Walter Farley
Walter Lorimer Farley was an American author best known for his popular children's novels centered around horses, particularly "The Black Stallion." Born on June 26, 1915, in Syracuse, New York, Farley developed an early interest in horses through family connections and began writing stories about them as a child. His most famous work, "The Black Stallion," was published in 1941, and it quickly garnered a devoted readership, leading to multiple sequels and adaptations, including films in the 1970s and 1980s. Farley's writing career flourished despite mixed critical reception; he was celebrated for his authentic depictions of horse culture, appealing to both young readers and horse enthusiasts.
Throughout his life, Farley was actively involved in promoting literacy and engaging with fans, creating community initiatives such as the Black Stallion Club. He authored over 20 books during his career, which collectively sold an estimated twelve million copies worldwide and have been translated into numerous languages. Farley's contributions to children's literature were recognized with various awards, and his legacy endures in libraries and through ongoing publication of his works. He passed away on October 16, 1989, leaving a lasting impact on the genre of children's horse literature.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Walter Farley
Writer
- Born: June 26, 1915
- Birthplace: Syracuse, New York
- Died: October 16, 1989
Biography
Walter Lorimer Farley was born on June 26, 1915, in Syracuse, New York, to Walter Farley, who managed a hotel, and Isabell Vermilyea Farley. As a child, Farley visited the stables where his uncle boarded horses, rode, and learned about training. He started writing horse stories at eleven. His parents relocated to Manhattan, and Farley studied at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. Farley began writing about a character he called the Black Stallion. By 1931, he transferred to Pennsylvania’s Mercersburg Academy.
Farley enrolled at Columbia University in 1935. His mentor, Mabel L. Robinson, admired his writing, which he honed in a workshop she directed, focusing on creating children’s literature. At Columbia, Farley completed The Black Stallion. Random House published it in 1941. Fans immediately demanded additional adventures.
Farley served in the U.S. Army in Alaska and the Aleutians during World War II and crafted a sequel, The Black Stallion Returns. He married Rosemary Lutz before he was discharged in 1946. The couple visited South America and adjacent islands, and the trip inspired The Island Stallion, published in 1948. They had two sons and two daughters. Farley purchased land outside Boyertown, Pennsylvania, where he fulfilled his childhood ambition to own Arabian horses. He also bought a Florida house, where his family enjoyed beach life. Always eager to discuss his passion for horses, Farley attended horse races and shows. He interacted with readers, creating a membership button for the original Black Stallion Club in 1949. He asked readers to name the title character in The Black Stallion’s Filly. Approximately fifty thousand children suggested names; Farley offered a foal to the winner. When his first book was adapted into a film in the 1970’s, Farley advised producers and publicized the movie. He performed the same services for The Black Stallion Returns, a film that came out in the early 1980’s. Farley encouraged literacy and visited schools and book events.
Farley wrote additional titles featuring the Black Stallion, the Caribbean island stallion Flame, and their progeny. The accidental death of Farley’s daughter Pam in 1968 motivated him to write The Black Stallion and the Girl, which discussed women’s roles in horse racing. He also penned suspense novels on other topics, books for younger children, and a nonfiction horse-safety guide. Farley died on October 16, 1989. He and son Steve coauthored Farley’s final Black Stallion book.
Although critics dismissed Farley’s work as not having literary merit, readers and horsemen admired him for his accurate portrayals. Farley’s first novel was designated a Junior Literary Guild choice book, as were many of his subsequent horse novels. His fans voted The Black Stallion as the winner of the 1944 Young Readers’ Choice Award sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Library Association and again honored his sequel with that award in 1948. The sequel also won the Boys Club Junior Book Award. Farley’s books were national bestsellers, and since the 1940’s, readers have bought an estimated twelve million of Farley’s novels. Publishers continue selling reprints in approximately twenty countries. The Venice (Florida) Area Public Library memorialized Farley with a namesake children’s room in 1989.