About the author
Alice Louise O’Connell (b.1907) wrote two horse books about Pamela, and her mare, Frosty Morning. Both titles are stratospherically expensive when compared with the average horse book: as far as I can tell, neither was reprinted. Both are lavishly illustrated by Paul Brown, with double page illustrations. The Paul Brown factor usually means a price hike.
Alice O’Connell was born in Minneapolis and lived in Minnesota, from which university she studied for a Masters in education. She worked as the head of aquatics and instructor of physical education at Winthrop College in South Carolina, and was known for breeding and judging AKC Norwegian Elkhounds.
Finding the books
Both books are extremely expensive. Neither was were published in the UK.
Links and sources
An excellent review of Pamela and the Blue Mare on the Pony Book Chronicles
Alice Louise O’Connell’s papers at the University of Minnesota
Many thanks to Lisa Catz and Amanda Dolby for the photographs.
The series
Pamela
Pamela and the Blue Mare
The Blue Mare in the Olympic Trials
Bibliography (horse books only)
Pamela and the Blue Mare
Little Brown, Boston, 1952, 217 pp, illus Paul Brown
Pamela Paget, aged nine, is afraid of horses, although her family is heavily involved in the horse world. She goes to spend the summer on her grandfather’s farm, and agrees as long as she doesn’t have to go near a horse. When a mare is too weak to care for her filly, it’s brought into the house to be nursed. Pamela falls for the foal. She gradually learns to ride while she waits for Frosty to be old enough to back, but then her grandfather is offered a lot of money for Frosty….
The Blue Mare in the Olympic Trials
Little Brown, Boston, 1955, 225 pp, illus Paul Brown
Civilians are now allowed to be in the Olympic team, and Pam’s friend Bill suggests she try out for the team. Pam has a rival in Mary Atwater; both for her place in the team, and in Bill’s affections.
