The Silver Brumby [Hardcover]

Elyne Mitchell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 1982

A MODERN CLASSIC ON TAPE Read by Sophie Aldred A silver brumby is special, but he will be hunted by man and horse alike, and must be stronger than both. Thowra, the magnificent silver stallion, is king of the brumbies. But he must defend his herd from the mighty horse, The Brolga, in the most savage of struggles. But that is not the only danger. Thowra needs all his speed and cunning to save his herd from capture by man. In a desperate chase through the mountains, it seems there is no longer anywhere for him to run to...

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–Australian actress Caroline Lee enthusiastically and energetically narrates this recording of Elyne Mitchell's 1958 novel about wild horses (brumbies) in Australia. It is the story of Thowra, a silvery-white brumby, who becomes leader of his own herd over the course of the book, defeating other stallions and evading the men who try to capture him. This fairly realistic horse story occasionally slips into a more fantastical style, such as when the horses converse with each other and with other animals (cows, kangaroos, dingoes) and when Mitchell attributes human emotions and thoughts to Thowra. Lee's voice walks, trots, canters, and gallops through the story, as appropriate to the action. The book is prefaced with an Australian glossary, primarily consisting of descriptions of the local flora and fauna. There are musical cues for the beginning and end of each chapter as well as each side of the tape. Young horse lovers will relish this story.–Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, San Jose, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

About the Author

Born in 1913, Elyne Mitchell began writing for her children. Although The Silver Brumby books are her most famous, she wrote several others, mainly about horses. Passionate about the dramatic landscapes of the Australian Alps, her books convey the beauty and savagery of that area with a remarkable lyricism. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Hutchinson (April 21, 1982)
• ISBN-10: 009042140X
• ISBN-13: 978-0090421404
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,250,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Looking through the horse's eyes, December 16, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Silver Brumby (Collins Modern Classics) (Paperback)

The novel is set in Australia and is written in the style of seeing life through the eyes of the wild brumbies that populate the Cascades/ Snowy Mountains. The story revolves around Thowra a palomino colt who is born from Bel Bel (cream mare). Due to his colouring he is hunted and alienated by man and beast, and the story tells how the tiny silver colt grows from a unimportant foal to the king of the Cascades. It doesn't happen easily as Thowra and his half-brother Storm evade being captured, fight for the right to have a herd, and the right for supremacy in this hostile world.

I have enjoyed this series of books, and as I come from Australia I like how it contains much Aboriginal culture and words (eg Thowra means 'the wind'). These books are unlike most horsey books as the story is about the horses lives, successes and struggles instead of the humans. A good thing about the Silver Brumby books are that the are all interlinked as most are about Thowra's offspring, friends or just about him as a legend.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is curious about Australian life in the bush, or who is just an avid horse lover like me.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars as enjoyable now as it was at age 9, February 16, 2006

By 

Oxzillia Schmitt - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silver Brumby (Collins Modern Classics) (Paperback)

I first read this book when I was nine years old and I remember loving it. I read all the other books addictively for a few months then totally forgot about them. A week ago I was at the public library and, for some reason, I suddenly remembered those books I remembered loving so much. I decided to read the first one again.

Once more I was swept up in brumby country where stallions fight to the death over mares and where man is an enamy. I found myself immersed in the world of Thowra, the magnificent silver horse who ran with the wind. The scenery is so well described you can picture it and you can really see through Thowra's eyes as he gallops away with the men on horseback at his heals.

You don't need to be a horse-lover to enjoy these books. I'm not. All you need is an appreciation of seeing through the eyes of a character who isn't human and a love of animals in general. I recommend this book to those who liked Watership Down and to those who wish to be transported to a world that is totally different than any you have ever read about before.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's soooo great!!, March 5, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Silver Brumby (Paperback)

This book is about a silver stallion that everyone wants to capture and tame, but Thowra escapes all the time and steals Golden and The Brolga fights with Yarraman, would Yarraman be killed or still be the King of Cascade brumbies? Until Thowra grew strong, he fought and won as King of the Cascade brumbies! and i recommended this book to anyone at all that loves horses or wild horses. Read this book and you'll love it!!!!!!!