussion of what horses once meant to us. Cities, farmland, entire industries were once shaped as much by the needs of horses as humans. The intervention of horses was fundamental in countless historical events. They were... "Horses and humans share an ancient, profoundly complex relationship. Once our most indispensable companions, horses were for millennia essential in helping build our cities, farms, and industries. But during the twentieth century, in an increasingly mechanized society, they began to disappear from human history. In this esoteric and rich tribute, [the author] chronicles the dramatic story of this most spectacular creature, thoroughly examining how they've been muses and brothers in arms, neglected and sacrificed in war yet memorialized in paintings, sculpture, and novels--and ultimately marginalized on racetracks and in pony clubs"--Amazon.com