Zara

by Joyce Stranger

Zara Stranger, Joyce

Genres: Animals, Horses

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Psuedonym of Joyce Muriel Wilson (1921–2007). Lived in Anglesey, Wales.
Trained as a biologist, specialising in animal behaviour, and tried her hand at dog training too. Not surprisingly, animal themes, especially relationships between human and animal feature in all of her books. She thought that the human-animal/human-nature relationship was extremely important and that a co-existence between the two could improve quality of life. She said "for many people an animal can provide a harmony lacking in day-to-day relationships with people."
Her books are not very anthropomorphic, deliberately so. She thought that many animal books, especially childrens were inaccurate or sentimental or humanised the animal and wanted her stories instead to "show how animals live in a world that is real to them"
They are definitely not sentimental either, many are quite downbeat. Disasters often strike her fictional worlds and her characters are often unhappy, guilt-stricken or remorseful. However they usually end on a more upbeat and optimistic note.
Ms. Stranger was one of the few authors to write horse stories aimed at adults. Most of her pony books are either adult or teenage stories.

Reviews

[Sandy Clark]

I enjoyed reading this book. It was supposed to go into our church school library, but it isn't really geared for that age group. Joyce Stranger gives colorful descriptions of the horses, a stud farm in the UK, and many interesting characters.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

first of Joyce Strangers books that I read many years ago and since then I think I've read everything she's written
Joyce has the ability to draw you into the animals lives and the people around them

[Loz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a Joyce Stranger book, I grab them whenever I see them at the local church booksale.