What can the life of a horse reveal about freedom, society, and the human soul?

In Farewell, Gulsary!, Chingiz Aitmatov presents a sweeping, poignant narrative through the life of Gulsary, a remarkable horse, and his owner Tanabay, whose turbulent life mirrors the upheavals of Kyrgyz society. From the exhilaration of newfound freedom after the fall of Tsarist Russia to the creeping decay of corruption, bureaucracy, and social collapse, Aitmatov captures the fragile balance between human aspiration and harsh reality.

The novel explores the profound connections between individuals, communities, and the natural world, revealing how modernization and “taming” can bring both progress and tragedy. Through Gulsary’s life cycle, Aitmatov reflects on human mortality, societal transformation, and the loss of liberty, equality, and brotherhood.

Magnificent, reflective, and deeply moving, Farewell, Gulsary! is a meditation on life and death, the price of modernization, and the enduring spirit of a people, told with unparalleled realism and poetic depth.

Publishing Date: 1963
ISBN: 9786257303873
Original Language: Russian
Pages: 260
Dimentions: 12 x 19.5 cm