A small German religious group, led by their young pastor, Edmund Helfgott, lives quietly in rural South Australia some time in the late 19th century. One day their peace is shattered by a murder suicide in their community which leaves teenager Benedict Orion orphaned. Alone on the farm he once shared with his parents, Benedict retreats to the barn and withdraws from the human world. Unable to to consider what has happened, or face what is to come, the boy focuses all his attention on the here and now and the lives of the horses he now lives with, attuning himself to their moods and rhythms. Pastor Helfgott visits, hoping to bring some comfort to Benedict, but increasingly concerned about his condition. This is a remarkable book. Given that it opens with such a violent act, and there is more violence to follow, its soothing tone is testament to the quality of the writing. It is essentially a tale of the healing power of animals, of time, and of nature.
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