The Horse

A Novel

By: Willy Vlautin

Narrated by: Willy Vlautin

“Willy Vlautin writes about people overlooked by society and overlooked by literature. In The Horse, he tells the story of a tenderhearted man who has a steady talent and a crushing addiction. It is both a work of extraordinary compassion and a really great novel."—Ann Patchett, New York Times bestselling author of Tom Lake

“A moving tale of suffering and redemption, The Horse portrays the immense gravity of what it takes to be human in tough times, and the elusive grace that might just be grasped from music, animals, and memory.”—Geraldine Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of Horse

Award-winning author Willy Vlautin explores loneliness, art, regret, and hard-won empathy in this poignant novel—his most personal to date—that captures the life of a journeyman musician unable to escape the tragedies of his past.

Al Ward lives on an isolated mining claim in the high desert of central Nevada fifty miles from the nearest town. A grizzled man in his sixties, he survives on canned soup, instant coffee, and memories of his ex-wife, friends and family he’s lost, and his life as a touring musician. Hampered by insomnia, bouts of anxiety, and a chronic lethargy that keeps him from moving back to town, Al finds himself teetering on the edge of madness and running out of reasons to go on—until a horse arrives on his doorstep: nameless, blind, and utterly helpless.

Al hopes the horse will vanish as mysteriously as he appeared. Yet the animal remains, leaving him in a conundrum. Is the animal real, or a phantom conjured from imagination? As Al contemplates the horse’s existence—and what, if anything, he can do—his thoughts are interspersed with memories, from the moment his mother’s part-time boyfriend gifts him a 1959 butterscotch blonde Telecaster, to the day his travels begin. He joins various bands—all who perform his songs once they discover his talent–playing casinos, truck stops, clubs, and bars. He falls in love, and finds pockets of companionship and minor success along the way. Never close to stardom or financial success, he continues as a journeyman for decades until alcoholism and a heartbreaking tragedy lead him to the solitude of the barren Nevada desert.

A poignant meditation on addiction, heartbreak, and the reality of life on the road in smalltime bands, The Horse is a beautiful, haunting tale from an author working at the height of his powers.

©2024 Willy Vlautin (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

After a while, I kinda started to like it.

it's a tale of a musician who is very talented, but can't quit hit the big time. he travels and plays, but he is really good at writing songs. the author gives us an Easter egg, the ballad of Frank and Jerry Lee. it was a little hard tkeep track of everything but buy the end your came to know Al.

Down to earth

This book connected me to the everyday, down to earth creative process. Throughout a life of change, some things remained and something’s did not. But a great story all the way.

Wonderful audio book!

My gosh, what a perfect audio book! The author has just the right voice for this beautiful novel, so full of poignancy and depth. I loved it so much that I missed hearing his voice, the details that allowed me to really feel the story, and the journey of the main character, when it was over.

Incredible story telling

I love this book. This is the first Willy Vlautin book and man it did not disappoint. I need to hear Al’s originals from The Sanchez Brothers now