Pale Horse, Pale Rider by Katherine Anne Porter

I have never heard of the author, but this book was given to me in a parcel of books that someone was getting rid of.  It is an old paperback, with brittle pages.  As I was reading it, the binder cracked and one page came loose.  I think I will try to find a proper resting place as opposed to just throwing it in the trash. Oops, sorry, I meant to say recycle bin!

This book consists of 3 short stories. They are written from the late 1800s – early 1900s. 

Miranda is the main character in the first and last story and Mr. Thompson is in the middle.  His story is unrelated to Miranda’s story.

 “Old Mortality”, “Noon Wine” and “Pale Horse, Pale Rider” are the names of the three vignettes.   They are about living, dying and barely maintaining life in between.

In “Old Mortality”, the living cherish the dead. They are forever sealed in portraits and faded notions left by the deceased.  Miranda is the main character as she retells stories from her childhood.  They mostly center around her deceased Aunt Amy who tried to lead a wild life, but her parents did what they could to keep her stable. 

“High Noon” tells the story of a man who defends another man and another man gets killed.  He is found not guilty because it was done in “self-defense”, however, said man believes the neighbors think murder is murder regardless of why and they condemn him silently.   Then he does the unthinkable and the story ends. 

“Pale horse, Pale Rider” is about Miranda as an adult.

The authors stories are about humanity at its best and worst.