First published in 1926, this edition was reprinted in 1928 after the story won the Newbery Medal for children’s literature. “Smoky” is not so much a book of fiction as it is a memoir about a beloved horse. Will James writes in a colloquial, folksy tone, and with a clear appreciation for his subject. Other books by him explore a similar western setting, focusing on the animals and the cowboys living in its environs. James was also an artist. His black and white sketches are found throughout the book, and are quite well done. There is not a book jacket, so no synopsis of the story is provided, but an online review states: “This is the classic great horse story written by a cowboy who trained a little black colt to become his most dependable horse. Here are the experiences of a fascinating horse from his birth in the wild, through his capture by humans and his work in the rodeo and on the range, to his eventual old age.” Another thing about this book an internet search reveals is that copies of it are priced into the high hundreds. Our own offering is not in perfect shape, and although the signature looks like it is authentic there is no verification. So we hope someone with as big a passion for horses as the author himself had will want to add it to their collection for a fee modest compared to other sellers. And a side note about Will James. He found his fortune as an artist and writer of The American West, yet was born in a small town near Montreal, Canada. His given French name, Joseph-Earnest-Nephtali Dufault, did nothing to evoke a cowboy persona, so he adopted a pseudonym and claimed to be from Montana. He is most associated with Nevada, and died in California in 1942 at the age of fifty.
Condition: Used Good. Fiction. Will James. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1926. Hardcover (Signed), 310 pgs, 6 x 8.25" / 1 lb 8 oz
