Blitz

by Hetty Burlingame Beatty

Blitz was no ordinary horse. He had within him a quality of greatness which gave him the power to give his best—and more—whenever it was needed. Carefully trained and well cared for, he soon became the most talked about fire horse in Drumlin—fast and sure and first at almost every fire. Then a fearful accident injured both Blitz and his driver and the great fire horse days were over. Blitz was sold to a cruel master, and needed all of his courage and strength to live through the next few years. The story of how he is saved by the love and care of a boy, an do how he in turn is able to save a child’s life makes a dramatic and moving book in the old tradition. There are happy times and sad times, and a warmth in the telling that will satisfy anyone who loves a great horse story.

Genres: Horses, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Beatty was born in New Canaan, Connecticut. From 1924 until 1929 she attended the Boston Museum School. She trained as a sculptor. Frederick W. Allen was the daily instructor at that time with Charles Grafly coming up from Philadelphia twice a month to give criticisms as head of the Sculpture Department.

Her works were exhibited nationally and won a number of awards. A one-woman show of her sculpture and drawings was held at the Worcester Art Museum in 1941. She also had shows at: Art Institute of Chicago, Knoedler Gallery-New York City, MacBeth Gallery-New York, Pennsylvania Academy, and the Society of Independent Artists.

In addition to being a sculptor, Beatty also took up writing and illustrating children’s books.

On October 11, 1959, she married Lewis F. Whitney, another artist.

Beatty once commented to Contemporary Authors, "I started out as a sculptor and gradually shifted over to the field of writing, becoming so absorbed in it that I devote nearly all my time to it now, along with illustration of most of my own books for children.”

Reviews

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like Smoky in being an American version of Black Beauty, in this case set in a town where a fire engine is pulled by horses. Blitz is a handsome red bay who does his best to rush to the fires with his partner horse and a kind owner.
We learn a lot about historical issues such as how fire fighting was organised with a chemical wagon, water pump wagon and a ladder and hook wagon, in that order, being sent.

Sadly after an accident Blitz is sold and his life goes badly downhill. The illustrations convey this very well as his whole attitude changes over time. We see that shockingly there was nobody shouting stop to the man beating his horse to the bone, nobody protesting that the horse was unfed or unfit to work. So we can understand why humane treatment for animals requires laws and a society or two to look out for it, as well as a general societal change. This will be very distressing for children to read, especially today when children are generally not slapped.

To round off the story, Blitz is sold again, receives better treatment over a period, and eventually repays the kindness. Clearly not all horses fared so well, but in this tale it works and we cheer. We get to see how people depended on horses for their livelihood and a steady worker - human or animal -is valued. So more than one good moral.

I am delighted that this 1961 book was kept by a bookshop and posted safely to me by the miracle of Amazon. This is an unbiased review.

[Robin Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book at a thrift store and eagerly snatched it up, remembering it from my childhood. Upon rereading it, I enjoyed it as much as I remembered. I've started a little collection of books I loved, in hopes that someday one of my grandkids will also love them, and this will make a fine addition.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my all time favourite book as a child. I remember hiding under the covers reading with a torch until Mum caught me so the next morning I woke up as soon as the sun came up so I could keep reading the story. It was so sad I was crying really hard when Mum got up a few hours later. She got cranky with me for reading books that made me sad. But I loved the story and I still remember most of it.

[Sherri Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite books growing up. I must have read it at least a hundred times at our cottage.

[L. M. Ransom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this book when I pretty young. I believe my grandma had a copy of it, a soft cover with a different illustration. My hubby bought the hard cover copy for me for Christmas this year, and I was excited to read it again.

It's a great story, about a beautiful red bay horse that learns to pull a fire engine. He is in an unfortunate accident, and sold. Lame because of the accident, he falls into the hands of a miserly bitter old man who feeds him nothing but junk hay and whips him when he has problems pulling the wagon.

But things turn out well for Blitz in the end. The story brings to mind Black Beauty, another favorite old horse story of mine. Blitz's story echoes that of Beauty's. This is a great read for anyone who loves horses and a happy ending. It makes me want to rush out to our barn and hug both of our horses.

[KerryT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! If you loved Black Beauty then you will love this story. A story of a well trained and loved horse, a useful horse, then into the hands of a mean man, then …. You get the idea! When a book turns on my emotions then it gets a 5 star and this one definitely did. This one’s a keeper for me!

[Joshua Centanni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed this more as a kid. Critical scholars who read this will note textual eccentricities that raise questions about authorship.

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those books that I read until both front and back covers fell off and the pages were worn uneven and loose in their bindings.

I will have to reread it at some point to have an adult opinion on the book, but at around age 8-10 I loved the book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this well-read paperback at a garage sale, and it's one of the few horse books that I hadn't read growing up. It's absolutely wonderful. Besides being a good horse book, it's also interesting historical fiction, taking place during the time when horses still pulled equipment to put out fires. A perfect middle grade read, and I even blinked back a few tears. Really good book!

[J.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my FAVOURITE horse book as a little girl, but it's hard to find a copy nowadays - mad props to my bro for finding me one a few years back! Even twenty-someodd years later I still remember almost the entire plotline to a tee!

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this many years ago, and was recently reminded of it. Of course, I loved anything to do with horses, but there was a lot of emotion and heart in this story. A bit like Black Beauty, but with a horse pulling an old time fire engine. Strong nostalgia, and a moving story.

[John Krafty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in grade school and it still stays with me. A heartwarming story of an abused horse who comes across a lonely child and they become "friends".

[Nicole Rubano · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was one of my favorite books as a kid

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I read it at least 17 times... me and horses when I was young... dreams that did not pass until I was an adult... sweet, wonderful horse-story read.

[Hildegart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book! I misplaced my first copy so when I saw another copy in a thrift store, I bought it! Now I have two copies for my bookshelves- can't go wrong with that!!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child and when I picked it up the other day, it was just as good.

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book when I was young - I read it sooo many times!!

[J Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as I remembered…

I was so glad to find this “old friend” from my childhood available as an e-book for instant download; I couldn’t wait to re-read it after so long. I’m happy to report that the book has stood the test of time, recounting the experiences of the heroic Blitz from his birth through his training and his subsequent life: pulling a horse-drawn fire engine, later to be abused by a cruel owner and, finally, rescued and installed in a new home where he is loved and cared for by his new family. The setting is a bit more modern than the story of Black Beauty (for example, Blitz is replaced by a motorized fire truck). I spent all morning yesterday, and a little more time this morning, reading the story and enjoying the illustrations I remember from the 1966 paperback copy I once had.

In my opinion, Blitz’s tale will please horse-lovers of all ages.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this one recently at a used bookstore and it brought back childhood memories, more so when I looked inside at the illustrations. It's a simple and straightforward story, very much along the lines of Black Beauty, albeit not told from Blitz's perspective. Blitz is sold to a fireman and with his teammate Frank becomes one of the most beloved fire horses in the area. Unfortunately, he is badly injured in an accident that kills Frank and renders the fireman unable to care for Blitz anymore. He falls on hard times, is rescued by a young boy and nursed to health and later helps the boy's doctor father get through a blizzard to help a desperately ill young girl. A quick and pleasant read, but nothing remarkable.

[Cary Spratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book since I was a child, and greatly enjoyed it back then. It's sort of a shortened, Americanized version of 'Black Beauty', I suppose is a good description. I think it had particular appeal to me because Blitz spends some of his life working with a volunteer fire department (back in the days when they used horse-drawn wagons). My dad was a firefighter (retired now), so I had a bit more interest than most in that part of the book.

I just reread this for the first time in some years, and now it is going right back on the shelf with my other beloved childhood books, where it belongs.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it is listed as a 7th grade reader, I think it could be read by much younger children. The text has a lot of repetitive words and phrases that make it feel more elementary.

The book can be broken into four distinct stories. Blitz's early life, his glory days, his hardship, and final triumph. It's not the fastest paced book, but the story is enjoyable and teaches strong character and morals.

The book also gives a nice historical perspective of the days during which horses were the heroes of the fire department.

[Suzanne Brayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book from my childhood that i adored, I am happy to put it in the little free library at work. Teens should love this story even if it is a bit dated.

The story takes place near the end of the era where fire engines were still pulled by horses. It is a pognient story of the love of a man and a boy for horses.

[Tammy Jo Passions · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my favorite childhood reads. I just read it again as part of a reading challenge. This took me back when I read it the first time and was just as great the second time around. I appreciate animals and their feelings so much because of these types of books. This horse went through so much yet persevered. This book will always stay on my personal library shelf. ❤️

[Kubera Kalyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children's book

[Danielle Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with my boys. Heartwarming and uplifting.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a Black Beauty type story with a little less sadness.

[Erribella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. the twists and turns. I'm glad. Dave had those 5$

[Christine Meunier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[barbara mcmillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story

I read this book many years ago, and am so happy I took the time to reread it. Blitz is an awesome horse story, it is easy to read, and although it is geared towards children, i still loved it as an adult!

[Sharon Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a kid, I read this book a Hundred times. It is my all time favorite childs book. I am old now, I just remember a child who saved a severely abused horse from going to slaughter for 5 dollars, once He nursed it back to health and gained the Horses trust, he found the Horse was still young. The Father is AWESOME in this, as He helps teach his boy how to care for a living thing, an animal who when I was a kid, was thought by the older generations to not have feelings and "It" was suppose to Produce something for you...or it had no value. This book stirs emotion and shows the ugly and the kind of Humans. Nicely though, it does have a happy ending. I still have it, paperback. It is falling to pieces. This Book still brings back memories and Teaches children...it did me, How to Love a Horse. In the end, You cheer as the Horse turns completely around by a child with 5 dollars, who would not give up on him. 40 years later, I have powerful emotions still. Read it with your 10 yr old. I think that's about how old I was. I bought it from scholastic book club in my school by a wonderful 5th grade teacher. She read to us every day.