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Equus: The Creation of a Horse
This volume of colour photographs follows the social behaviour of horses at liberty, capturing their dynamism and elegance. A quotation for every picture is also included taken from Virgil, Shakespeare, Herman Melville, D.H. Lawrence, Eugene Delacroix and others.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published October 27, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 27, 2016
Lovely photos, poetic quotes. The perfect book to look at after a day spent with unattractive, flat faced, hairless, opposable thumb havin' bipeds.
December 26, 2020
A glorious feast for the senses. Even if you're not a horse lover I'll bet you love this.
July 29, 2019
No animal has captured the human imagination quite like the horse, depicted in media from cave drawings thousands of years ago through countless renderings in paint, clay, ink, even film. This book is a moving look at an animal, as solitary subject and en masse, from the air and from underwater.
From exquisite Arabians in the Royal Yards of the United Arab Emirates to purebred Icelandic horses in their glacial habitat; from the soulful gaze of a single horse’s lash-lined eye to the thundering majesty of thousands of Mustangs racing across the plains of Utah, Equus provides an amazing and unique insight into the physical dynamics and spirit of the horse.
From exquisite Arabians in the Royal Yards of the United Arab Emirates to purebred Icelandic horses in their glacial habitat; from the soulful gaze of a single horse’s lash-lined eye to the thundering majesty of thousands of Mustangs racing across the plains of Utah, Equus provides an amazing and unique insight into the physical dynamics and spirit of the horse.
November 2, 2019
I've had this book for so many years but I always love reading it and studying the pictures. The pictures share such emotion and the thoughts and verses take you into another side of nature. This book will always be in my favourites collection.
November 25, 2021
Stunning stunning book, I loved every page.
May 30, 2022
Kaunis valokuvateos hevosista. Vanhoissa kuvissa on elämän ja liikkeen tuntu.
March 26, 2026
Beautiful book filled with wonderful photographs and quotes as well as musings by the author.
January 29, 2010
And yet another book with pictures of horses!
Tell me, those of you who own as many "coffeetable" (photography) books as I do: do you ever read them after the first time?
Cause I sure don't. Except for the one about the se (the title I have conveniently forgotten right now), because looking at pictures of water relaxes me.
Tell me, those of you who own as many "coffeetable" (photography) books as I do: do you ever read them after the first time?
Cause I sure don't. Except for the one about the se (the title I have conveniently forgotten right now), because looking at pictures of water relaxes me.
August 25, 2007
A beautiful book of horse photos/great coffee table book for those who love horses!
August 20, 2010
Not the easiest to read (also saw play and movie...i do so love Richard Burton) but was worth my time!
Read
December 17, 2012loved it
November 21, 2017
This is my favorite book that I have constant bad luck with. Let me explain.
My first copy (hardback) was much beloved and read dozens of times in the decade or so I had it. I'd stare at the photos so hard I hoped I would memorize them (I didn't -- but it was fun trying.) This book was so different from any other horse encyclopedia or coffee table horse book. The photos were real breakthroughs in their day. These horses were moving, vibrant to the point where you could practically see them BREATHING.
And to pair the photos with literary quotes was also unusual (or it seemed so to me at the time.) And these weren't just anonymous animal models -- many of the horses here Vavra names, including the incredible Andalusian stallion cover boy, Majestad, that Vavra would work with in at least three other books. Even Breyer made a model of him.
When I was 29 I had a major mental breakdown and ran away from home in Lancaster, Pa to England. I left my copy of Equus: The Creation of a Horse behind -- or sold it. I can't remember. Anyway, when I was the UK I did manage to get a hold of a replacement copy -- a paperback.
Unfortunately, my wacko boyfriend started beating me almost senseless so I had to flee -- leaving this copy behind.
So, I'm slightly nervous about getting a THIRD copy just in case something else tragic happens to me.
No idea what luck will fall on you if you buy a copy.
Today a reader will find many of these images familiar since in the decades since this book was first released, many of the images have been used in advertising. The most famous image would wind up being the cover of the smash bestseller The Horse Whisperer.
My first copy (hardback) was much beloved and read dozens of times in the decade or so I had it. I'd stare at the photos so hard I hoped I would memorize them (I didn't -- but it was fun trying.) This book was so different from any other horse encyclopedia or coffee table horse book. The photos were real breakthroughs in their day. These horses were moving, vibrant to the point where you could practically see them BREATHING.
And to pair the photos with literary quotes was also unusual (or it seemed so to me at the time.) And these weren't just anonymous animal models -- many of the horses here Vavra names, including the incredible Andalusian stallion cover boy, Majestad, that Vavra would work with in at least three other books. Even Breyer made a model of him.
When I was 29 I had a major mental breakdown and ran away from home in Lancaster, Pa to England. I left my copy of Equus: The Creation of a Horse behind -- or sold it. I can't remember. Anyway, when I was the UK I did manage to get a hold of a replacement copy -- a paperback.
Unfortunately, my wacko boyfriend started beating me almost senseless so I had to flee -- leaving this copy behind.
So, I'm slightly nervous about getting a THIRD copy just in case something else tragic happens to me.
No idea what luck will fall on you if you buy a copy.
Today a reader will find many of these images familiar since in the decades since this book was first released, many of the images have been used in advertising. The most famous image would wind up being the cover of the smash bestseller The Horse Whisperer.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews