Farley published The Black Stallion in 1941 just prior to the U.S. entering World War II. Given that Alec travels by ship with travelers of many nationalities, through the Arabian Gulf, the Mediterranean, around the coast of Europe, across the Atlantic to Brazil, and to New York City, why does he ignore the international war conditions that were going on during the time?

What words and phrases does Farley employ that are distinctly different from spoken English in the 21st Century?

In a story where there are well-developed male characters, why does Farley have only three women characters? Why do Henry and Alec’s father patronize their wives?