ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the long career of author Ursula Moray Williams, best remembered for The Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse and Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat. It uses Moray Williams’ work to investigate the cultural and commercial processes involved in the creation of a classic children’s book, and its accrual of value and longevity. The chapter discusses the role that nostalgia plays in sustaining a classic title and the commercial impact that this can have. The role that the bookwomen had in ensuring their selected books had a strong chance of success is also explored, as well as the significance of external markers of value, such as awards and reviews.
