The Wooden Horse

"The Wooden Horse" by Hugh Walpole is a story about a young man named Robin Trojan, living in the shadow of his family's long history, nervously waiting to meet his father, Henry Trojan, after being apart for eighteen years. The plot follows the ideas of family responsibilities, the importance of social standing, and how hard it can be to adjust to new things, as Robin struggles with what his family wants from him and the interesting situation of reconnecting with a father whose life is very different from what he knows. The book starts with a feeling of excitement as Robin gets ready to see his father, setting the scene in their family's fancy but unwelcoming house, which shows how strict the Trojan family is. Robin's worry about how he looks and what his family expects shows his inner fight with who he is, especially when compared to Henry's laid-back attitude from living in New Zealand. As everyone gets together for this big event, Robin's focus on appearances clashes with bigger issues like family pride and accepting change, setting the stage for a story full of feelings and social questions.