12060
Sale
14-year-old Velvet is a teenager in the late 1920's who dreams of owning many horses. One day she sees a horse jump over a five-foot-high fence. Velvet becomes obsessed with winning the horse in an upcoming raffle and "Piebald" the horse becomes hers. After riding him in small competitions, she begins to train Piebald for the Grand National steeplechase. Velvet disguises herself as a man to enter the race. Velvet wins, but falls off the horse afterwards due to exhaustion. At first aid, they discover she is a girl. Because the racing world is amazed that a young girl could win, Velvet and the horse become instant celebrities. 304 pgs, sc. - Laura A butcher's daughter in a small Sussex town ends her nightly prayers with "Oh, God, give me horses, give me horses! Let me be the best rider in England!" The answer to 14-year-old Velvet Brown's plea materializes in the form of an unwanted piebald, raffled off in a village lottery, who turns out to be adept at jumping fencesexactly the sort of horse that could win the world's most famous steeplechase, the Grand National. Richly atmospheric of rural life in England between the World Wars, National Velvet has enchanted generations of readers since its 1935 debut. The heroine's grit and determination, backed by the support of her eccentric and loving family, offer an inspiring example of the struggles and rewards of following a dream. Reprint of the William Morrow and Company, New York, 1935 edition. "The book is one that horse lovers of every age cannot fail to enjoy." -- The New York Times "Humorous, charming, National Velvet is a little masterpiece." -- Time "Put on your not-to-be-missed list." -- The New Yorker A butcher's daughter in a small Sussex town ends her nightly prayers with "Oh, God, give me horses, give me horses! Let me be the best rider in England!" The answer to 14-year-old Velvet Brown's plea materializes in the form of an unwanted piebald, raffled off in a village lottery, who turns out to be adept at jumping fences -- exactly the sort of horse that could win the world's most famous steeplechase, the Grand National. Richly atmospheric of rural life in England between the World Wars, National Velvet has enchanted generations of readers since its 1935 debut. The heroine's grit and determination, backed by the support of her eccentric and loving family, offer an inspiring example of the struggles and rewards of following a dream.