Mary Noel Streatfeild/ˈnoʊəlˈstrɛtfiːld/ (24 December 1895 – 11 September 1986) was an English author, best known for children's books including the "Shoes" books, which were not a series (though some books made references to others). Random House, the US publisher of the 1936 novel Ballet Shoes (1936), published some of Streatfeild's subsequent children's books using the word "Shoes" in their titles, to capitalise on the popularity of Ballet Shoes; thus Circus Shoes (originally called The Circus Is Coming), Party Shoes (originally called Party Frock), Skating Shoes (originally called White Boots) and many more. She won the third annual Carnegie Medal for The Circus Is Coming.
Streatfeild also wrote 12 romance novels under the pen name Susan Scarlett. She was a member of the historic Streatfeild family. Several of her novels have been adapted for film or television.
Early life
Mary Noel Streatfeild was born in Frant, Sussex, the second of five surviving children of William Champion Streatfeild, later the Bishop of Lewes, and Janet Mary Venn. Her life is described in three semi-autobiographical novels: A Vicarage Family, Away from the Vicarage and Beyond the Vicarage. Her elder sister Ruth Gervis illustrated Ballet Shoes. Noel was considered the "plain" sister in her family, but she shone in performances with her sisters for charity. Upon reaching adulthood she sought a career in theatre, and gained ten years of experience as an actress, working for the Charles Doran and Arthur Bourchier companies. Her familiarity with the stage was the basis for many of her popular books for children, which are often about children struggling with careers in the arts.
Writing career
Her first children's book was Ballet Shoes, published by J. M. Dent in 1936. She recalled, "The story poured off my pen, more or less telling itself ... I distrusted what came easily and so despised the book." It was a commended runner-up for the inaugural Carnegie Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best British children's book, and it launched a successful career in writing for children. For her third book and third "Shoes" novel, The Circus Is Coming (later published as Circus Shoes), she won the 1938 Carnegie Medal.
Her first novel for adults, The Whicharts (1931), is the progenitor of Ballet Shoes. Three illegitimate babies are dropped in turn by their father on his lovelorn ex-mistress. When he dies in the war, she goes to work in a munitions factory and sends the girls to a rather seedy theatrical school from where two emerge as actress and good time girl (Mamie), and one as a dancer (Daisy). The third, Tania, becomes interested in motorcars and 'planes. Unlike Ballet Shoes, the book extends into the adulthood of the three girls.
Streatfeild spoke about her early life and career in an interview for the BBC's Desert Island Discs on 19 January 1976.
Ballet Shoes was adapted by Kendall Feaver for the stage in 2024, opening at the National Theatre in London and returning for a second run in 2025.
Allusions in other works
Noel Streatfeild was recommended by Meg Ryan's character in the 1998 film You've Got Mail. "Noel Streatfeild wrote Ballet Shoes and Skating Shoes and Theatre Shoes and Dancing Shoes and...I'd start with Ballet Shoes first. It's my favorite ... although Skating Shoes is completely wonderful. But it's out of print."
Works discovered posthumously
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(July 2026)
Two unpublished short stories by Streatfeild were set to be published by Virago Press in November 2018 and mid-2019 after they were discovered by Streatfeild's nephew, William Streatfeild, and Donna Coonan, the editorial director of Virago Press.
Apple Bough (1962), also published as Traveling Shoes
A Vicarage Family (1963)
The First Book of the Ballet (1963)
The Children on the Top Floor (1964)
Away from the Vicarage (1965)
The Growing Summer (1966), also published as The Magic Summer
Caldicott Place (1967), also published as The Family at Caldicott Place
The "Gemma" series (1968–69) - consists of Gemma (1968), Gemma and Sisters (1968), Gemma Alone (1969), Good-bye Gemma (1969).
Thursday's Child (1970)
Beyond the Vicarage (1971)
Ballet Shoes for Anna (1972)
When the Siren Wailed (1974)
Far to Go (1976), sequel to Thursday's Child
Meet the Maitlands (1978)
The Maitlands: All Change at Cuckley Place (1979), sequel to the above
Collections
Noel Streatfeild's Christmas Stories (2018 Virago Press) - consists of "The Audition" (1949), "The Bells Keep Twelfth Night" (1951), "The Moss Rose" (1950), "Thimble" (1951), "The Princess" (1962), "The Chain" (1950), "Christmas at Collers" (1960), "The Pantomime Goose" (1951), "Skating to the Stars" (1952)
Noel Streatfeild's Holiday Stories (2019 Virago Press) - consists of "The Plain One: A note from the author" (1976), "Devon Mettle" (1933), "Chicken for Supper" (1951), "Flag's Circus" (1954), "The Secret" (1959), "Coralie" (1959), "Ordinary Me" (1959), "Cows Eat Flowers" (1965), "Andrew's Trout" (1964), "The Old Fool", "Let's Go Coaching" (1964), "Howard" (1966), "The Quiet Holiday" (1968), "Roberta", "Green Silk" (1977). The Collection states that first publication details could not be found for Andrew's Trout, Let's Go Coaching and Cows Eat Flowers, but the dates given above are those marked on the manuscript. No publication or date details could be found for Roberta or The Old Fool.
Magic and the Magician: E. Nesbit and her Children's Books (1958)
The Boy Pharaoh, Tutankhamen (1972)
Tea by the Nursery Fire (1976)
Edited
Growing up Gracefully (1955), illustrated by John Dugan
The Day Before Yesterday: Firsthand Stories of Fifty Years Ago (1956), illustrated by Dick Hart
To the Garden of Delights (1960)
Notes
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Today there are usually eight books on the Carnegie shortlist.
According to CCSU there were about 160 commended runners up for 1936 and the 49 years from 1954 to 2002, including Streatfeild and Howard Spring for 1936.
