One Hundred and Four Horses: A Memoir of Farm and Family, Africa and Exile
As terror swept Zimbabwe’s farms early this century, a couple known as the horse people began to shelter the animals left behind. Retzlaff recounts the journey she and her husband undertook in this plainspoken, heartfelt memoir. Hounded from farm to farm for years by hordes of President Robert Mugabe’s men, they belong to a community besieged. Their escape is filled with midnight rescue runs, forced departures in a matter of hours, theft, and betrayal. Retzlaff is at her best in her loving descriptions of the horses’ personalities, allowing the reader to get to know the animals as individuals. The Retzlaffs’ deep feeling for their charges will appeal to animal lovers of all stripes. Overall, the writing lacks shine, but the story of the brave battle the Retzlaffs wage on behalf of the vulnerable herd does not require sparkling prose to make an impression. The couple’s story—a drastic example of standing up for those you love—showcases the seemingly small but deeply significant heroism of doing the right thing, --Bridget Thoreson