National Velvet by Enid Bagnold First Pocket BOOK Printing 1940 National Velvet is a novel by Enid Bagnold, first published in 1935. 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. "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 Made in to a movie starring Elizabeth Taylor as Velvet Brown, an equine-loving 12-year-old living in rural Sussex, owner of a rambunctious horse that she decides to train for England's Grand National race. She is aided by former jockey Mi Taylor, played by Mickey Rooney. All pages unmarked. Cover shows some wear to edges, some mild creasing. Laminate on back cover has peeling/rolling. Some parts of description on the back has peeled away. Spine has minor chipping.