Buying a Horse
In Buying a Horse, William Dean Howells offers a humorous and informative guide to the process of purchasing a horse. He begins by discussing the various types of horses available, from draft horses to racehorses, and the different qualities to look for in each. He then moves on to the practical aspects of buying a horse, such as how to evaluate a horse’s health and soundness, how to negotiate a fair price, and how to transport the horse safely. He also provides advice on how to care for a horse once it is purchased, including feeding, grooming, and exercising. Throughout the book, Howells emphasizes the importance of patience and research when buying a horse, and he provides numerous anecdotes and humorous stories to illustrate his points.
By William Dean Howells · First published 1879 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Humor, Adventure · 7,804 words
First lines
If one has money enough, there seems no reason why one should not go and buy such a horse as he wants. This is the commonly accepted theory, on which the whole commerce in horses is founded, and on which my friend proceeded.
What this Textopian page supports
Buying a Horse is listed on Textopian as a short story by William Dean Howells, dated 1879 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: William Dean Howells
- Date: 1879 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realistic Fiction, Humor, Adventure, Romance
- Length: 7,804 words
- Structure: 1 section, 76 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Buying a Horse by William Dean Howells
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Buying a Horse?
- How does this short story by William Dean Howells fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Realistic Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Realistic Fiction — The book follows a realistic plot of a man buying a horse, and is written in a realistic style.
- Humor — The book contains humorous elements, such as the protagonist's interactions with the horse seller.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on an adventure to buy a horse, encountering various obstacles along the way.
- Romance — The protagonist's relationship with the horse seller is a romantic one, as they develop a bond over the course of the story.
Tags
Fiction · Horses · Short stories · back · began · billy · buy · buying · came · could · day · family