Publisher Description

Hazard Lepage, the last of the studhorse men, sets out to breed his rare blue stallion, Poseidon. A trickster, a lusty peddler, and a wayward knight, the antics of this hero are only outmatched by those of the narrator, a maniacal, naked writer who works in his bathtub. Told with the ribald zeal of a Prairie beer parlour tall tale and the mythic magnitude of a Greek odyssey, this book is Robert Kroetsch's recharacterisation of the Canadian West upon his mythological return to Alberta.

Back Cover

Front french flap Hazard Lepage, the last of the studhorse men, sets out to breed his rare blue stallion, Poseidon. A lusty trickster and a wayward chevalier, Hazard's outrageous adventures are recorded by Demeter Proudfoot, his secret rival, who, as the narrator, writes this story while sitting naked in an empty bathtub. In his quest to save his stallion's bloodline from extinction Hazard leaves a trail of anarchy and confusion. Everything he touches erupts into chaos necessitating frequent convalescences in the arms of a few good women, except for those of Martha, his long-suffering intended. Told with the ribald zeal of a Prairie beer parlor tall tale and combining the mythic magnitude of a Greek odyssey, The Studhorse Man marks Robert Kroetsch's celebration of unbridled character set against the backdrop of rough-and-ready Alberta emerging after the war. Back french flap As an extensively published novelist, poet, critic and scholar, Robert Kroetsch is one of Canada's most accomplished authors. Born in Heisler, Alberta in 1927, he earned his PhD with the University of Iowa's Writer's Workshop. In 1969 his second novel, The Studhorse Man, won the Governor General's Award for Fiction. He has published nine novels and twelve books of poetry as well as diverse travel and scholarly writing. His most recent collection of poetry, The Hornbooks of Rita K (University of Alberta Press), was short-listed for the Governor General's Award for Poetry in 2001. Recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Alberta, he is the recipient of the second Award of Distinction from the Manitoba Arts Council, Arts. Robert Kroetsch lives in Winnipeg. Aritha van Herk grew up in Robert Kroetsch's Battle River country. Inspired by his writing, she has chronicled Alberta in eight works of fiction and non-fiction. Her latest book, Mavericks: An Incorrigible History of Alberta, won the Grant MacEwan Author's Award for Alberta writing. She is a University Professor and Professor of English at the University of Calgary. Photograph of Robert Kroetsch by ENVISION. Cover Image: Silvers by Joe Fafard, APII, 1999, 36"H x 48"L x 12"W, ed. of 7. Used by permission of the artist. Back cover panel, block quotes "Have you seen a blue stallion?" Hazard inquired. He knew that Poseidon, by virtue of living in a house, would not be adverse [averse?] to entering a doorway. For this reason he inquired after his stallion in places like the Rialto Theatre, the Palace of Sweets, and Mike's newsstand. He ducked into Woodward's and asked a girl if she had seen a big blue stallion come in. "Only a pair of grays," the girl replied, pointing to where a floorwalker was cleaning up horse turds with a feather duster. "They went toward lingerie." -from The Studhorse Man

Author Biography

One of Canada's most accomplished authors, Robert Kroetsch was born in Heisler, Alberta. In 1969 he won the Governor General's Award for Fiction. Kroetsch's enormous contribution to Canadian literature spans fiction, non-fiction, poetry and scholarship, and he is recognised internationally for both his writing and his teaching. A Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Alberta, his most recent award is the Manitoba Arts Council Arts Award of Distinction. Robert Kroetsch lives in Winnipeg.

Review

"Recognized as a classic when it first appeared, the novel's status as one of the finest pieces of Canadian fiction has only grown over the last three decades.... The Studhorse Man, now 35 years old, has far more intoxicating vigour, structural muscularity and dervish-like linguistic brilliance than almost anything being published in Canada today." Christopher Wiebe, VUE Weekly
"Always original, at times wickedly funny, and told with unrestrained enthusiasm framed by a post-war, rough-edged Alberta, The Studhorse Man showcases and documents Robert Kroetsch as one of Canada's best living writers." Wisconsin Bookwatch
Listed in Best of the West Comparisons list (between Alberta & Saskatchewan) under category "Classic Scene Setters" against W.O. Mitchell's Who Has Seen the Wind. Canadian Geographic, January/February 2005
"In its comic energy, The Studhorse Man recalls Rabelais, Bakhtin and the carnivalesque....This University of Alberta Press publication includes a very fine introduction by Aritha van Herk. Sharply attentive to the novel's patterns, reference field and detail, she situates it with respect not only to Edmonton, the Saskatchewan river valley, local history and literary conventions of the quest and the trickster, but also to her own experience of the local....Kroetsch's writing in The Studhorse Man is typically vital and generous; its presentation of the priapic wanderer and his odd rake's progress through a changing Albertan landscape is marked by comedy, affection and nostalgia." Brian Edwards, Australasian Canadian Studies Journal, Vol. 22, No.2, 2004 and Vol. 23, No.1, 2005
"Kroetsch's writing cracks with sarcastic wit, and his book ridicules booming Edmonton's desire to banish the horse in favour of a suburban, car-infested future. The city's highest literary award is named after Kroetsch, so you can't go wrong here." -- Bruce Cinnamon * Vue Weekly *

Long Description

Hazard Lepage, the last of the studhorse men, sets out to breed his rare blue stallion, Poseidon. A trickster, a lusty peddler, and a wayward knight, the antics of this hero are only outmatched by those of the narrator, a maniacal, naked writer who works in his bathtub. Told with the ribald zeal of a Prairie beer parlour tall tale and the mythic magnitude of a Greek odyssey, The Studhorse Man is Robert Kroetsch's recharacterization of the Canadian West upon his mythological return home to Alberta. Winner of Governor General's Award for Fiction.

Review Quote

Robert Kroetsch has spent his life writing about his favourite place - Alberta. On this week's Trailblazers, we sit down with the famed prairie author who received one of this year's Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Awards.

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