Lady Clare the Story of a Horse

Name: Lady Clare the Story of a Horse
Author: Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen

The novel revolves around Lady Clare, a beautiful and spirited horse who lives on an estate in the countryside. The story explores her life from birth to maturity, highlighting her relationships with humans and other animals. As she grows up, Lady Clare becomes increasingly aware of her own identity and sense of self-worth. She is treated as a valuable possession by her owners, but also experiences moments of freedom and joy when she is allowed to roam in the fields. Throughout the novel, themes of ownership, freedom, and the human-animal relationship are explored through Lady Clare's experiences. The story raises questions about the nature of identity and the impact of human actions on non-human entities. The narrative is written in a lyrical and descriptive style, with a focus on evoking the natural world and the emotions of the characters.

By Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen · First published 1909 · Genre: Animal Fiction, Adventure, Coming-of-Age · 12,263 words

First lines

The king was dead, and among the many things he left behind him which his successor had no use for were a lot of fancy horses. There were long-barrelled English hunters, all legs and neck; there were Kentucky racers, graceful, swift, and strong; and two Arabian steeds, which had been presented to his late majesty by the Sultan of Turkey. To see the beautiful beasts prancing and plunging, as they were being led through the streets by grooms in the royal livery, was enough to make the blood dance in the veins of any lover of horse-flesh. And to think that they were being led ignominiously to the auction mart to be sold under the hammer -- knocked down to the highest bidder! It was a sin and a shame surely! And they seemed to feel it themselves; and that was the reason they acted so obstreperously, sometimes lifting the grooms off their feet as they reared and snorted and struck sparks with their steel-shod hoofs from the stone pavement.

What this Textopian page supports

Lady Clare the Story of a Horse is listed on Textopian as a novella by Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen, dated 1909 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novella
Author: Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen
Date: 1909 CE
Language: English
Genres: Animal Fiction, Adventure, Coming-of-Age, Drama, Historical Fiction
Length: 12,263 words
Structure: 1 section, 111 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Lady Clare the Story of a Horse by Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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Discussion starters

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How does this novella by Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Animal Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Animal Fiction — The story centers around a horse, Lady Clare, and her experiences, making it a prime example of animal fiction.
Adventure — The narrative involves a series of events and challenges, including a horse auction, a fight, and a search, which are typical elements of adventure stories.
Coming-of-Age — The protagonist, Erik, undergoes personal growth and development throughout the story, a hallmark of coming-of-age literature.
Drama — The plot includes emotional and interpersonal conflicts, such as Erik's attachment to Lady Clare and the rivalry with John Garvestad, which are characteristic of drama.