19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
High Impact, Action, Emotion..., June 19, 2006
This review is from: The Byerley Turk: The Incredible Story of the World's First Thoroughbred (Hardcover)
"The Byerley Turk: The Incredible Story of the World's First Thoroughbred", is a fantastic story, masterfully told. It is a story of a horse, from his auspicious birth while in the care of his Turkish groom, to his peaceful death while in the care of the wealthy Englishman, Robert Byerley. It is most compelling, and contains a graphic intensity that the author Jeremy James, who has knowledge and experience with horses, weaves into his story.
Jeremy James has the ability to take you inside the landscape, and into the hearts of horses and of men. In fact, the way that this story is told, gives insight into an era that is long gone. Buildings, scenery, attire, relationships, protocol, and events are lavishly described. It gives insight to vastly different cultures in conflict, and yet the element of the human heart, and the heart of the horse are amplified throughout. The author has an uncanny ability to involve the reader, so that the passions, horrors, joys and sorrows, are deeply felt.
This is a story of trust, loyalty, and supreme athleticism, during a time of war and upheaval. There are heroic deeds performed as a matter of fact, and in retrospect, deeds with a seemingly supernatural aura... deeds which connected the events with their destiny. There are elements of beauty amongst the serious gore. Fear and friendship, supreme intellect, slavery, survival, suffering and opportunity are juxtaposed inexorably into the landscape spanning from the Ottoman Empire, to Ireland.
The stallion and his groom inspire awe and change, where ever they go. The relationships that they offer are of such a deep and profound nature, that, whether they are at home, or in a foreign land, at times it seems that they are from a different world altogether.
There are emotionally charged sequences of courage and sacrifice made in the name of love, not war. This story illustrates the power of deep relationships, the power of `home', and the transformative power of understanding.
It is not a story for the faint-hearted. The senses are floridly described in scenes of death, stress and suffering. Partings are painful. Love is not a petty emotion. Devotion is not a fleeting fulfillment of convenience. It is a book of extremes. Extreme beauty and style...extreme dedication, extreme danger, and the fantastic power of a strong-willed and defiant stallion, and the tender moments he creates when the touch of a whisker brings about peace and comfort...
It is the story of how Robert Byerley came to be in possession of the Turkish horse known as the Byerley Turk. Well researched and well presented, it is a wonderful use of the novel in depicting a time in history. It successfully captivates the imagination, and allows the reader to understand the importance of the horse in World History.
Congratulations to Jeremy James.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
History at it's best, December 30, 2005
This review is from: The Byerley Turk: The Incredible Story of the World's First Thoroughbred (Hardcover)
I asked for this book to be bought for me as a Christmas gift. I like to read history biographies. I assumed this would be in the same vein - with notations of 'records show the Beyerly Turk was in this battle, blah blah. He sailed on this ship rah, rah.'
BOY! Was I WRONG!!
Jeremy James has written this book as a novel, highlighting emotional friendships between animals and humans. I has the feel of an epic movie. About courage, honour and respect of horses and humans.
I have often wondered and dreamed what it would be like to have the sort of connection people would've had with their mounts during battles. Having to rely on each other's strengths and loyalty to make it through horrific times.
I was entranced and delighted with James's beautiful writing and descriptive prose. Having not read much about the wars and battles he covers, I found it interesting and 'googled' some of the details so I could know more.
James has written about the Turkish and their way of life in a non judgmental and poetic way. Revering their customs and traditions that I didn't know alot about. I did not feel his own thoughts or feelings - coloured his narrative of the people (both Turkish and Christian) and the righteousness of why they fought and died all those years ago.
You can feel the emotions and feelings that the characters - (including the horses) have for each other. Also his descriptions of the 'Turks' behaviour - being notably high strung had me laughing as I remembered my own thoroughbred who had similar 'top loftiness' and knew his own worth.
Purchase this book - even if you aren't an avid horse lover. If you love a good story, with terrific writing and like feeling postivie about the goodness in people from all countries and creeds - this is for you !!!!
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful book., January 16, 2006
This review is from: The Byerley Turk: The Incredible Story of the World's First Thoroughbred (Hardcover)
Jeremy has written that awfully difficult thing to do, a book of history that reads as a terrific novel. He presents the Byerley's story as something that is real and relevant to the modern world, which it is. Both to the Thorougbred breed, and to the way Europe was shaped by the Ottoman empire, for without their wonderful horses, the Turks would never have dared to invade Europe.
But, I wander. In this book we see the Turkish groom (never named) and his relationship to the beautiful bay stallion, born under a lucky star with a hair whorl that meant luck in battle. And he was, for he was never wounded in his several military actions. It is a romantic story of a remarkable animal, woven through with the history of the founding of the Thoroughbred breed, during the author dispells some 300 year old beliefs that the Thoroughbred is descended from the Arab!
Another reviwer has suggested this reads like an epic movie, I suggest it would make a blockbuster of a movie in the vein of Hidalgo and Seabiscuit, and like those two, it is a true story.
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