Monica Dickens (1915-1992)

Monica Enid Dickens was born with a literary heritage, being the great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens. Following in her ancestor's foot-steps, she became the author of many highly acclaimed adult novels but was perhaps best known for her Follyfoot pony series which was also a very popular 1970s TV series, one of the few pony related TV dramas to be made (and incidentally has recently been released on DVD).

Monica led an interesting life. She was born in London in 1915. As a child she was expelled from school. She has worked as a cook and a nurse in the second world war, these experiences resulting in her humourous autobiographical works including
One Pair of Hands and One Pair of Feet. After these books she began writing novels. She has also worked as a journalist, and with various chariites such as the RSPCA, NSPCC and The Samaritans, expeirences which once again are reflected in many of her books. The Follyfoot series is deeply concerned with the maltreatment and rehabilitation of horses and her adult book The Listeners is about the Samaritans. In 1951 she married an American and lived in America for many years, returning to England for the last few years of her life.

As well as the
Follyfoot books, the author also wrote The World's End series, which although more of a general animal-orientated series rather than pony, does include a strong pony element. They are all excellent reads. She later wrote a fantasy type series which also has a horse theme, although once again perhaps not strictly pony books.

The Follyfoot series has its own fansite and chat forum.

Follyfoot Series:
This hugely popular series began with Cobblers Dream and Follyfoot. The idea was then turned into a TV series of the same name and the author wrote the other books to follow the adventures of the characters. As to be expected from a writer of Ms. Dicken's calibre, they are extremely accomplished novels which explore deeper issues than the majority of pony books. They are particularly suitable for older children and adult readers as many of the characters are adults. The series centres around The Follyfoot Home of Rest for Horses, a horse sanctuary where mistreated and unwanted horses and ponies are rescued and rehabilitated. The main characters are Dora who works there and the younger Callie, although there is a cast of many other disparate
characters!

PONYMAD SERIES RATING: GOLD CUP FOR OUTSTANDING READ

1) COBBLER'S DREAM
aka NEW ARRIVAL AT FOLLYFOOT
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1963?)
Reprinted as a Book Club edition.
Reprinted a number of times in paperback.
Published in the USA in 1963 by Coward McCann.
Reprinted by Mammoth in 1983 as NEW ARRIVAL AT FOLLYFOOT
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Book Club edition, 1960s Penguin paperback, 1970s penguin paperback, USA edition, Mammoth edition.
SUMMARY: Groom Steve rescues the ill-treated Cobbler's Dream, a showjumper who has been almost blinded by the vicious girl who owned him. Now out of a job he winds up at the Follyfoot Home of Rest for horses where he meets Dora, the dedicated girl who works there, along with a cast of other eccentric characters who seem almost as troubled as their charges.

2) FOLLYFOOT
(HEINEMANN 1971)
Reprinted a number of times in paperback.
Most recent edition is a paperback published by Andersen in 2010 - this edition still in print.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Piccolo paperback, unknown edition, Andersen 2010 paperback.
SUMMARY: Follyfoot becomes involved in a feud with the Hammond family when they expose them as ill-treating their race horses. A newcomer called Mac arrives to work at the farm and spawns a mystery.

3) DORA AT FOLLYFOOT
(HEINEMANN 1972)
Reprinted a number of times in paperback.
Most recent edition is a paperback published by Andersen in 2011 - this edition still in print.
EDITIONS PICTURED: Piccolo paperback. Heinemann paperback, Mammoth paperback, Andersen 2011 paperback
SUMMARY: Dora buys an ill-treated pony but she needs to make some cash to pay back the money for him. So she enters the Moonlight Pony Steeplechase...

4) THE HORSES OF FOLLYFOOT
(HEINEMANN 1975)
Reprinted a number of times in paperback.
Most recent edition is a paperback published by Andersen in 2011 - this edition still in print.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Piccolo paperback, Heinemann paperback, Anderson 2012 paperback.
SUMMARY: Dora returns from a break in America, bringing back a horse called Robin with her. But when the other horses at the stables fall ill it seems she may have brought the disease with her too!

5) STRANGER AT FOLLYFOOT
(HEINEMANN 1976)
Reprinted in paperback a number of times.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Piccolo paperback, Heinemann paperback, Mammoth paperback.
SUMMARY: A mysterious stranger and her pony arrive at Follyfoot and trouble begins to brew.

Other Follyfoot Titles:

FOLLYFOOT FARM
(HEINEMANN 1973)
2 in 1 edition containing Follyfoot and Dora at Follyfoot

THE FOLLYFOOT COLLECTION
(DEAN 1991)
Omnibus edition containing all the books in the Follyfoot series, except for Cobbler's Dream

FOLLYFOOT PONY QUIZ BOOK
(By Christine Pullein-Thompson)
(PICCOLO PB 1974)
SUMMARY: Does what it says on the tin so to speak! A book full of quizzes relating to the series.

FOLLYFOOT ANNUALS
There were also a number of annuals published to tie in with the TV show. There is a separate web-page devoted to them within the Pony Annuals section of this website.
Please click here to visit the Follyfoot annuals page.

Collectors Info: 
Mainly seen in paperback form, which are easy to find in the UK. There are, as can be seen from above, a lot of editions, including one book with two different titles and omnibus edition, so make sure you do not buy duplicates! First editions are quite rare. Although as far as I know only one was published in America, the books are also reasonably easy to find in the USA Harder (but not impossible) in Australia. There were a number of foreign language editions published, I am not sure of the exact details however. 3 of the series have recently been reprinted in paperback by Anderosn and are in print at the moment. More books in the series are to follow in these new editions.

The Follyfoot Quiz book is fairly easy to find in the UK, although not as common as the Follyfoot titles themselves. It is hard to find elsewhere.

The annuals are still reasonably easy to find in the UK, price can vary a lot so worth shopping around. They are however a lot harder to track down elsewhere.

World's End Series:
Another popular series, although it is really more of a general animal series rather than pony one, it does include a strong pony element, as the main character is horse-mad! If you like Follyfoot I would recommend these books.
Whilst their feckless rather Bohemian parents are off sailing around the world, The Fielding children attempt to live by themselves n the crumbling old house at World's End with an assortment of animals. They are hampered by a lack of money, interfering relatives and other problems!

1) THE HOUSE AT WORLD'S END
(HEINEMANN 1970)
Reprinted by the Book Club along with Summer at World's End in a 2 in 1 edition (see below)
Reprinted in paperback by Piccolo and Mammoth
American edition published by Doubleday
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Piccolo paperback.
SUMMARY: When their parents are away on a round the world yacht trip, the Fielding children and their pets must stay with their unpleasant Uncle and Aunt. But when neither party can stand each other any longer, the children move to a dilapidated old pub and attempt to live on their own. However the place soon becomes a haven for sick or ill-treated animals.

2) SUMMER AT WORLD'S END
(HEINEMANN 1971)
Reprinted by the Book Club along with The House at World's End in a 2 in 1 edition (see below)
Reprinted in paperback by Piccolo and Mammoth
American edition published by Doubleday
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Piccolo paperback.
SUMMARY: World's End is fast becoming a haven for unwanted people as well as animals!

3) WORLD'S END IN WINTER
(HEINEMANN 1972)
Also a Children's Book Club edition
Reprinted in paperback by Piccolo and Mammoth
American edition published by Doubleday
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Piccolo and Mammoth paperback.
SUMMARY: The Fieldings' mother and father are back from their travels and living with their children, but they are not the ideal parents and things don't go smoothly.

4) SPRING COMES TO WORLD'S END
(HEINEMANN 1973)
Also a Children's Book Club edition
Reprinted in paperback by Piccolo and Mammoth
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Piccolo and Mammoth paperback.
SUMMARY: With their parents back at sea, the children settle back into their usual routine. But then disaster strikes as their Uncle threatens to deprive them of their beloved home. Can they ever raise the money to buy the place for themselves? Or will they have to leave it forever?

Other editions:

WORLD'S END
(BOOK CLUB ASSOCIATES 1976)
SUMMARY: 2 in 1 volume containing the first two books in series: The House at World's End & Summer at World's End.

Collectors Info: 
Although slightly harder to find than the Follyfoot books, they are still fairly easy to get hold of in the UK, and to a lesser extent the USA. Paperbacks are more commonly seen than the hardback first editions. There were American editions of the first 3 books, possibly the last also but I have not come across one as yet.

The Messenger Series:
A fantasy series where a girl is chosen by a mysterious supernatural horse to help people, and battle against evil doings!

EDITIONS PICTURED: Armada paperbacks.

1) THE MESSENGER
(COLLINS 1985)
Reprinted in paperback by Armada
There was also an American edition
SUMMARY:  When her parents buy an old supposedly haunted house to enlarge their hotel, Rose is chosen by a strange supernatural horse to help unlock the tragedy of the past.

2) BALLAD OF FAVOUR
(COLLINS 1985)
Reprinted in paperback by Armada
SUMMARY: Rose is taken by the horse to save a small child from danger.

3) THE HAUNTING OF BELLAMY 4
(COLLINS 1986)
Reprinted in paperback by Armada

4) CRY OF A SEAGULL
(COLLINS 1986)
Reprinted in paperback by Armada
SUMMARY: Rose and the horse are involved in a final confrontation of good and evil.

Collectors Info: 
Harder to find than the Follyfoot books, especially the last two, although usually not particularly expensive to buy. Can sometimes be found in the USA and Australia also.

Other Horse & Pony Books (Non-fiction):

TALKING OF HORSES
(HEINEMANN 1973)
ILLUSTRATED BY MARGERY GILL
Reprinted in hardback by original publishers
Reprinted in paperback by Piccolo.
Also published in America by Little, Brown & Co in 1973
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Piccolo paperback.
SUMMARY: An excellent collection of horse-related writings. A real book to 'dip into!'

Collectors Info: 
Although not extremely hard to find it is a little rarer than some of the other titles. There is a paperback reprint as well as the hardback first edition, and also an American edition. The hardbacks are a lot harder to find than the paperbacks.

Miscellaneous Related Titles:

FOLLYFOOT REMEMBERED
By Jane Royston
(DARWEN PB 2011)
Paperback original.
In print.
SUMMARY: A celebration of the Follyfoot TV series written by the 'horse manager' of the show.

Collectors Info: 
In print at time of this update (2013) in the UK, however does not appear to be available in the USA. Some used copies can be found in the UK.