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Horse & Pony Books:
NATIONAL VELVET (HEINEMANN 1935) ILLUSTRATED BY LAURIEN JONES Reprinted many times in both hardback and paperback and in both the UK and USA. The author later adapted the book into a play in 1946 and it was also made into a successful film in 1944. There was a later film sequel made called International Velvet which was then adapted in novel form (see related fiction section below). It was also made into a little known USA TV adaptation. SUMMARY: Horse-mad Velvet Brown, being from a large and poor family, has to content herself by cutting out pictures of horses and pretending they are real. Then she wins a piebald horse at a fair. Mi, the delivery boy (who also happens to be an ex-jockey) jokes that 'Pie' should be entered in the National when he sees him jump. But Velvet takes him at his word and embarks upon an amazing attempt to win the big race. PONYMAD VIEW: This book was doubtless made famous by the classic film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney. A good film but the book is outstanding, although not really in the traditional mould of the pony book. PONYMAD RATING: GOLDEN CUP FOR OUTSTANDING READ
NATIONAL VELVET (PLAY VERSION) (DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE 1961) The play itself was produced in London in 1946. Later published in printed form.
Related Fiction:
INTERNATIONAL VELVET by Bryan Forbes (HEINEMANN 1978) Reprinted in paperback a number of times. EDITIONS PICTUREDl 1st edition, Pan paperback edition. SUMMARY: The story is a belated sequel to the first book. Velvet is now grown up and looking after her difficult niece Sarah. Can a shared love of horses bring them together? Originally a film starring Tatum O'Neal and Anthony Hopkins. Bryan Forbes wrote a novelisation based closely on the film. (The book is actually far superior to the film.)
Collectors Info: National Velvet, having been reprinted so many times, is very easy to find, especially in paperback in both the UK and USA The first editions (both UK and US) are however rare and very valuable. International Velvet is also pretty easy to find in paperback. The hardback is slightly harder to get hold of.
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