King of the Wind
First edition
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| Author | Marguerite Henry |
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| Illustrator | Wesley Dennis |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Rand McNally |
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Publication date
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1948 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| ISBN | (reissue) |
King of the Wind is a novel by Marguerite Henry that won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1949. It was made into a film of the same name in 1990.
The novel is a fictionalised biography of the Godolphin Arabian, an ancestor of the modern Thoroughbred. The story starts with Man o' War's victory over Sir Barton in a race. The fans expect Man o' War to race at Newmarket, but his owner, Samuel Riddle, chooses to end his racing career early. When questioned about his decision, he tells the story of the Godolphin Arabian.
The story starts in Morocco, as the fast of Ramadan is ending. Agba, a mute orphan, tends to his favorite Arabian mare. The Chief Groom realizes that tonight is her birthing hour. Agba, sleeping in the mare's stall, wakes to find a new foal in the stable. He notices a white spot on the colt's hind heel, considered the emblem of swiftness and good luck. The Chief Groom spots a wheat ear on the foal's chest: a sign of bad luck. He attempts to kill the colt, but Agba points out the white spot. The Chief Groom leaves, prophesying that the mare will die. Agba, undaunted, names the colt Sham because of his golden coat.
Within a few days, the prophecy is fulfilled when the mare dies. Agba feeds Sham on camel's milk and wild honey, promising that someday he will be King of The Wind.
Sham matures into a promising racehorse, beating all of the other horses in the stable. One day, the Sultan summons six horseboys to his palace, including Agba, and charges them to accompany six horses that are to be given as gifts to the French king. Sham fits the requirements and accompanies Agba to France. The horseboy is to remain with that horse until death, then return to Morocco.
However, the supposedly great racehorses are frowned upon by the French, who believe that they are not 'lusty' enough to be racehorses. Sham becomes a kitchen horse but causes such a mess that the cook sells him. Agba becomes a slave to Sham's owner and meets Grimalkin the cat along the way.
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