This is the remarkable story of General Lee's horse, Traveller. What makes it truly fascinating is that it presents the narrative, particularly of the Civil War, from the unique perspective of the horse itself. Through Traveller's eyes, we gain a different understanding of the events and the turmoil that unfolded during that time.
Not only does it tell the story of the war, but it also vividly describes the deep and unbreakable bond between the horse and the man in grey, General Lee. Traveller was not just a means of transportation for the general; it was a trusted companion and a silent witness to his every decision and action.
The story of Traveller offers a fresh and engaging look at a significant period in American history, and it reminds us of the important role that animals have played in our lives and in the events that have shaped our world.
Really interesting look into the Civil War through the point of view of a horse.
The story offers a unique perspective, allowing us to see the chaos and turmoil of that era from the eyes of a creature that was an integral part of the conflict. We can imagine the horse's fear and confusion as it witnessed battles, heard the thunder of cannons, and felt the tremors of the earth beneath its hooves.
Through this horse's experiences, we gain a deeper understanding of the hardships endured by all those involved in the Civil War, not just the soldiers but also the animals that served alongside them. It makes us realize that war affects every living being, and that even the most unlikely of witnesses can have a story to tell.
This novel approach to depicting the Civil War adds a new layer of depth and emotion to the historical narrative, making it a truly engaging and thought-provoking read.
I read this particular piece because "Watership Down" held great significance in my childhood. In fact, it might just be the only book I've ever had the inclination to read twice. Adams has an extraordinary talent for capturing the voices of animals in a highly believable manner, and he did an outstanding job with Traveller. Traveller's perspective on life, people, and circumstances beyond his control will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever had any experience around horses. He is childlike, always eager to please, blindly devoted to and dependent on his master. When he becomes aware of his position, he can be quite pompous, yet he remains endlessly optimistic about the future.
I think Adams crafted him as being supremely lacking in stubbornness to highlight Robert E. Lee's superior horsemanship and sensitivity towards animals. Interestingly, Traveller actually seemed like a rather odd choice for a narrator to me. This is because he is by no means an underdog. He knows precisely how good he is at his job and is completely oblivious to any sign that his side might be losing, much to the annoyance of a few other horses who are far more cynical than him and seem like more suitable candidates for a narrator. Of course, Traveller is an icon, and he is the individual best suited to tell us an honest story about Lee, so it makes perfect sense that it is his voice that we hear.
It is truly heart-breaking to witness how Traveller's thinking becomes increasingly irrational as the Confederacy approaches and eventually meets its end. This is because he has such unwavering faith in Lee, who is almost like a deity to him and the rest of the army. Traveller seems to embody the attitude of the average Confederate soldier in that he operates on belief and only has a hazy understanding of what they were fighting for, which is often the case in so many conflicts. Adams deliberately avoided even hinting at the causes of the war, which initially disappointed me. In this day and age, I've come to expect some form of punditry in all the media I consume, including books. However, as I delved deeper into the book, I realized that it really wasn't necessary in this context. Maybe the reader was meant to draw parallels between the owned animal and the owned man. After all, every slave mentioned (and there are very few) is faithful and devoted, just like Traveller. But I'm not entirely certain that I could seriously advocate for that theory. On the surface, Adams wrote an intimate, emotional, and surprisingly detailed account of a part of the Civil War and a remarkable relationship between a man and a horse. If he emphasized anything, it was that war is a place of hell, waste, and far from glorious.
Adams' best work is truly remarkable. In this piece, he takes an incredibly unique approach by writing about the Civil War from the perspective of the generals' horses. This fresh and innovative viewpoint allows the readers to gain a whole new understanding of the events that took place during that tumultuous time. The way he describes the experiences and emotions of these horses is both touching and well thought out. We can almost feel the fear, the exhaustion, and the loyalty that these animals must have felt as they carried their riders into battle. Adams' writing is so vivid and engaging that it draws the readers in and makes them care deeply about the horses and their stories. It is a truly outstanding work that showcases his talent as a writer and his ability to think outside the box.