Noel Streatfeild (1895–1986)

Mary Noel Streatfeild -- pronounced STRET-field -- was born into a family of Anglican clergy. Her father was a curate to his own father, the Rector of Frant, before becoming a vicar, and later Bishop of Lewes. After leaving school, she worked for 10 years as an actress and toured the country and the world, experience that provided the basis for many of her popular books for children. Her first published children's book was Ballet Shoes (1936). She wrote a total of 38 books for children (many of which were published under different titles in the USA), but she also wrote wrote novels for adults, nonfiction, plays, and radio shows. She also wrote three semi-autobiographical novels: A Vicarage Family, Away from the Vicarage, and Beyond the Vicarage. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1983.