National Sporting Library & Museum
DATE: 06/05/2024
Contact Julie Banner
Phone 540-687-6542 ext.25
Email JBanner@NationalSporting.org
Web NationalSporting.org
Mail P.O. Box 1335 Middleburg, VA 20118
WINE & WORDS WITH LETTIE TEAGUE ON MARGUERITE HENRY
at the National Sporting Library & Museum
MIDDLEBURG, Virginia – June 5, 2024 – On June 27, at 5:30 pm, the National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM) presents a conversation with Lettie Teague, author of Dear Readers and Riders, the new biography of Marguerite Henry, the much-beloved best-selling children’s book author (Misty of Chincoteague and 58 other horse centric books) with a special guest appearance by Devon Settle, granddaughter of Wesley Dennis, the acclaimed illustrator, and Marguerite’s long-time collaborator and friend. Given Teague’s wine expertise, she has hand selected award-winning wines for the evening.
Lettie Teague has been The Wall Street Journal’s wine columnist since 2010. Before joining the Journal, Teague was the executive wine editor and columnist for Food & Wine magazine. She is the author of two books, Wine in Words and Educating Peter, and co-author and illustrator of Fear of Wine. Her writing has won three James Beard Awards, including the M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award. More importantly, Teague has been a fan of bestselling children’s book author Marguerite Henry since she was nine years old. A horsewoman as well as an oenophile, Teague’s first horseback ride took place around the same time as her first Marguerite Henry book (Born to Trot) and she, like Henry, grew up in the Midwest aspiring to be a writer. “Perhaps that’s the biggest reason why I want to tell Marguerite’s story,” says Teague. “I feel like so many of the same things have shaped our lives.” Teague is currently based in New Jersey, which she proudly notes happens to have one of the highest horse populations in America. As Teague points out, it may be called the “Garden State” but it might as well be entitled “The Horsiest State.” (Teague is working on this as a proposed license plate.)
Praise for Dear Readers and Riders
“Dear Readers and Riders not only serves fans who want to learn more about the “mother of Misty,” it is also a rare portrait of what it takes to be a best-selling writer far from the glamor of New York salons and soirees. Teague explores Henry’s slog to celebrity through sheer plodding effort, dedication to her young fans, and a gift for inspired marketing well ahead of her time.”
—Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer prize-winning writer and author of Horse: A Novel
“Marguerite Henry was a one-of-a-kind author whose pitch perfect portrayal of the horse-human bond has inspired millions of readers to fall in love with horses. Lettie Teague’s loving and well researched biography does credit to Henry, and this beautifully produced book, including some of Wesley Dennis’s illustrations, deserves a spot in every horse-loving reader’s permanent collection. I highly recommend this book.”
—Elizabeth Letts, Author of New York Times Bestsellers The Eighty Dollar Champion and The Perfect Horse
“Lettie Teague has penned an extraordinarily detailed and sensitive illumination of Marguerite Henry and her writing life—a beautiful and unusual study of this beloved author and her work. A wonderful book.”
—Lee Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Girls, Fair and Tender Ladies, and Silver Alert
“What a lovely book! Dear Readers and Riders is not only an engrossing biography of Marguerite Henry— the woman who immortalized ‘Misty of Chincoteague’ and wrote more than 50 other books— but it is also a collection of Henry’s writings, photographs, reviews, and other memorabilia. Finally, it is a tribute to the author who helped make the nine-year-old Lettie Teague a horsewoman and then an inspired and evocative writer herself.”
—Tim Page, Pulitzer prize-winning critic, Professor Emeritus at USC, and author of Dawn Powell: A Biography
“I could not put this book down. I read it all in one sitting! What a dream to revisit my favorite childhood author through Lettie Teague’s delicious prose…. Marguerite would be proud.”
–Beth Behrs, Actress, 2 Broke Girls and The Neighborhood, and Founder, She Herd Power Foundation
“[An] expansive Marguerite Henry biography…I knew Marguerite and witnessed the ‘Hidden Life’ business acumen when it came to making a career out of creating and telling stories…. Lettie Teague gets it!”
—Peter Stone, Model Horse Business Leader and Board of Directors, Misty of Chincoteague Foundation
The National Sporting Library & Museum is located in Middleburg, VA, the heart of beautiful horse country. Founded in 1954, the renowned research Library and fine art Museum highlight the rich heritage and tradition of country pursuits. Angling, horsemanship, shooting, steeplechasing, foxhunting, flat racing, polo, coaching, and wildlife are among the subjects one can explore in the organization’s general stacks, rare book holdings, archives, and art collection. The NSLM offers a wide variety of educational programs, exhibitions, and family activities throughout the year, and is open to researchers and the public. There is no admission fee to the Library. The Museum charges $10 for adults, $8 for youths (age 13–18), and $8 for seniors. NSLM members and children age 12 and under are admitted free of charge. Library & Museum hours are Thursday–Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
