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Absolutely loved this!
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The Dark Horse
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When a mean-spirited jockey threatens the thoroughbred Dark Horse--the favorite for the Viceroy's Cup--Mother Morag, the superior of a group of nuns who tend Calcutta's poor, holds the key
202 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1,1981
This edition
- Format
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202 pages, Hardcover
- Published
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January 11, 1982 by Viking Adult
- ISBN
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9780670256648
- ASIN
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0670256641
- Language
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English
About the author
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Margaret Rumer Godden was an English author of more than 60 fiction and non-fiction books. Nine of her works have been made into films, most notably Black Narcissus in 1947 and The River in 1951.
A few of her works were co-written with her elder sister, novelist Jon Godden, including Two Under the Indian Sun, a memoir of the Goddens' childhood in a region of India now part of Bangladesh.
A few of her works were co-written with her elder sister, novelist Jon Godden, including Two Under the Indian Sun, a memoir of the Goddens' childhood in a region of India now part of Bangladesh.
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Community Reviews
Rating(4 / 5.0, 47 votes)
5 stars
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15(32%)
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47 reviews All reviews
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John Quillan, a disillusioned ex-British-Army officer, has a new addition to his Calcutta stables: Dark Invader, beautiful, powerful and fast, but with a checkered racing history. With Dark Invader comes Ted Mullins, his stable lad, banished from racing by an old scandal. Along with Darkie's owner, Mr. Leventine, the four are all "dark horses," their promise hidden and perhaps fatally flawed. But Mother Morag, superior of the Sisters of Poverty, is a dark horse in her own way. When the Sisters have to find a way to replace their own ancient horse, Mother Morag's compassion and shrewd understanding may find a way for her neighbors and their horse to get their second chance.
I love Rumer Godden. Can you believe my library is getting rid of all her books? Why, why why? Yes, I got to buy this gem for only a quarter, but really, I would be happier if the library kept making the book available to everyone. This is a lovely book - a true story, too - and Godden's delicious writing and clever insights make it the perfect bedtime reading.
I love Rumer Godden. Can you believe my library is getting rid of all her books? Why, why why? Yes, I got to buy this gem for only a quarter, but really, I would be happier if the library kept making the book available to everyone. This is a lovely book - a true story, too - and Godden's delicious writing and clever insights make it the perfect bedtime reading.
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Of all the Rumer Godden books I've read, this is the one I have liked the least. Not at all because of the characters or its focus on horse racing or placement in Calcutta either.
It's primarily because it has very little focus on a plot progression OR a tale per se. It's random events and a lot of situational telling. Telling, telling, telling.
Part of my problem with this is I fail to completely grasp the depth of beggary involved. The nuns are endlessly productive and kind and good to the core. Yet the system! Well, it is dated in too many numerous ways to list. Perhaps it was even 40 years ago when it was new. Most of this author's works are not, considering they are often 100 years in the past. Or nearly. Many are prime relationship emotional and core motive 5 star. This one I felt fell far short of that connection.
I'm sure I am outlier. I have immense trouble considering Mother Teresa a saint as well. Feeding people and enabling a constant needing position without much healing, doctors, or productive work/ activity to base a life? Good works indeed but often far from the best ones.
It's primarily because it has very little focus on a plot progression OR a tale per se. It's random events and a lot of situational telling. Telling, telling, telling.
Part of my problem with this is I fail to completely grasp the depth of beggary involved. The nuns are endlessly productive and kind and good to the core. Yet the system! Well, it is dated in too many numerous ways to list. Perhaps it was even 40 years ago when it was new. Most of this author's works are not, considering they are often 100 years in the past. Or nearly. Many are prime relationship emotional and core motive 5 star. This one I felt fell far short of that connection.
I'm sure I am outlier. I have immense trouble considering Mother Teresa a saint as well. Feeding people and enabling a constant needing position without much healing, doctors, or productive work/ activity to base a life? Good works indeed but often far from the best ones.
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I found this to be a gem of a book. It is filled with very human characters, all from different backgrounds, but connected by their love of horses, and the Dark Invader in particular.
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This is considered an adult novel, or YA, but it seemed more like a children’s book to me, and read that way, it’s lovely.
I grew up in the suburbs not knowing much about horses. I’ve only ridden one once when I was almost too young to remember, and my one experience with a racetrack was sneaking in with high school friends just to walk through. It seemed a scandalous place!
So I came to this story with an open mind. It tells of an intersection between rich and poor, between people and horses. It’s 1930’s Calcutta, and among the rich are the horse owners who can afford lavish homes and tables full of sumptuous food, while an order of nuns fittingly called The Sisters of Poverty go out in the cool of night to collect leftovers from restaurants to feed the poor of their city.
Godden created some marvelous characters. John Quillan, the Irish trainer; Dahlia, his mixed race wife; Leventine, the rich Indian owner; Mother Morag, the savvy Reverend Mother; Ted Mullins, the jockey turned stable boy with a tragic past; the title character himself--Dark Invader, the horse who refused to be mistreated.
The story is simple and sweet, but the view of time and place and culture made it a very enjoyable read.
“Pigeons picked grain from the grain shops, pai dogs nosed rubbish and everywhere was a hubbub of voices, creaking wheels, motor horns, shouting, vendors’ cries, mingling with a smell of sweat and urine, woodsmoke, acrid dung smoke and a pungent smell that later he was to learn came from cooking in hot mustard and oil and, now and again, a waft of heavy sweetness as a flowerseller passed, or from a garland of flowers hung on a door, or from a woman in a clean, softly flowing sari, with flowers round the knot of her hair.”
I grew up in the suburbs not knowing much about horses. I’ve only ridden one once when I was almost too young to remember, and my one experience with a racetrack was sneaking in with high school friends just to walk through. It seemed a scandalous place!
So I came to this story with an open mind. It tells of an intersection between rich and poor, between people and horses. It’s 1930’s Calcutta, and among the rich are the horse owners who can afford lavish homes and tables full of sumptuous food, while an order of nuns fittingly called The Sisters of Poverty go out in the cool of night to collect leftovers from restaurants to feed the poor of their city.
Godden created some marvelous characters. John Quillan, the Irish trainer; Dahlia, his mixed race wife; Leventine, the rich Indian owner; Mother Morag, the savvy Reverend Mother; Ted Mullins, the jockey turned stable boy with a tragic past; the title character himself--Dark Invader, the horse who refused to be mistreated.
The story is simple and sweet, but the view of time and place and culture made it a very enjoyable read.
“Pigeons picked grain from the grain shops, pai dogs nosed rubbish and everywhere was a hubbub of voices, creaking wheels, motor horns, shouting, vendors’ cries, mingling with a smell of sweat and urine, woodsmoke, acrid dung smoke and a pungent smell that later he was to learn came from cooking in hot mustard and oil and, now and again, a waft of heavy sweetness as a flowerseller passed, or from a garland of flowers hung on a door, or from a woman in a clean, softly flowing sari, with flowers round the knot of her hair.”
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Godden writes so beautifully and my love of horses when I was a little girl was kindled once again while reading this. I couldn't put it down, it's just such a wonderful story. I intend to read ever so much more by Rumer Godden :)
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Story of a beautiful race horse "Dark Avenger", his rider, owner and trainer. When an up and coming race horse throws his rider and loses his races, he is sold and moved to Calcutta. His groomer soon becomes his rider due to their incredible bond. The horse becomes an overnight success and soon becomes the favored horse to win. The new "rider" has one bad evening after the trainer's daughter calls his deceased wife "ugly." That one night becomes a nightmare for all involved except for the local nuns who have just lost their aging horse and find a muscular horse in their yard. Their answer to a prayer. I found this part of the story the icing on the cake. Funny how things work out.
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Rumer Godden, RDC-M #5-1981, 1982. A true story about an ex-British Army officer and the new addition to his horse stables. A horse with a checkered racing history. Good.
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