Joan Selby-Lowndes was educated at Wycombe Abbey and St Stephen’s College, Folkestone. She studied French at university, and took her Licence-en-Lettres at the Institut Francais de Lille at de Paris. She translated several French works, including some by René Guillot. During the war, Joan Selby-Lowndes served as a Major in the ATS, and was mentioned in dispatches. She wrote about what she knew: she spent some years teaching at the Italia Conti Stage School, and most of her fictional works involve performing in some way or other: ballet, film and the circus all feature. Her first book, Mail Coach, is mostly about Richard, who is desperate to ride in Astley’s Circus in London. Once his father buys a talented grey pony, Richard’s mind is made up, and he runs away. Family Star is about pantomime: Jenny loves the family pony, Kitty, who helps the family earn its living by pulling a flower cart, but when she is lamed, it looks as if disaster looms, but Jenny’s theatrical talents save the day.
Joan Selby-Lowndes kept a horse-drawn caravan and pony, who perhaps inspired Kitty, and she wrote a non-fiction book about her travels: Home with a Horse.
Finding the books: Family Star is reasonably easy to find; Home with a Horse is easiest to find in its Large Print incarnation, but turns up frequently as a paperback too. Mail Coach is easy to find.
Sources and links:
Dustjacket of Family Star
Family Star
Collins, London, 1961, illus Dick Hart
It was Jenny’s birthday, and although it started well, it ended badly when she found
the family pony, Kitty,
who pulled her father’s flower cart, was lame. This puts
the family in a spot, but then Jenny gets a part in
a pantomime, which has a part
for Kitty too.
Home with a Horse
Aston, Oxford, 148pp.
Non fiction - this is the story of a journey Joan Selby Lowndes took with a friend
in the 1950s.
Bibliography: pony books only
Mail Coach
Collins, London, 1945, illus the author
This is the story of three children who live outside London, but whose fortune becomes
mixed up with the
city. Betsey learns to be a maid; F’rick wants to play the violin,
and Richard wants to ride at Astley’s Circus.
He and runs away to do it, and discovers
how easy it is for life to change round in a flash.
