Dame Catherine Cookson (1906-1998)

British author Dame Cookson's life was almost like something out of fiction itself. She was born Kate McMullen in a deprived area of South Tyneside in Northern England in 1906, the illegitimate daughter of a girl she believed was her sister. Despite a poverty stricken childhood and having to leave school at 13 to enter into domestic service, she was eventually to become one of the most popular writers of all time and a multi-millionairess.

Although not an author one would immediately associate with pony books (being famous as a writer of historical romances and melodramas), she did in fact write an adult trilogy with a central horsy character and two excellent children's pony novels. As with most of her non-pony books, they are set in the North East of England, which is not really a popular setting for pony stories. In both of the children's novels the role of the horse in the Industrial urban world is an important theme. The adult trilogy takes a different tack entirely, being a melodrama with the added interest of an imaginary horse! Needless to say these are not your run of the mill pony books, but they are all good reads.

Hamilton Series (Adult Fiction):
A trilogy of adult books about a young woman who conjures up an imaginary horse to help her cope with her terrible life. Her fantasy creation threatens her freedom when she is branded a madwoman, but in the end it proves her salvation and a promise of long-awaited happiness.
These are not pony books in any real sense of the world, but the character of Hamilton, the imaginary (and very funny) horse who kicks annoying people in the butt, is a brilliant creation. The first book is the best and has the most about the horsy character of Hamilton. The last book in the series is not as good as the others and has no horse content at all, but I have included it here for completists or those who would like to follow Maisie's story to its conclusion.

1) HAMILTON
(HEINEMANN 1983)
Reprinted a number of times, including large print editions. The most common copies are the Corgi paperbacks.
SUMMARY: Maisie could never be quite sure when she met up with Hamilton, most likely it was when she started talking to herself as an often lonely seven-year-old. Hamilton, an imaginary horse, had to remain a secret for many years, for what would people think of Maisie if she revealed that the only friend she had was a horse who acted as her guide, philosopher and confidante?
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

2) GOODBYE HAMILTON
(HENEMANN 1984)
Reprinted a number of times, including large print editions. The most common copies are the Corgi paperbacks.
SUMMARY: It seems life has now become wonderful for Maisie, but trouble is just around the corner. Can her imaginary equine friend Hamilton help her through her new troubles?
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

3) HAROLD
(HEINEMANN 1985)
Reprinted a number of times, including large print editions. The most common copies are the Corgi paperbacks.
SUMMARY: Last in series, no horse content. The cantankerous but loveable little boy Harold whom Maisie adopts has now taken the place of Hamilton as her comfort and joy.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

Other editions:

THE HAMILTON TRILOGY
(BOUNTY BOOKS 1992)
Reprinted in paperback by Corgi.
SUMMARY: Omnibus edition of all 3 books.

THE HAMILTONS
(SIMON & SCHUSTER 2006)
SUMMARY: Omnibus edition of the first 2 books in the series.

Collectors Info:
Easy to find, especially the Corgi paperback reprints and can be found in many larger public libraries.

Other Horse and Pony Books:

JOE AND THE GLADIATOR
(MACDONALD 1968)
ILLUSTRATED BY GILLIAN SHANKS
Reprinted in hardback by Macdonald, Macmillan and Doubleday.
Reprinted in paperback by Puffin and Corgi.
Published in the USA by NAL/Dutton, possibly only in paperback?
Was also published in an omnibus edition with another Cookson novel called Matty Doolin.
SUMMARY: Young adult story set in the world of the Tyneside shipyards. Teenage Joe has to contend with family trouble and bullying at his job in the shipyard. His life takes on a brighter turn when he meets rag and bone man Mr. Prodhurst and his clever old horse Gladiator. But Joe's interest in the horse soon turns into a real test of his courage and determination.

THE NIPPER
(MACDONALD 1970)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Puffin.
Published in the USA by Bobbs-Merill in 1970.
SUMMARY: Historical story about a boy and his love for a pony, set in the mining community of Northern England
When their farm is sold young Sandy loses both home and job. And he also loses the pony The Nipper who is sold to work in the pits.

Collectors Info:
Both books are easy to find in the UK in paperback, although hardback editions of The Nipper are a little more elusive. Both were published in the USA and can be found therem although the first American edition of The Nipper is often pricey.