Jane Badger Books
Golden Gorse
Bibliography
Moorland Mousie
Country Life, 1929, illus Lionel Edwards (1st edn left)
Reprinted many times: popular edition 1931,
Others 1941 and 1958 (1958 edn right)
Moorland Mousie is an Exmoor pony, and this is his story.
Country Life, 1929, illus Lionel Edwards (1st edn left)
Reprinted many times: popular edition 1931,
Others 1941 and 1958 (1958 edn right)
Moorland Mousie is an Exmoor pony, and this is his story.
Older Mousie
Country Life, 1932, Lionel Edwards
Country Life, 1932, Lionel Edwards
Muriel Wace, whose pseudonym was Golden Gorse, wrote four pony books, and two instructional pony books for children.
Many thanks to Clarissa Cridland, of Girls Gone By, for permission to quote the following piece on the author.
Looking though The Young Rider’s Picture Book I discovered a photograph of Moorland Mousie (who was a real pony) together with a man with a caption which said ‘This picture shows Mousie in the following year as a 3-year old. In my month at the farm I finished their education.’ I made the incorrect, but perhaps natural, assumption that Golden Gorse was a man. I wrote to tell the person who’d asked his identity and she wrote back to say that she had now discovered he was called M R Wace. I worked at Macmillan [with Michael Wace] ... I asked Michael if this were a relative and he denied all knowledge of M R Wace or Golden Gorse. Shortly afterwards I discovered Lucy Faulkner of Bookline in Northern Ireland.... She sent me an article which had appeared in the Riding Annual in 1980, in which the author had searched out Golden Gorse and discovered her to be Muriel Wace, married to the Rev Henry Wace. I took this into Michael. ‘Gosh, yes’, he said. ‘Henry Wace was my father’s cousin.’ When Michael brought me in his family tree, it was not surprising that he didn’t know all his relatives - his grandfather was one of 14, and his father one of 11! Interestingly, though when Michael asked one of his female cousins whether she had ever heard of Golden Gorse, she replied ‘Gosh, yes, she was my Godmother.’ Sadly, I haven’t managed to get to see Michael’s cousin yet to find out more, but it shows what an incredibly small place the world is.
Finding the books: all of her titles are reasonably plentiful, but not necessarily bargain basement cheap. Moorland Mousie is expensive as a first with dustjacket; reprints have become more expensive over the years, but are not yet horribly expensive. Firsts of all the fiction titles with dustjackets are becoming more expensive.
Links
This is the website of the Exmoor Pony Centre, and the Moorland Mousie Trust. The Trust works to ensure the survival of the Exmoor Pony, which is threatened as many youngsters, particularly colts, are not sold. These foals are taken on by the Trust, the initial handling done, and the foals then placed in permanent or foster homes until they are old enough to be backed. The Exmoor Pony Centre gives people the chance to see, and to ride Exmoor ponies. I had always thought I was too hefty, post children, to ride an Exmoor but I see that there is a weight limit of 12 stone to ride out on the Exmoors. The only problem would be where to put my legs.
The Trust has a quiz on Exmoors, including sections on the Exmoor in art and literature. There are at least 2 questions you can answer if you’ve read this page!
Many thanks to Clarissa Cridland, of Girls Gone By, for permission to quote the following piece on the author.
Looking though The Young Rider’s Picture Book I discovered a photograph of Moorland Mousie (who was a real pony) together with a man with a caption which said ‘This picture shows Mousie in the following year as a 3-
Finding the books: all of her titles are reasonably plentiful, but not necessarily bargain basement cheap. Moorland Mousie is expensive as a first with dustjacket; reprints have become more expensive over the years, but are not yet horribly expensive. Firsts of all the fiction titles with dustjackets are becoming more expensive.
Links
This is the website of the Exmoor Pony Centre, and the Moorland Mousie Trust. The Trust works to ensure the survival of the Exmoor Pony, which is threatened as many youngsters, particularly colts, are not sold. These foals are taken on by the Trust, the initial handling done, and the foals then placed in permanent or foster homes until they are old enough to be backed. The Exmoor Pony Centre gives people the chance to see, and to ride Exmoor ponies. I had always thought I was too hefty, post children, to ride an Exmoor but I see that there is a weight limit of 12 stone to ride out on the Exmoors. The only problem would be where to put my legs.
The Trust has a quiz on Exmoors, including sections on the Exmoor in art and literature. There are at least 2 questions you can answer if you’ve read this page!
Mary in the Country
Country Life, 1955, illus E H Shepard
“Mary goes to live in the country with her parents. Her pet cat goes with her and soon she acquires a dog of her own
and learns to ride on her aunt's donkey. By the end of a year the little town girl has learnt a great deal about life in
the country. And the young reader of the book will pick up valuable hints too - about such things as the training of
animals, the preparation of a garden and the growing of flowers. For. although she is primarily concerned in telling
a good story, "Golden Gorse" mixes in much useful and interesting information about country matters, as she did
in the 'Mousie' books.
Country Life, 1955, illus E H Shepard
“Mary goes to live in the country with her parents. Her pet cat goes with her and soon she acquires a dog of her own
and learns to ride on her aunt's donkey. By the end of a year the little town girl has learnt a great deal about life in
the country. And the young reader of the book will pick up valuable hints too -
animals, the preparation of a garden and the growing of flowers. For. although she is primarily concerned in telling
a good story, "Golden Gorse" mixes in much useful and interesting information about country matters, as she did
in the 'Mousie' books.
Non Fiction
The Young Rider’s Picture Book
Country Life, 1936
The photographs in this section are taken from The Young Rider’s Picture Book, and are of Moorland Mousie himself. Below, he is pictured as a youngster, and to the right, in his prime.
Country Life, 1936
The photographs in this section are taken from The Young Rider’s Picture Book, and are of Moorland Mousie himself. Below, he is pictured as a youngster, and to the right, in his prime.
The Young Rider: Ponies for Health and Pleasure
Country Life, 1928
Country Life, 1928
Janet and Felicity, The Young Horsebreakers
Country Life, 1937, illus Anne Bullen
Reprinted and extended 1946 as The Young Horsebreakers
Janet and her cousin Felicity learned to ride in Eastbourne, and they think there’s not
a lot more they need to learn about riding. Then they go to stay with Aunt Rose on
Exmoor, and there are two Exmoors, Brownie and Mayfly, for them to ride on a nearby
farm. It does not go well, and the girls realise how little they know. Then Uncle Tom
comes to stay, and he helps the girls school the half-broken ponies.
Country Life, 1937, illus Anne Bullen
Reprinted and extended 1946 as The Young Horsebreakers
Janet and her cousin Felicity learned to ride in Eastbourne, and they think there’s not
a lot more they need to learn about riding. Then they go to stay with Aunt Rose on
Exmoor, and there are two Exmoors, Brownie and Mayfly, for them to ride on a nearby
farm. It does not go well, and the girls realise how little they know. Then Uncle Tom
comes to stay, and he helps the girls school the half-
