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314th out of 7,951 books
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39,762 voters
King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian
Follows the adventures of the Arabian stallion brought to England to become one of the founding sires of the Thoroughbred breed and the mute Arab stable boy who tended him with loyalty and devotion all his life.
Hardcover, 176 pages
Published
November 1st 1990
by Aladdin
(first published 1948)
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Below are the comments I made about _King of the Wind_ at my GR group:
I recently listened to the audio version of King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian (first published 1948) by Marguerite Henry. It won the 1949 Newbery Medal, an award given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
This fictionalized story is based on fact. The Godolphin Arabian is the ancestor of the finest thoroughbred horses. The story tells about a swift and spir...more
I recently listened to the audio version of King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian (first published 1948) by Marguerite Henry. It won the 1949 Newbery Medal, an award given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
This fictionalized story is based on fact. The Godolphin Arabian is the ancestor of the finest thoroughbred horses. The story tells about a swift and spir...more
Main Character/s: Sham, Agba
Setting: Morocco, North Africa
POV: Narrator
This story is about the adventure and relationship that a young mute stable boy, Agba, and his horse, Sham, share. Sham is born in the stable of a royal Arabian household. He is born with many signs of contradictions from the markings on his body to the day he was born. Sham is born on the night of a full moon during Ramadan and his markings symbolize: speed and evil. Sham is the fastest steed around and he is cared for by...more
Setting: Morocco, North Africa
POV: Narrator
This story is about the adventure and relationship that a young mute stable boy, Agba, and his horse, Sham, share. Sham is born in the stable of a royal Arabian household. He is born with many signs of contradictions from the markings on his body to the day he was born. Sham is born on the night of a full moon during Ramadan and his markings symbolize: speed and evil. Sham is the fastest steed around and he is cared for by...more
I read the novel and Newberry Award winner, 'King of the Wind' by Marguerite Henry.I would reccommend this book to someone that loves fiction and horses. This book is about a horse and an owner, Agba, who go on an adventure together across the world. You would also like this book if you love Arabian culture. I would not reccommend this book to people who don't like stories about animals, or bonding between man and animal. This book is best suited for a young adult who likes anything about an ani...more
Oct 23, 2010
Joan Innes
added it
This classic was a true horse-lovers adventure. The story begins in the royal Arabian household with one of the finest fillies in the kingdom foaling a young colt. From the onset of its life, the beautiful colt has many signs declaring a life of contradictions; greatness and difficulties that prove to be true. It is born during a full moon during Ramadan and has two markings on its sleek coat that signify luck and hardship. Like the stories of the Arabian Nights, this story is full of superstiti...more
Before I get much farther into this review, I should probably say that I've never been a "horse book" kind of reader. So if you love Black Beauty and National Velvet and The Black Stallion, you may well like King of the Wind more than I did. A lot of the rest of this Goodreads page is full of people who swear by it, largely based on its excellent descriptions of horses and horse behavior.
I can't argue with that -- Henry clearly knew her horses -- but I still wasn't all that sold on King of the W...more
I can't argue with that -- Henry clearly knew her horses -- but I still wasn't all that sold on King of the W...more
It seems like all the "classic" books about horses follow the same mold; the horse is born, grows up, learns how to handle humans, goes through a casting out period where they are treated horribly and become separated from the people they love, then somewhere toward the end they find their family or human again and all is restored in the world. This book fits right in with that category, so why do we all love it so deeply?
The story of Sham is the story of hope, of struggle through hardship and t...more
The story of Sham is the story of hope, of struggle through hardship and t...more
Aug 15, 2012
Laura
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-books,
goodwill-finds
So, I’m not a big fan of horse fiction. At all. By horse fiction I mean books about little children (usually girls) who fall in love with a beautiful horse, can think of, dream of, and live with nothing else. This genre tends to be super repetitive.
But not King of the Wind. King of the Wind is in a different class altogether. It oozes of Arabian sand and high-blooded stallions. But before I get ahead of myself...
The Story.
Agba has lost his heart; lost it to the beautiful mare, the mare who live...more
But not King of the Wind. King of the Wind is in a different class altogether. It oozes of Arabian sand and high-blooded stallions. But before I get ahead of myself...
The Story.
Agba has lost his heart; lost it to the beautiful mare, the mare who live...more
Loved it. Great story, perfect length. I'm more of a small animal person but the story of the relationship between the boy and his horse is described so well that it can be understood by anyone who has ever had a close loving relationship.
"The boy watched in fear that if he took his eyes away the whole scene might vanish into the mist of the morning."
"He did not know where he was going. He only knew that he wanted to run until he could run no more--away from death and life."
"He was trying to run...more
"The boy watched in fear that if he took his eyes away the whole scene might vanish into the mist of the morning."
"He did not know where he was going. He only knew that he wanted to run until he could run no more--away from death and life."
"He was trying to run...more
A children's book from the 40s.
Tells the tale of the arrival of the first Arabian horse into the UK and the founding of the breed of horses that race to this day.
While I am prepared to accept that it may have elements of truth, it far too neatly falls into the realms of fairy tale story for me to accept that it is in any way a faithful representation of the story. Agba is a mute horseboy in the court of the Sultan. He has a favourite colt, a bay the colour of the sun, who he calls Sham. This hor...more
Tells the tale of the arrival of the first Arabian horse into the UK and the founding of the breed of horses that race to this day.
While I am prepared to accept that it may have elements of truth, it far too neatly falls into the realms of fairy tale story for me to accept that it is in any way a faithful representation of the story. Agba is a mute horseboy in the court of the Sultan. He has a favourite colt, a bay the colour of the sun, who he calls Sham. This hor...more
This was a very good book! If you love horses, this is a good book for you. It is about a boy named Agba and his horse. He is mute, but he is the most favored horse boy of his leader in Morocco. His leader chooses six of his most prized horse boys and their horses, and sends them off to France. It is a very hard journey, and when they get there, France does not welcome them to the royal stables, and they must part. Agba and his horse are the only ones who do not go back to Morocco. The royal le...more
I'm a horse nut - always have been - and reading this just brought it out. I could totally "see" the nuances the author described regarding the horses. A lovely story. I read part and listened to part so I enjoyed the best of both the written and audible word. The book has lovely sketches throughout. Though a work of fiction, the basic facts of who and where ring true - except for the sweet dedicated mute, Agba. If we all could have a friend as he ...
He was named "Sham" for the sun, this golden...more
He was named "Sham" for the sun, this golden...more
Agba is a Moroccan slave boy who works with horses. And falls in love with a small colt bearing the marks of both greatness and danger. The boy names the horse Sham and together they race like the wind.
When the Sultan of Morocco selects Sham as one of the six perfect horses to send to the king of France (ordering Agba to go with him), the boy believes the horse’s destiny is about to unfold.
But will Sham’s destiny be that of greatness?
Or will the mark of danger dominate both of their lives?
A fict...more
When the Sultan of Morocco selects Sham as one of the six perfect horses to send to the king of France (ordering Agba to go with him), the boy believes the horse’s destiny is about to unfold.
But will Sham’s destiny be that of greatness?
Or will the mark of danger dominate both of their lives?
A fict...more
1 like · like · see review
A large chunk of my childhood was wasted (?) pretending I was the proud and prolific owner of an entire barnyard. Agba may have had the golden racing horse, Sham, but I had N'Obliez. A more retarded and unsound a name ther never was for a horse, but getting in touch with my animal side thanks to Henry spurred such a creation. This story was a classic, er, is a classically spun story of belonging, or the absence thereof. Clive Staples Lewis was very much correct in stating of his Horse and his B...more
This book is amazing.
It's told by a mute boy. No joke. It's amazing because it's about a horse and his boy who is mute, and stays mute through the whole story. Probably my favorite thing about this book is that one of the main characters tells you all about what happened to him and his his horse without saying a thing.
It's told by a mute boy. No joke. It's amazing because it's about a horse and his boy who is mute, and stays mute through the whole story. Probably my favorite thing about this book is that one of the main characters tells you all about what happened to him and his his horse without saying a thing.
This book is an adventure story for any kid who loves horses. I need to do some digging to see how much of this is based on fact. Since it takes place in several countries and over a hundred years ago it might be best read aloud so some context could be provided for kid readers (does the average 9 year old understand about Morrocan sultans or Parisian nobleman?).
This features an orphan (almost all my favorite literary characters are orphans - so brave and courageous!) in close relationship with...more
This features an orphan (almost all my favorite literary characters are orphans - so brave and courageous!) in close relationship with...more
I was happy to become reacquainted with Marguerite Henry in this early-ish Newbery winner. Google sources gave me a new appreciation of her from learning about her childhood illness that made her bedridden for six years, to a tribute from her publisher in a commemorative edition of the book. Henry's charm and kindness were noteworthy; plus, what an example of well-lived years: Henry published her last book shortly before she died at 95!
I also enjoyed the history in King of the Wind, as well as...more
I also enjoyed the history in King of the Wind, as well as...more
The story of the Godolphin Arabians begins here. Sham is born under the new moon during Ramadan – a sign that he will be “strong and swift.” He bears the “wheat ear,” foretelling bad luck as well as a white spot on his heel, foretelling good luck. Right from the beginning, the horse faces conflict as his owner attempts to kill him. A mute slave boy, Agba decides to protect Sham and stay with him throughout his life. They are sent with five others across the Mediterranean to France, where their s...more
Well, this was better than I expected it to be, and went pretty quickly, so it earned itself a third star. But it didn't excite me at all. Evidently it's a semi-true story about a real horse breed, so that's interesting, but there was no lesson learned, no deeper meaning ... it's just a horse book. And as I'm not really interested in animal things in general or horse things in specific, it was just ... that. In fact, I'd have liked a book about Agba (the horseboy) more.
Anyway, this one is done a...more
Anyway, this one is done a...more
A favorite in our family. We listened to it on tape when we drove across the country too. I would say it held the attention of an age range of six to adult.
1 like · like · see review
I first read King of the Wind years ago when I was a girl and reading every horse book I could get my hands on. This is a story that has stayed with me for years and I have read it aloud to my children. (Their dad even listened in). The true story of the Godolphin Arabian, this book chronicles the history of the golden stallion from Morocco who became the ancestor of all modern day race horses. It is a captivating tale of the long journey and adventures of the horse and the poor mute stable boy...more
I have to admit, when I first read this book it was because I had been assigned it for a Literature Club reading list. I didn't like it at all the first time through. But I think that I didn't like it because I had told myself it would be boring or stupid or something like that and I didn't give it a chance. When I got on the Battle Of The Books team I had to reread it and I really did like it this time because I was paying attention and looking for close details and I understood what the charac...more
This is the story of the founding father of racehorses, Sham, “King of the Wind,” and his friend, the stable boy, Agba. The story begins in Morocco where the sultan sends Sham and Agba off to France as a gift for the king. But the French laugh at the little horse and Sham is sent off to a series of owners, here and there, loved and hated, until he finally ends up in England. It is only in England when the true nature of Sham’s racing abilities are realized through his offspring, three horses who...more
Once upon a time, there was a boy who loved a horse; his ruler sent the pair, along with several other boys and their high-bred mounts as a gift (well, the horses anyway) to the King of France. Being small horses by the standards of the European horsemen of the day, these Arabs didn't seem like much of a gift. Unlike the other horses, Sham, after changing hands several times which took him to an estate in England, had the good fortune to sire a colt which had the turn of speed (by the standards...more
Few authors bring more sympathy and enlightenment to the story of a horse than Marguerite Henry, and "King of the Wind" happens to be one of her very best such books, if not her magnum opus.
The story of the closeness between the Godolphin Arabian and his young, fiercely loyal master has an emotional stickiness that can't be beat by much else in literature. Ultimately, though the historicity of the story is nothing short of fascinating, I think it is this resonant tenderness of relationship tha...more
The story of the closeness between the Godolphin Arabian and his young, fiercely loyal master has an emotional stickiness that can't be beat by much else in literature. Ultimately, though the historicity of the story is nothing short of fascinating, I think it is this resonant tenderness of relationship tha...more
I first read this book in the mid 60's. Our library had 3 copies. For the next several years, one of those copies was always with me. I read it so many times that I almost memorized it. Oh, I read other books too...Misty of Chincoteague, Sea Star, Stormy, Black Beauty, most of the Black Stallion series - well, all that our library had anyway! King of the Wind, however, was far and above my favorite. My mother finally bought me a copy of my own about the time I was 12...I revered that book.
The s...more
The s...more
one of the first marguerite henry books i read, i was surprisingly disappointed. i felt the story didn't move fast enough, and the details she included weren't interesting enough, that i never read it again. (i reread everything when i was younger - honestly. if i didn't read it at least twice, something was really wrong.) however, i want to pick it up again and see what i think now, because it does tell the true story of how the thoroughbred was "created" out of three strands of arabians in the...more
There are many things I like about this based on a true story book. However, Henry took a lot of liberties with the story. She writes of the Arabians as a blood-thirsty lot of often cruel Muslims. Keep in mind the story was written in 1948, so it was more acceptable to use sterotypes.
I like the idea of the mute caretaker of Sham, but that is not part of the true story. Sham also wasn't cast out or mistreated in real life.
I'm not a huge fan of animal stories, but this book is interesting.
I like the idea of the mute caretaker of Sham, but that is not part of the true story. Sham also wasn't cast out or mistreated in real life.
I'm not a huge fan of animal stories, but this book is interesting.
Great trip down memory lane for me--Marguerite Henry was one of my very, very favorite authors as a horse-obsessed kid. I will have to read Misty of Chincoteague soon, even though it's not a Newbery Book (just an honor book...still very worth of my 2353rd read in my life).
I liked the historical fiction aspect of the novel, loved the story of the first Arabian to arrive in Europe and strengthen the bloodlines of the horses there, and the story of Agba, the little mute horseboy, and his devotion...more
I liked the historical fiction aspect of the novel, loved the story of the first Arabian to arrive in Europe and strengthen the bloodlines of the horses there, and the story of Agba, the little mute horseboy, and his devotion...more
In my attempt to read many of the Newberry medal winners (inbetween other reads), I found this book at a local thrift shop for pennies. The gold seal on the front is a seller. I am so glad that I brought it home with me as it truly was a special read. I had no idea what I was in for before picking up this book, but I have to admit...I was pleasantly surprised. A very touching story about a mute boy named Agba and his dedication to his best friend...an Arabian horse nambed Sham. The book tells th...more
Finished this over the weekend. I had read it as a child along with every other Marguerite Henry book I could find (like Rosalinde & bookhunter21). I was one of those girls who fell in love with horses (well, really I loved dogs & cats too) in elementary school, so I am familiar with the horse terminology.
This time around, the book made me wonder what life would be like if you were not be able to speak at all. Agba seemed to handle it with grace and dignity - I'm not sure I could do as...more
This time around, the book made me wonder what life would be like if you were not be able to speak at all. Agba seemed to handle it with grace and dignity - I'm not sure I could do as...more
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Marguerite Henry (April 13, 1902-November 26, 1997) was an American writer. The author of fifty-nine books based on true stories of horses and other animals, her work has captivated entire generations of children and young adults and won several Newbery Awards and Honors. Among the more famous of her works was Misty of Chincoteague, which was the basis for the 1961 movie Misty, and several sequel...more
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Nov 05, 2012 01:57pm