Alan London has published his debut collection of short stories, The Days of Wine and Horses, a work of fiction set in the Yorkshire Dales that explores the working lives of those in the equestrian world through a small country riding school. Independently published on June 5, 2026, in hardcover and paperback, the 301-page book has drawn comparisons to James Herriot's beloved Yorkshire novels for its warm, humorous portrayal of ordinary rural life.
London was born in the south of England but moved to Yorkshire as a child, where he grew up around riding yards and stables. Family expectations and economic necessity later led him into a settled profession, and for years he held down two jobs at once. The routines, difficult horses, and rhythms of a small rural economy he observed during those years inform the collection, though London stresses that the stories are invented and not autobiographical.
The book's title is adapted from Ernest Dowson's 1896 poem "Vitae Summa Brevis," known for the phrase "the days of wine and roses." Dowson's meditation on transience is recast here in the context of working life with horses, where good years with an animal prove fleeter than one might wish. Rather than a plotted narrative, the collection offers a fond, often humorous stroll through daily stable life, yard routines, and the challenges of animal management, centered on a riding school and the characters who pass through it.
All proceeds from the book will support Cancer Research, a cause of personal significance to London and his late wife, Maureen. This philanthropic commitment gives the collection an added dimension, allowing readers to enjoy a nostalgic slice of country life while contributing to a vital cause. The book is available through major retailers, and those interested in sampling the work can access a preview at https://read.amazon.com/sample/B0H4S9DFR7?clientId=share.
For readers and industry observers, the release highlights the continued appeal of independent publishing and regional fiction that celebrates slower, gentler ways of living. It also demonstrates how authors can align their work with charitable giving, potentially influencing consumer choices and setting an example for others in the publishing community.
