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Faber snaps up Willy Vlautin’s 'poetic and moving' book on a musician’s life
Faber has snapped up Willy Vlautin’s The Horse, a "poetic and deeply moving" book about a musician’s life.
Publishing director Angus Cargill acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Lesley Thorne at Aitken Alexander, and Faber will publish the book in hardback on 2nd May.
"Sixty-five-year-old Al Ward is several years into an isolated stint living on old mining land in Nevada left to him by his great uncle," the synopsis says. "One morning, the horse arrives outside his home, seemingly unable to feed itself or stay safe from coyote attacks; 6,000ft up, 30 miles from the nearest town and broken by alcoholism and anxiety, Al must decide what to do."
Faber will drive publication with a "major" tour in the UK and Ireland, in partnership with Form Presents. The author will visit eight music venues for a mix of conversation and a solo performance of songs inspired by writing The Horse, as well as various Delines and Richmond Fontaine tracks. The tour is being supported by Waterstones, Mr B’s Emporium and City Books, as well as Blackwells and No Alibis. Vlautin will speak to a range of broadcasters, writers and musicians.
Cargill said: "Broken-hearted and desolate on the one hand, The Horse is also an unforgettable paean to songwriting and the restorative possibilities of music and creativity. While Willy Vlautin’s previous novels are beloved by those who have read them, we hope to reach even more readers this time and are thrilled that Willy is hitting the road for such an exciting tour to support its publication."
Vlautin, who has published six previous novels, added: "I had always wanted to write one book about a musician – not a rock star, but a journeyman like myself. But as I wrote The Horse, it turned into something different. It became a meditation on art, addiction, grief and a tribute to the power of the song."
