They shoot horses, don't they?

This remarkable debut novel, published in 1935, though not influential at the time, went on to achieve considerable fame through a film adaptation and a hit single. The narrator and central character, Robert Syverten, at the start of the novel is awaiting sentence for the murder of Gloria Beatty. In the remainder of the novel, he explains the background to the scene in which he killed Gloria. They are dance partners in a grotesque marathon dance contest in California where suffering, violence and death are prominent features even before Gloria’s death.

The author, Horace Mc Coy (born 14 April 1897), grew up in Tennessee. He dropped out of high school after a year and was working in Dallas in June 1917 when he registered for the war draft. He then served in France with the United States Air Service for a year and a half. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre for a daring flight during which, as bombardier, he took over the controls after the pilot had been killed and, though wounded, was able to return to base. On being discharged in 1919, he returned to Dallas and began work as a newspaper columnist and reporter. His first short stories were published in 1927. In 1931 he began writing a story that would later become his first novel (this one). It was published on the back of the author’s reputation as an up-and-coming screenwriter.

It could well be that the author’s experiences on the Western Front helped shaped the life-and-death scenario of this novel. Robert and Gloria are budding actors and they meet when trying to get cast as extras. Rather than having a zest for life, however, Gloria aspires to die:
“My old man got killed in the war in France. I wish I could get killed in a war.”
Frustrated by the lack of openings in Hollywood, they team up in a marathon dance contest at the beach. Gloria meets a 60-year-old lady who comes every day to watch the event and remarks to Robert:
“I hope I never live to be that old.”
Further into the account, Robert makes this observation about Gloria:
“You're the gloomiest person I ever met. Sometimes I think you would be better off dead.”

Soon after the contest is brought to a premature conclusion when two people are shot dead in a fracas, Gloria hands Robert a small pistol and asks him to shoot her in the head. He remembered an incident from his childhood when his grandfather had shot a horse that he loved when it broke its leg. His grandfather had explained:
“It was the kindest thing to do... It was the only way to get her out of her misery.”
Robert was persuaded to comply with Gloria’s request. When he was arrested, he told the policemen that she had asked him to do it. They are skeptical:
“ ‘Is that the only reason you got?’ the policeman in the rear seat asked.
‘They shoot horses, don't they?’ I said.”