National Velvet

By Enid Bagnold

A girl wins a horse in a raffle and dreams of racing in the Grand National.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 26,053 ratings

320 pages· 67,634 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

Velvet Brown, a determined 14-year-old from Sussex, dreams of becoming England's best rider. Her prayers are answered when she wins a piebald horse in a raffle. With her family's quirky support, Velvet trains the horse for the Grand National steeplechase. Can this unlikely pair defy the odds and achieve victory? Discover a tale of ambition, courage, and the pursuit of dreams in a richly depicted rural England.

From the publisher

“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 YorkerA 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.

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