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Dancing Horses
In post-Civil-War Spain, Francisco comes to love the golden colt Gavilan, who hates people, and dreams of the day they will become stars of rejoneo, the art of mounted bullfighting.
151 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1981
1 person is currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Helen Griffiths
44 books13 followersAlthough Helen Griffiths retired from writing junior fiction some 30 years ago, her books are still being read by fans and new readers in various parts of the world, perhaps because the themes are timeless and therefore don't date.
She wrote her first "story" with chalk on a school slate when she was 5 years old; was awarded the Matthew Arnold Memorial Prize (given only every 3 years to a London school child) when she was 12, and had her first book published at age 17. This was "Horse in the Clouds" which immediately became an international success. She was commended by the prestigious Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal Awards for "The Wild Horse of Santander"; received the Dutch Silver Pencil Award for "Witch Fear" (voted the best children's book of the year in Holland), and was given the honorary title of "Daughter of Mark Twain" for her only adult novel, "The Dark Swallows".
Most of her books have been published throughout Europe and in the USA, as well as in countries as diverse as Argentina, Iceland and Israel, while "Witch Fear" ("The Mysterious Appearance of Agnes" in USA) still sells in Germany ("Hoxentochter").
While busily producing a new title every year, Helen also produced 3 daughters who have since provided her with 13 grandchildren and, more recently, 3 great grandchildren.
Born in London, brought up in West Yorkshire, and living some 20 years in Spain before finally settling in Bath, a city totally unknown to her before her arrival there, these very different places forged her writing career as well as her character. She has worked as a cow girl, a secretary, a teacher of English as a foreign language among other things, as well as writing books and being a wife and mother. In Spain she was always rescuing street dogs; in Bath she somehow managed to acquire as many as 5 horses (looked after by her daughters). One of her best-loved books, and which received many fan letters from young readers, was "Just a Dog", a partially true story of how Shadow became a much loved member of the family and who eventually was brought to Bath because of her astonishing faithfulness and intuition.
Her husband's sudden death in a car crash while the children were still young brought Helen back to England, and it was in Bath that she became a Christian, giving her a totally new life. She has written several books for a Christian publisher under her married name - Helen Santos - which have also been published internationally. But, this apart, for some 15 years she has had a teaching/preaching ministry and her sermons, if published, would doubtless fill a dozen books.
Helen was invited to write an autobiographical sketch which appeared in the series "Something About the Author, Vol 5", published by Gale Research Co., Michigan, where a more detailed biography can be found. She now has the company of 2 little dogs, as well as regular visits from grandchildren who have persuaded her to republish some of her most popular titles as e-books.
"The Greyhound" and "The Dark Swallows" are now available on Kindle and Amazon, the cover artist being one of her granddaughters, and "The Last Summer" is in preparation.
She wrote "The Dark Swallows" while she was very young, basing the main plot on a true story told to her by a next-door neighbour about her mother and brothers during and after the Spanish Civil War. Before republishing many years later, she felt some revision was needed. The story is the same but she trusts that anyone re-reading it might find it enhanced by the revisions, while new readers might be satisfied.
She can be contacted at: jolly.santos@gmail.com
She wrote her first "story" with chalk on a school slate when she was 5 years old; was awarded the Matthew Arnold Memorial Prize (given only every 3 years to a London school child) when she was 12, and had her first book published at age 17. This was "Horse in the Clouds" which immediately became an international success. She was commended by the prestigious Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal Awards for "The Wild Horse of Santander"; received the Dutch Silver Pencil Award for "Witch Fear" (voted the best children's book of the year in Holland), and was given the honorary title of "Daughter of Mark Twain" for her only adult novel, "The Dark Swallows".
Most of her books have been published throughout Europe and in the USA, as well as in countries as diverse as Argentina, Iceland and Israel, while "Witch Fear" ("The Mysterious Appearance of Agnes" in USA) still sells in Germany ("Hoxentochter").
While busily producing a new title every year, Helen also produced 3 daughters who have since provided her with 13 grandchildren and, more recently, 3 great grandchildren.
Born in London, brought up in West Yorkshire, and living some 20 years in Spain before finally settling in Bath, a city totally unknown to her before her arrival there, these very different places forged her writing career as well as her character. She has worked as a cow girl, a secretary, a teacher of English as a foreign language among other things, as well as writing books and being a wife and mother. In Spain she was always rescuing street dogs; in Bath she somehow managed to acquire as many as 5 horses (looked after by her daughters). One of her best-loved books, and which received many fan letters from young readers, was "Just a Dog", a partially true story of how Shadow became a much loved member of the family and who eventually was brought to Bath because of her astonishing faithfulness and intuition.
Her husband's sudden death in a car crash while the children were still young brought Helen back to England, and it was in Bath that she became a Christian, giving her a totally new life. She has written several books for a Christian publisher under her married name - Helen Santos - which have also been published internationally. But, this apart, for some 15 years she has had a teaching/preaching ministry and her sermons, if published, would doubtless fill a dozen books.
Helen was invited to write an autobiographical sketch which appeared in the series "Something About the Author, Vol 5", published by Gale Research Co., Michigan, where a more detailed biography can be found. She now has the company of 2 little dogs, as well as regular visits from grandchildren who have persuaded her to republish some of her most popular titles as e-books.
"The Greyhound" and "The Dark Swallows" are now available on Kindle and Amazon, the cover artist being one of her granddaughters, and "The Last Summer" is in preparation.
She wrote "The Dark Swallows" while she was very young, basing the main plot on a true story told to her by a next-door neighbour about her mother and brothers during and after the Spanish Civil War. Before republishing many years later, she felt some revision was needed. The story is the same but she trusts that anyone re-reading it might find it enhanced by the revisions, while new readers might be satisfied.
She can be contacted at: jolly.santos@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 10, 2012
It was Fransisco's friend who took the risks--Fransisco's friend ventured into the moonlit fields to cape a young bull in his quest to be a true bullfighter. But when disaster strikes, Fransisco is left on his own and must learn how to take his own risks to follow his dreams. I love the quiet psychological and emotional development within this story as Fransisco learns about the meaning of courage, loyalty, and dedication through his friendship with the wild Galivan. Fransisco believes Galivan can become a great bull-horse and, despite his low opinion of himself, others believe in Fransisco, though they are slow to admit it. Fransisco, ultimately, must learn to believe in himself in order to help his hero, the disgraced son of his employer, and Galivan. A great flavor of old Spain, verandas, leather, horses, bulls, and family. Above all, family. This is a story that you won't forget. It's simple and will leave you with a good feeling. Ages 9 and up. For the older reader, 2 hours of sun.
May 29, 2022
Schoenmaker blijf bij je leest, rangen en standen, leef niet boven je stand... enkele volkswijsheden die de leidraad vormen in dit boek. Een jongen zonder bezit heeft grote dromen maar moet van dag tot dag vechten om te overleven. Hij verliest alles en komt dat bij mensen terecht die op hem neerkijken.
Daar ontdekt hij zijn liefde voor paarden, al loopt dat ook niet bepaald van een leien dakje.
Want dit is vooral een paardenboek, waarbij de beste paarden diegene zijn die bij de wrede stierengevechten gebruikt worden. Die wreedheid jegens de dieren, maar evengoed tegenover de 'mindere' mensen, is de rode draad in het boek. In die context moet Paco, de enige naam die men hem gunt, opboksen om de liefde en het respect van 1 speciale hengst te winnen. En daarbij moet hij allerlei obstakels en moeilijkheden, waar van een aantal enkel aan zichzelf te wijten zijn, overwinnen.
Hij geeft niet op en leert meet pijn en schande veel bij waarbij hij langzaam het vertrouwen van bepaalde mensen verwerft. Of dat voldoende zal zijn om zijn grote droom waar te maken blijft spannend tot het einde.
Een hard boek met toch een booschap van hoop, al kan ik me voorstellen dat dit vandaag door geen enkele ouder nog als voorbeeld zal meegegeven worden.
Vooral geschikt voor paardenliefhebbers die niet al te sentimenteel zijn.
Daar ontdekt hij zijn liefde voor paarden, al loopt dat ook niet bepaald van een leien dakje.
Want dit is vooral een paardenboek, waarbij de beste paarden diegene zijn die bij de wrede stierengevechten gebruikt worden. Die wreedheid jegens de dieren, maar evengoed tegenover de 'mindere' mensen, is de rode draad in het boek. In die context moet Paco, de enige naam die men hem gunt, opboksen om de liefde en het respect van 1 speciale hengst te winnen. En daarbij moet hij allerlei obstakels en moeilijkheden, waar van een aantal enkel aan zichzelf te wijten zijn, overwinnen.
Hij geeft niet op en leert meet pijn en schande veel bij waarbij hij langzaam het vertrouwen van bepaalde mensen verwerft. Of dat voldoende zal zijn om zijn grote droom waar te maken blijft spannend tot het einde.
Een hard boek met toch een booschap van hoop, al kan ik me voorstellen dat dit vandaag door geen enkele ouder nog als voorbeeld zal meegegeven worden.
Vooral geschikt voor paardenliefhebbers die niet al te sentimenteel zijn.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews