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Scholastic US, 2006 |
Chicken House UK, 2007 (out of print) |
Greek edition, 2009 |
longlisted for the Carnegie Medal
shortlisted for the Swansea Bay Book Award
suitable for readers aged 10 - adult
The big, black, bold, half blind war horse Bucephalas can see ghosts and has a reputation for being unridable. Only two people can sit on his back... Prince Alexander, who later becomes known as Alexander the Great conqueror of the ancient world, and the orphan girl Charm, who disguises herself as a boy so she can travel with the army as Bucephalas' groom. Aided by legendary amazon warriors, oracles, Charm's prophetic dreams, and an amazing gift to make men follow him, nothing will stand in Alexander's way as he rides in search of the edge of the known world. But as Alexander's ambitions grow and the vast Persian army gathers to oppose them, Charm's loyalty is tested as she strives to protect the brave horse from harm.
This book tells the epic tale of Alexander the Great straight from the horse's mouth. Unlike the gentle Black Beauty, however, Bucephalas is a war horse with attitude who (quite rightly) thinks himself greater than his rider. This is history as you have never read it before so grab your sword, brush up on your horse language, and prepare yourself for a wild ride!
Read the secret history of the book from idea to bookshelf - a behind the scenes look at its writing, editing, artwork and translation (first published on the author's blog at Reclusive Muse).
Read an extract HERE.
What they said...
¬ "Wonderfully convincing... this is a wild, surging and enormously readable narrative. Bucephalas joins Anna Sewell's Black Beauty and Richard Adams' Traveller as one of the great equine storytellers. Katherine Roberts has done him proud." Books for Keeps.
¬ "Romps along through plots and battles and sieges." Times Educational Supplement.
¬ "This is a marvellous book, and much of its strength relates directly to its non-human narrator... Roberts has clearly done her research. Her Alexander is complex, driven, alternately coldly ambitious and warmly generous, arguably both hero and criminal... a rich, rewarding and propulsive read that deserves a wide audience." Schools Library Journal.
¬ "Sometimes I read a children's book that I absolutely rave about and want to shout about from the rooftops... 'I am the Great Horse' is such a book." Mary Hoffman, Armadillo.
¬ "A major work of historical fiction." John Newman, Bookseller's Choice, Publishing News.
¬ "Roberts wears her considerable research lightly, and you never question for a minute that this was how Alexander came to rule the Mediterranean and the east from Macedonia to India... the ending is as moving as anything I've read in a children's book, including Black Beauty." The Guardian.
¬ "Relish this gallop through history and give 'flat ears' to anyone who threatens to disturb your reading. This book is a tremendous achievement... a truly epic adventure story with masses of factual detail and sympathetic insights." Alison Hurst, The School Librarian.
¬ "A funny, informative and highly original historical novel." The Times.
¬ "The action is thrilling...with echoes of today's conflicts, Charm questions what Alexander calls his 'liberation' of the peoples he conquers." Hazel Rochman, Booklist.
¬ "The author knows both her history and horses." Historical Novels Review.
¬ "Unique and brilliant." Dr Ian Mortimer, University of Exeter.
¬ "A blockbuster of a book." n2
¬ "A great read for all horse people." miwokstables.com
¬ "This is simply the best book for young people I have read in ages." ML Jensen, amazon.co.uk
¬ "Couldn't put it down! At first I didn't want to read this book - no way would I be interested in a book about horses - but believe me this is a fantastic book that boys will enjoy too"
Campbell, age 11.
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Forget it! This is MY page, and he doesn't dare show his glittery horn around here. Only friends from my herd are allowed to share it with me. You can see three of them above... my favourite mare Aura, my colt Hoplite, and handsome Apollo. |
