The Wrong Horse

by Jean Bassan, Lowell Bair (Translator)

Translated from the French by Lowell Bair. Originally published as Le Mauvais Cheval in 1958 by Libraire Plon

333 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Jean Bassan was a French writer and dramatists, winner of the prix des libraires in 1958.

Reviews

[John Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been sitting unread on my shelves for most of my life. Historical fiction set in northern Italy sometime in the Middle Ages. Most of the time though it could be set in any period. Only occasional references to archers, fighting between Ghibelline and Guelph forces and the book’s cover, showing a partially clad woman in medieval costume, would give any indication to the reader of the period in which the novel is set. Mostly set in the town of Vetto , whose neighbouring town, Rovi, has been seized by the Ghibelline Imperial forces. The Vetto town council must protect its citizens from a similar fate, whilst taking in Rovian refugees. One faction is for invading Rovi, freeing its residents and massacring its captors. The other is for patiently waiting, building up its resources, especially its fighting force, and gathering information about the enemy and sounding out potential allies.

The motives for the actions of Vetto’s men and women, particularly the council’s are standard and depressingly timeless. Plenty of sex and violence and a simmering storyline which rather peters out.