Beverley Nichols (1898-1983)

Highly respected and somewhat iconic British author, playwright and columnist. Born in Bristol in 1898. Attended Oxford. Best know for his gardening books, however wrote over 60 books in total on a very wide range of other subjects (both adult and children's fiction and non-fiction) including a very popular children's fantasy series about a magical old woman, a wicked witch and a number of animal characters. (The Tree That Sat Down is the first in the series). One of the books in this series features two main equine characters and so, although Beverley Nichols is not known as a pony book author,  I have included it here. Although it is part of a series it can be read as a stand-alone story and it is highly recommended as an excellent children's fantasy.

Please see the links for lots more biographical info and photographs of the man. There was also a biography of him published in the 1990s.

Horse & Pony Books:

THE WICKEDEST WITCH IN THE WORLD
FIRST EDITION W. H. ALLEN 1971
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN JACQUES
Reprinted in paperback a few times by Knight in the 1970s and 1980s.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Knight paperbacks.
SUMMARY: Last in the classic non-pony series which includes: The Tree That Sat Down, The Stream That Stood Still and The Mountain of Magic. It is not however chronological with the other books in the series and can be read as a stand-alone story.
A fantasy about a pretty pony called Snowdrop who escapes the clutches of the wicked witch Miss Smith and seeks protection from the white witch Mrs. Judy. In order to thwart the evil witch's plans, Mrs. Judy and Snowdrop hatch up a plan to beat the wicked witch and her evil black steed Satan in a horse race. A superb children's fantasy!
PONYMAD RATING: 5 HORSESHOES

Collectors Info:
Quite rare. The paperbacks are fairly hard to find but the hardback is extremely so. May be quite expensive. The other books in the series (non-pony) are easier to find but still not common. However much of the author's adult non-fiction is easy to get hold of and usually low cost.

Books about the author:

BEVERLEY NICHOLS: A LIFE
By Brian Connan
FIRST EDITION TIMBER PRESS PB 1991
SUMMARY: Biography

Collectors Info:
Still in print and available on Amazon, although fairly expensive for a paperback. It is also available in the USA.