National Velvet

"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 fourteen-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 English life 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.

The daughter of an English army officer, Enid Bagnold (1889–1981) grew up in Jamaica, attended schools in England and France, and served with the British women's services during World War I. After her marriage to Sir Roderick Jones, the millionaire head of Reuters, she became a society hostess and mother of four. Bagnold is the author of several novels and plays, including The Chalk Garden.