The Red Pony

"The Red Pony" is a novella by John Steinbeck, published in 1937. It tells the coming-of-age story of a young boy named Jody Tiflin, who lives on a ranch in California. Throughout the narrative, Jody experiences joy, loss, and the complexities of life as he interacts with his pony, Gabilan, and learns about responsibility, love, and the harsh realities of nature and mortality. The story captures themes of growth, the bond between humans and animals, and the challenges of rural life, reflecting Steinbeck's deep understanding of the human experience against the backdrop of the American landscape.