The Horse: A Novel

Winner of the Joyce Carol Oates Prize

From award-winning author Willy Vlautin comes a poignant and poetic novel—his most personal to date—about art, life on the road in smalltime bands, and the power of the song.

“One of America’s greatest storytellers.”—Jonathan Evison

“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

“A work of extraordinary compassion and a really great novel.”—Ann Patchett

Al Ward, a grizzled man in his sixties, lives on an isolated mining claim in the high desert of central Nevada and 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, 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.

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 snapshots of his life as a musician. 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 isolation of the barren Nevada desert.

A moving meditation on addiction, regret, loneliness, and second chances, centered on a core of unexpected hope and pure love—love of craft and art and music—The Horse is a beautiful, haunting tale from an author working at the height of his powers.