The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge, 1946

You missed a couple, Elizabeth Goudge!

The Little White Horse is about Maria Merryweather, the newest Moon Princess at Moonacre Manor, and her quest to bring perfect happiness to the village of Silverydew by saving it from the wicked, wicked ways of the Men from the Dark Woods. Along the way she reunites estranged lovers, returns a monastery to the Lord and discovers her One True Love - all fresh from orphanhood at the age of 13, and only with the help of pluck, curiosity, magical animals, a host of early-risers and the reader's hyperactive suspension of disbelief. Perhaps in 1946 (or in 1842, the setting of the story) poachers and cattle rustlers were thwarted by sashaying into their castle, partaking of their dinner of fish and stolen beef and then suddenly piping, "You should trade with the village people." These days we know that it takes a gun and a call to the sheriff. But Monsieur Cocq de Noir, arch-eyebrowed arch-villain of this piece, should not only trade with The Village People, he should also befriend them, carouse with them and exchange fashion tips with them. Here is a man who has adopted The Black Cock as his emblem and lives in a castle with "the men of dungeon and wall" who love waving their cudgels and swords around. He is one who requires the correct accessory for every occasion, even the examination of conscience. To Maria he says, "Give me those pearls, and I might seriously consider the mending of my ways." Elizabeth Goudge wrote fairy-tale-perfect endings for several couples and yet missed an opportunity to develop a friendship between Monsieur Cocq de Noir and one who could have introduced him to more gustatory delights than just roasted beef and broiled fish. Tell me if Sir Benjamin's cook isn't the one to whip the leader of the Men of the Dark Woods into shape: 'Marmaduke Scarlet is scarcely a man, Miss Heliotrope', comforted Sir Benjamin. '... his revealing himself to you is an enormous compliment, for as a general rule, his dislike of the female sex causes him to avoid all women...' 'So now I know,' said Miss Heliotrope. 'And I could not have believed that so small... a gentleman... could have been so expert a housewife!' Why M. Scarlet's revelation of his small... self to Miss Heliotrope was a compliment could only be guessed by this reader, but there you go: he's the perfect housewife. This reader would even suggest just the binding ceremony gift for Monsieur Cocq de Noir and M. Scarlet: something to hold M. Scarlet's kitchen knife. Under a tree Maria found a "sheath... beautifully made in the shape of a cock." Recommended for girls who still believe in kind lions and shining unicorns, boys who love baking and interior decorating, adults who were children in the 1940s and people who snigger at unintentional double entendres. In 300 characters: With pluck, curiosity, magical animals, and the reader's hyperactive suspension of disbelief, Maria thwarts a gang of poachers and cattle rustlers, reunites estranged lovers and finds her true love. Perfect for girls who still believe in unicorns and boys who love baking and interior design. amazon.co.uk amazon.com living archive