About the author
Walter Farley had his early experience of horses from his uncle, who trained horses. He wrote his first book, The Black Stallion, while he was still a student. He was told not to expect to make any money from children’s books. That he was still writing over 40 years later perhaps proves that he did.
Walter Farley wrote two main series: the Black Stallion, which ran to 19 titles, and the Island Stallion, which connects with the Black Stallion series. The Black Stallion series was published in paperback in the UK by Knight; initially with just a few titles, but later Knight published the whole series. After the film appeared, a paperback version with stills from the film was published. Little Black is a charming series for younger readers, and Man o’ War, non fiction, is about the famous racehorse. The first two Little Black books were part of the Dr. Seuss early reader series, but Little Black Races was not, though it was also published by Random House.
The first three books in the series were published by Collins, though not Little Black Races. This title is far more difficult to find than the first two, and is often found in ex-library, non-collectible condition. After Walter Farley died, his son, Steven, continued the Black Stallion series. He has also written another connector series, the Young Black Stallion. Below is a list of Walter Farley’s books, and on other pages, you’ll find a synopsis of each story, and as many covers of the Black Stallion series as I have been able to find.
Finding the books
All the books were originally published as first editions in America. First editions can be expensive, but there were so many reprints it is not hard to find reasonably priced hardbacks with dustjackets if you are prepared to settle for a later edition.
The paperbacks are still in print, but earlier editions are all very easy to find, and cheap to buy both here and in America. The most sought after American series is the one with cover art by Ruth Sanderson, and in the UK is probably the 1970s series by Knight, though even this you can pick up very reasonably indeed. Three titles were published in hardback by Collins, all of which can be tricky to track down.
The one title not printed in hardback was Steven Farley’s The Black Stallion’s Steeplechaser, and this is expensive.
The first few titles have been published as facsimile hardbacks with dustjackets, and these are also easy to find.
Links and sources
Walter Farley has an official website. It has a biography of the author, and short synopses of all his books. The books have been the basis of several films, and the site gives you plenty of information about those as well.
The Children’s Book of Series Fiction, NCC
Many thanks to Susan Bourgeau, Fiona Williams, Danyele T Foster and Debbie Patrick for providing cover shots, and especially to Fran Fignar for her sterling work with the synopses.
Series
The Black Stallion Series
The Black Stallion
The Black Stallion Returns
Son of the Black Stallion
The Island Stallion
The Black Stallion and Satan
The Blood Bay Colt
The Island Stallion’s Fury
The Black Stallion’s Filly
The Black Stallion Revolts
The Black Stallion’s Sulky Colt
The Island Stallion Races
The Black Stallion’s Courage
The Black Stallion’s Mystery
The Horse Tamer
The Black Stallion and Flame
The Black Stallion Challenged!
The Black Stallion’s Ghost
The Black Stallion and the Girl (UK: The Black Stallion and the Stranger)
The Black Stallion Legend
The Young Black Stallion
By Stephen Farley
The Black Stallion’s Steeplechaser
The Black Stallion’s Shadow
The Black Stallion and the Shape Shifter
The Black Stallion and the Lost City
Little Black Series
Little Black, a Pony
Little Black Goes to the Circus
The Little Black Pony Races
Bibliography
The Black Stallion
Random House, NY, 1941, illus Keith Ward
Random House, 1972
UK publications:
Peter Lunn, London, 1946, illus Keith Ward
Scholastic, 1974
Knight 1975, 1979, 1980, 1992
Hodder, 2000
The Black Stallion Returns
Random House, NY,1945, illus Harold Eldridge
Yearling Books, pb, 1991
UK publications:
Collins, London, hb 1951, illus Hofbauer
Knight 1973, 1983, 1990
(all paperback)
Son of the Black Stallion
Random House, NY,1947, illus Milton Menasco
Yearling, 2002, Paw Prints 2008
UK publications:
Collins, 1950, illus Hofbauer
Knight 1974, 1985, 1991
The Island Stallion
Random House, NY, 1948, 250 pp
illus Keith Ward
Knight, 1970s
The Black Stallion and Satan
Random House, NY, 1949, 208 pp., illus Milton Menasco
UK publications
Knight pb, 1992
The Blood Bay Colt
(also as The Black Stallion’s Blood Bay Colt)
Random House, NY, 1950, 307 pp, illus Milton Menasco
Paw Prints, 2008
The Island Stallion’s Fury
Random House, NY, 1951, 246 pp, illus Harold Eldridge
Yearling
UK publications:
Knight 1975
The Black Stallion’s Filly
Random House, NY, 1952, 309 pp, illus Milton Menasco
Yearling
UK publications:
Knight 1979, 1983
To read a synopsis of the book, click here.
The Black Stallion Revolts
Random House, NY, 1953, 305 pp, illus Harold Eldridge.
UK publications:
Knight, 1978
The Black Stallion’s Sulky Colt
Random House, NY, 1954, 248 pp, illus Harold Eldridge
Yearling, 2006
UK publications:
Knight, 1986
The Island Stallion Races
Random House, NY, 1955, 156 pp, illus Harold Eldridge
Yearling
The Black Stallion’s Courage
Random House, NY, 1956, 242 pp, illus Milton Manesco
Yearling Books, 2004
UK publications:
Knight 1978, 1993
The Black Stallion Mystery
Random House, NY, 1957, 202 pp, illus Mal Singer
Yearling Books, pb, 2004
UK publications:
Knight 1973, 1985
Severn House, 1982
The Horse Tamer
Random House, NY, 1958, 175 pp, illus James Schucker
The Black Stallion and Flame
Random House, NY, 1960, 240 pp, illus
Harold Eldridge
Random House, 960
Yearling pb 2003
UK publications:
Knight 1974, 1982, 1987
Little Black, a Pony
Random House Beginner Books, NY, 1961, 63 pp, illus James Schucker
UK publications:
Collins & Harvill, 1963
Man O’War
Random House, NY, 1962, 327 pp, ilus Angie Draper
Random House, 1962
Bantam, 1978
Little Black Goes to the Circus
Random House Beginner Books, NY, 1963, 61 pp, illus James Schucker
UK edition
Collins & Harvill, 1968
The Black Stallion Challenged!
Random House, NY, 1964, 246 pp, illus Angie Draper
Yearling Books, pb
UK publications:
UK: Knight 1978, 1983, 1989
The Horse That Swam Away
Random House, NY, 1965, 75 pp, illus Leo Summers
The Little Black Pony Races
Random House, NY, 1968, 64 pp, illus James Schucker
The Black Stallion’s Ghost
Random House, NY, 1969, 187 pp, illus Angie Draper
Yearling
UK publications:
Knight 1982, 1985
The Black Stallion and the Girl
Random House, NY, 1971, 214 pp, illus Angie Draper
Yearling, pb, 2005
As The Black Stallion and the Stranger
Knight, Leicester, 1988
The Black Stallion Legend
Random House, NY, 1983, 177 pp
UK publications:
Knight pb, 1985, 1989
The Young Black Stallion
(by both Steven and Walter Farley)
Random House, NY, 1989, 161 pp, cover Ruth Sanderson
UK publications:
Knight 1991
