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Kate Seredy (1899-1975)
Award-winning American author and illustrator. Hungarian by birth, she was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1899. In 1922 she settled in the USA. She studied art and became a freelance illustrator, designer and artist, illustrating many children's novels and textbooks (including the Doris Gates pony novel Little Vic). She began writing when an editor suggested she write a book based on her childhood in Hungary. Although she had only recently learnt the English language, her manuscript was immediately accepted and became the book The Good Master. Soon more stories were to follow, including a sequel. Many of the author's books explored the effect of being an alien in a unfamiliar society, such as the character of Michael in Chestry Oak, and also the effect of war upon children.
Both Seredy's autobiographical-based books feature horses, but are perhaps more general farm/children's stories than pony books. Chestry Oak is more of a pony story, although not a traditional one by any means.
Kate Seredy won many awards during her career including the Newbery Medal twice and the Newbery Honor. As well as writing and illustrating she also worked as a nurse, a teacher and ran a book store. She was widely travelled and spoke four different languages.
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