Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
36(36%)
4 stars
39(39%)
3 stars
25(25%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews
July 15,2025
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"Definitely not his best."

This simple statement holds a world of meaning. It implies that the work or performance in question fails to meet the expected standard or falls short of what the person is capable of.

Perhaps it was a rushed effort, or maybe the circumstances were not ideal. It could also be that the individual was simply having an off day.

Whatever the reason, it is clear that this particular output is not a reflection of his true abilities.

However, it is important to note that everyone has their off moments, and this does not necessarily mean that the person is not talented or skilled.

It could be a learning experience, an opportunity to identify areas for improvement and come back stronger.

So, while "definitely not his best" may be a disappointment in the moment, it should also serve as a motivation for growth and betterment in the future.
July 15,2025
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I really liked the perspective of the horse in this book. It made the historical points come alive and seem much more interesting.

I'm not typically a fan of historical war fiction, but I thought this book was different. I ended up giving it to a Veteran who has a passion for this genre.

I'm sure that anyone who is into war historical fiction will thoroughly enjoy this book. It offers a unique and engaging look at a particular period in history.

The author did a great job of bringing the story to life through the eyes of the horse. It added an extra layer of depth and emotion to the narrative.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in historical fiction or wants to learn more about a specific time in history. It's a great read that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.
July 15,2025
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Richard Adams was an outstanding writer. His Watership Down is undoubtedly a masterpiece. I greatly enjoyed Shardik, and his Iron Wolf is exquisitely written. Traveller is beautifully crafted and is an amazing achievement in many aspects. However, it didn't deeply engage me on an emotional level. I believe it could have been truly magnificent as a short story, but at novel length, I had some concerns. Reading it was mostly an intellectual experience for me. Please note, these are just my opinions. Many others here have given the book 5 stars and clearly got something out of it that I didn't. I can only share my experiences. Here's what I thought.


The story is told from the perspective of Traveller, Robert E. Lee's horse during the Civil War. Traveller is赋予了个性和深度,无疑是一个令人同情的主角。然而,他对战争的看法是有限的。在书中,我们唯一真正了解的人类是“马萨·罗伯特”,这是 Traveller 对李将军的称呼。有几次,亚当斯在 Traveller 的视角之外给了我们一小段话,向我们展示了战争的大背景,但大多数时候我们是从马的角度来看待事情的。我们听到很多爆炸声和枪声。我们经历了很多泥泞和雨水,看到了成群的士兵。我们几乎看不到“蓝军”,这是他对联邦士兵的称呼,但我们从其他马向 Traveller 转述的信息中得到了一些关于他们的二手信息。Traveller 也不知道李的指挥官们的名字,而是用各种昵称来称呼他们,比如把 J.E.B. 斯图尔特称为“骑兵团”,把 A.P. 希尔称为“红衬衫”。我觉得这有点令人困惑,但很快就学会了这个代码。


可能对我来说,读这本书最令人沮丧的是没有了解到更大的背景。例如,我们有很多指挥官骑马进来和李谈论事情,我们从 Traveller 的角度看到了他们的手势和张大的嘴巴,但我们不知道他们在讨论什么具体事件。可能有人已经做了一个核对,将这些时刻与战争中的具体历史时刻相匹配,但我自己无法做到这一点,所以这些情况似乎有点浪费。在这里,一点点就可以发挥很大的作用,但我们有很多这样的情况。


前方有剧透:
最终,Traveller 是一个不可靠的叙述者,尽管作为一匹马,他被描绘得非常值得信赖。但他不可靠是因为他无法理解大局。例如,他在最后坚信南方赢得了战争,马萨·罗伯特现在掌管着所有人。同样,这在一个短篇小说中可能会非常有力,但在小说的长度上,它似乎并不奏效。至少对我来说是这样。


总的来说,这是一个很酷的想法。亚当斯一定付出了很多努力,对他的手艺有着非常坚定的承诺。这些都是值得尊重的,我也确实尊重他。我只是认为在这里,他的野心超过了他的能力。
July 15,2025
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This is quite possibly one of my favorite books from my early teens.

It is the story of the Civil War, but told from a very unique perspective - that of Robert E. Lee's horse, Traveller.

Imagine seeing the events of that tumultuous time through the eyes of a loyal and intelligent animal.

The author has done an excellent job of bringing Traveller to life, making us feel as if we are right there with him, experiencing the battles, the marches, and the emotions of those involved.

It is not only a historical account but also a heartwarming tale of the bond between a horse and his rider.

The book is filled with interesting details and vivid descriptions that make it a joy to read.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves history, animals, or just a good story.

It will transport you back in time and give you a new appreciation for the events that shaped our nation.
July 15,2025
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Robert E. Lee is a figure who has long intrigued and fascinated me. His military strategies and leadership during the American Civil War are truly remarkable.

Learning about his life and actions has helped to fire up my interest even more. The way he commanded his troops and made difficult decisions in the face of great adversity is something that I find truly inspiring.

I have delved deeper into his history, reading about his early life, his education at West Point, and his military career. I have also explored the controversies surrounding him, such as his role in slavery and his loyalty to the Confederacy.

Despite the complex and often controversial nature of his story, I continue to be drawn to Robert E. Lee. His character and his actions have left a lasting impact on American history, and I am eager to learn more about him and the times in which he lived.
July 15,2025
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The story that follows Robert E. Lee's horse through the Civil War is truly captivating.


The concept of centering the narrative around this horse makes and breaks different parts of the book.


On one hand, it provides a unique and fresh perspective, allowing readers to see the events of the war from an entirely new angle.


It gives a sense of authenticity and adds an element of interest that might not have been present otherwise.


On the other hand, it could potentially limit the scope of the story and make it less accessible to some readers.


However, despite these potential drawbacks, I find myself liking this book better than Watership Down.


I'm not entirely sure why this is the case.


Perhaps it's the emotional connection I feel with the horse and its experiences.


Or maybe it's the way the author has managed to bring the historical period to life through the eyes of this animal.


Whatever the reason, I'm glad I picked up this book and look forward to seeing where the story takes me.

July 15,2025
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This book is predominantly written in the form of the eponymous Traveller, a horse, recounting his history to a cat named Tom.

As we glean from his narrative, he was General Robert E. Lee's horse during the American Civil War.

This book inevitably led me to draw comparisons with Black Beauty, albeit with a wartime backdrop. The plot isn't as intricate as that of other Richard Adams novels I've perused (such as Watership Down and Shardik), and the narrative style took some getting used to. Mainly because, as the book is written in the typical style of someone telling a story, Traveller does at times deviate slightly from his narrative, mostly to address Tom directly (for instance, commenting on his intention to sleep or catch rats, or comparing his life to that of a cat). Since the majority of the book is just Traveller speaking, I could only glean some sense of what Tom might have thought of the story from Traveller's reactions; Tom has no speaking lines.

I relished the concept of witnessing a war from a horse's perspective. And as the horses point out quite early on, they don't truly fathom the whole point of it, immediately offering a keen social commentary on the absurdity of certain human behavioural traits. The portrayal of war mainly consists of skirmishes with the Federals (whom Traveller refers to as "Blue Men"), who seem like an unstoppable force; if one is killed, numerous others take his place. Although Traveller's narrative might not provide a profound understanding of the real-life events upon which the novel is based, there are regular italicized segments that describe what is transpiring at that point in the narrative and the stage the conflict has reached, and these did feel rather comprehensive.

I also liked the fact that the horses truly seemed very much like human soldiers in the way Traveller spoke about his relationships with them. I think it was mostly due to the comments on how he couldn't become complacent, as other horses are constantly shown coming and going, with several being killed during the conflict. This reminded me of at least one other war novel I've read in the past.

I didn't consider this to be the best Richard Adams book I've read, but I found it enjoyable enough. I might have derived more from it had I known more about the American Civil War.
July 15,2025
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Traveler was General Robert E Lee's horse throughout the American Civil War.

In this remarkable book, the war has long since passed, and the aged war horse is sharing his story with a pair of barn cats.

The account of the Civil War, as seen through the eyes of the General's horse, may not be a source of completely unbiased reporting. However, it is, without a doubt, a captivating and engaging story.

Traveler witnessed the turmoil, the battles, and the emotions that accompanied the war. His perspective offers a unique and often overlooked view of that historical period.

As he tells his tale to the curious barn cats, readers are drawn into a world of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice.

The story unfolds, painting a vivid picture of the events that shaped the nation.

Although it may not present a completely objective view, it enriches our understanding of the Civil War and the role that animals like Traveler played in it.

Overall, this book offers a fascinating and memorable look at history from an unexpected angle.
July 15,2025
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I recently completed reading Traveller, and I must say that I'm truly glad I persevered through it.

At the outset, I wasn't entirely sure how many books I would be inclined to read that had a horse as the narrator. However, as I delved deeper into the story, I found that it actually worked quite well.

In the middle of the book, my initial enthusiasm waned a little, and my score dipped to 3***. But as the narrative unfolded and the plot thickened, I found myself becoming more and more engaged.

By the end of the book, I was completely won over, and my score had climbed back up to 4****. It was a truly enjoyable reading experience that I would highly recommend to others.

The unique perspective of the horse narrator added a new dimension to the story, and the author's vivid descriptions brought the world of the horse to life.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with my decision to read Traveller, and I look forward to exploring more of Richard Adams' works in the future.
July 15,2025
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Ever wondered how Mr. Ed would have held up as a Civil War steed?

No. I haven't either. But Richard Adams had such musings it seems, and they resulted in this novel novel. (Sorry, had to go for the trite word play.)

Robert E. Lee, the legendary Confederate General, had a horse named Traveller. This is a historical fact. The novel follows the Civil War from the horse's point of view. As such, it's limited in which aspects of the war the audience gets to see. Locked into that premise, the novel is a bit less satisfying than say, \\n  The Killer Angels\\n. However, the narrative is still enjoyable and often intense. It includes a graphic depiction of the fate many horses faced during the war. Just remember that the horses often had it better than the foot soldier, if only because they were attached to well-fed officers.

Lastly, I will say this is a book I found without the aid of a catalog or search engine. I found it by wandering the shelves, happening on a familiar name, “Traveller,” and then opting to give it a try. If you've never bypassed the search engines and gone straight to the shelf to explore, you have likely missed a novel or two that you would enjoy. It's a wonderful experience to discover books in this way, as it allows for unexpected finds and a more personal connection with the literature.

July 15,2025
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The overall experience was just okay.

The dialogue presented from the horse's perspective often struck me as tedious and uninteresting. It seemed to drag on without much excitement or engagement.

However, I truly got excited when the author managed to break free from this rather dull dialogue and offered a historical perspective of the events that were unfolding. Those snippets of historical context were excellent. They added depth and a sense of authenticity to the story.

On the positive side, the story does carry an emotional impact. As you progress through the book, it becomes impossible not to develop an empathy for the suffering of the soldiers on both sides. The descriptions of their hardships and the sacrifices they made are truly moving.

Despite the flaws in the horse's dialogue, the emotional core of the story and the historical insights make it a worthwhile read.
July 15,2025
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Loved this book!

It offers a truly unique perspective on history. Instead of the usual accounts from the viewpoint of soldiers or generals, this book tells the story of the Civil War from the perspective of the horses that served.

The author does an excellent job of bringing these magnificent animals to life. We learn about their daily experiences, the hardships they endured, and the important roles they played in the war.

It's a fascinating read that makes you see history in a whole new light. You can't help but feel a sense of admiration and respect for these horses as you read about their courage and loyalty.

This book is not only a great source of information but also a moving tribute to the horses that served in the Civil War. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in history or animal stories.
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