"A horse is a good judge of character; he will never betray you."
First published in two instalments in Harper's Monthly Magazine in 1906, this delightful short story follows Soldier Boy, the pride of the military cavalry, and his touching relationship with Buffalo Bill's young niece, Cathy. Mark Twain crafts a narrative that skilfully weaves together adventure, humour, and social criticism, capturing the spirit of loyalty, friendship and the extraordinary bonds that form between humans and animals. A Horse's Tale deeply moved readers of its time, sparking important conversations about animal welfare and challenging societal attitudes toward animals in military service.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain (1835–1910), grew up along the banks of the Mississippi River, and his early experiences inspired many of his most famous works, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Widely celebrated as America's greatest humorist, Twain captured the spirit of a rapidly changing nation, and his sharp wit, keen eye for human nature, and gift for storytelling made him not only a beloved novelist but also a popular lecturer and essayist.
Twain's innovative style, character-driven storytelling and ability to interweave humour with profound social critique laid the groundwork for modern American literature and has inspired countless authors, including Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Indeed, Hemingway famously declared that "all modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn."
