Marguerite Henry’s “Misty of Chincoteague”: So Much More than Just Another Horse Story

The name “Misty of Chincoteague” might sound underwhelming if you are not familiar with the East Coast islands of Chincoteague and Assateague. It also might be easy to dismiss if you have never encountered the writing of Marguerite Henry. But “Misty of Chincoteague” is not just another horse book! No offense intended toward those people who love every horse book out there.

Loosely based on true events, the story follows Paul and his sister Maureen who live with their grandparents on the island of Chincoteague off the coast of Virginia. Through courage and resourcefulness, the children seek to gain ownership of a wild pony named the Phantom.

In another example of marvelous fiction (along with an inkling that parenting used to be very different), the children raise the funds they need, and Paul manfully embarks on an adventure to capture and purchase the Phantom and her foal, Misty.

In addition to the enthralling adventure of securing and attempting to tame the horse, Grandpa Beebe supplies a wonderful East Coast accent and gruffly delivered wisdom of a horse trainer on an island of fishermen.

The story succeeds in conveying the perspective of the horses, not told directly but discerned by observant people in the story. Unlike “Black Beauty,” this story is not so brutally bleak and has a wonderful lightness and optimism about it, despite some quite dramatic episodes.

Henry was not only an excellent and prolific author, she was also an innovative marketer. According to an amusing article in the Wall Street Journal, Henry brought promotion to children’s literature at a time when none was thought necessary. Having acquired Misty, the real horse, Henry would bring her along to library conventions and host an annual birthday party on her front lawn.

More than anything, Henry’s writing is superb. One has a sense that Henry could describe phenomena as dull as the operation of a washing machine in tight yet elegant prose. “Misty” is so much more than just a little kids’ story; full of Americana, freedom, virtue, and the pursuit of excellence, do not pass up Marguerite Henry’s “Misty of Chincoteague.”