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The Chestry Oak
Kate Seredy

Statistics:
Copyright 1948
236 pages
ISBN:
Young Adult
Out of Print
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Horse connection:
Prince Michael loves horses, especially his father's stallion, Midnight

Description:
The story opens with 5-year-old Prince Michael, asleep in the family castle, dreaming of riding his father's magnificent black stallion, when he is awakened by the drone of a squadron of airplanes. He knows they must be friendly, prays they must be friendly, because there has been no alarm sounded.

The castle has been taken by Nazis, who now permeate all sections of the household save one overlooked, insignificant nursemaid, who cares for the boy. Young Prince Michael must find a way to grow up under their thumb while remaining true to Chestry Valley.

Michael loves the horses in the barn, and becomes an accomplished rider - even becoming a partner worthy of Midnight.

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Do not miss this book, by ponydom on January 29, 2009

This is an astonishingly powerful book, set around WW2, in Hungary. It's worth noting that it was published in 1948, so the war was not yet "history," but a contemporary event, when Seredy wrote it. Seredy grew up in Hungary, served in WWI as a nurse, and then immigrated to America in the 20's.

I had been tipped to Seredy as a horse author, and I had read her first novel, The Good Master. But, I was especially curious when I heard of this title, since I knew eventing legend Denny Emerson had a homebred eventer named Chestry Oak: I had to read it. My library's copy is without a dust jacket, so I knew nothing of the plot or setting when I sat down with it.

It is jarring to read about a prince, snug in his bed in his shining castle on a hill, dreaming of riding a fine stallion, and then have him awaken to fears of a WW2 air raid. I felt off balance reading it, always surprised by what would happen next.

The Chestry Oak of the story is part of a long tradition of the ruling family. A 1,000 year old oak looks over the valley, and when each son reaches seven years old, he plants a new tree from one of the acorns, assuring the prosperity of the family and of the valley. When the war comes, the tradition is interrupted, but there is still an acorn, and Michael's father assures him that when the war is over, it will be safe, somewhere, to plant the last remaining acorn.

The novel is quite horsey; many of the happiest moments involve horses and riding. Michael has a way with horses - maybe unrealistically so for his age, but I never minded. Horses, and his brave nurse, are his only respite from the Nazis who have taken over the castle - and even so, his wise old riding master has been replaced by a humorless Nazi captain.

I read a lot of fiction, but I have never read a book quite like it. It's a treasure.