Author | Margita Figuli |
---|---|
Original title | Tri gaštanové kone |
Translator | John Minahane |
Cover artist | Jozef Cincík [1] |
Country | Slovak State |
Language | Slovak |
Genre | Romance novel, Christian novel |
Set in | Northern Slovakia, 1930s |
Published | 1940 |
Publisher | Matica slovenská |
Published in English | 2014 |
Media type | Print: hardback |
Pages | 163 |
891.8735 | |
LC Class | PG5438.F47 T7513 |
Preceded by | Olovený vták |
Followed by | Tri noci a tri sny |
Three Chestnut Horses ( Slovak: Tri gaštanové kone) is a 1940 novel by Margita Figuli in the Slovak language. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
In the mountains of Slovakia, Peter has been in love with Magdalena since childhood and asks her to marry him. However, her mother promises her to a cruel, rich farmer, Jano Zapotočný. Magdalena promises Peter that she will put off marrying Jano if Peter can prove himself capable of making a living, but tragedy intervenes in their lives. [7]
In Slovakia, Three Chestnut Horses was an immediate success, running through eight editions in seven years. is considered a beloved classic. [8] In Women Writers of Great Britain and Europe: An Encyclopedia, Norma L. Rudinsky noted that "[Magdalena and Peter's] spiritual growth through tragedy to a happy ending is mythologized by three horses symbolizing the goodness, beauty and strength of nature as well as the same three qualities gained by obedience to the Christian moral code." [9]
During the period of communist Czechoslovakia, the book was published with several religious passages excised. [10]
Prof. Sarah Hinlicky Wilson awarded it five stars, saying "Three Chestnut Horses as an authentically religious book is a good antidote […] It won’t heal the wounds of living, but it will give you enough balm to carry on to the next encounter." [11]