Cornelia Meigs (1884-1973)

Award winning American author of children's novels. Born in Illinois in 1884. She was fairly prolific writer, with a number of both fictional and non-fictional works to her name. Her biography of classic American author Louisa May Alcott won the Newbery Medal in 1934. Many of her children's novels were about the history of  America: amongst these is one horse-themed book, which has the  unusual historical setting of the Quaker community of Pennsylvania at the time of William Penn.

As well as an author, Ms. Meigs was also a teacher and college professor and taught writing in the latter part of her life. She also seemed to be something of an expert on children's literature, having co-authored A Critical History of Children's Literature, a literary study of American childern's lit.

Cornelia Meigs also wrote under the pseudonym of Aldair Aldon.

Pony Books:

THE DUTCH COLT
(MACMILLAN [USA] 1952)
ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE & DORIS HAUMAN
Reprinted in hardback by Macmillan in 1958.
SUMMARY: Historical pony story set in the Quaker community of early Pennsylvania. Two children, Hugh and Gertrude are living with their uncle who is looking after the property of the famous William Penn whilst he is in England. The children are dismayed when the horses on the farm must be sold to pay some debts but the old mare Dolly (whom nobody wants) surprises them by giving birth to a strapping colt they name Dapple. Everyone tries to keep the colt a secret, but an unscrupulous stranger finds out about Dapple and steals him. Blaming himself for the loss of the colt, young Hugh determines to go to any lengths to get the colt back for his hero Mr. Penn.
PONYMAD VIEW: A well-written story with some interesting information about the time and the Quaker community. Not overly exciting and also not a huge amount of horse content, but on the whole a pleasant enough story.
PONYMAD RATING 3 HORSESHOES

Collector's Info:
Although not common can be found without too much trouble in the USA. Quite a bit harder elsewhere, however.