Reginald Leslie Ottley
Reginald Leslie Ottley was a British-born writer and horse trainer, best known for his contributions to young adult literature. Born on July 18, 1909, in London, he left school and home at an early age to work at sea, later finding himself in Australia where he worked in the Outback as a cattle worker and horse breaker. His diverse career included managing a cattle station in Fiji and serving in the Australian Remount Corps during World War II, where he focused on procuring horses for military use. After the war, Ottley transitioned into racehorse training and worked with the British Colonial Administration in the Solomon Islands before returning to cattle ranching in New Caledonia.
It wasn't until the 1960s that Ottley began writing, drawing on his rich life experiences for inspiration. He published his first adult novel, *Stampede*, in 1961, and followed with a series of young adult books, including *By the Sandhills of Yamboorah*, which explores themes of adventure and resilience in the Outback. Over his writing career, Ottley published eleven young adult novels, earning recognition for his vivid sense of place and authentic character portrayals. His work received accolades, including being named an Honor Book by the American Library Association. Reginald Leslie Ottley passed away on March 25, 1985, leaving behind a legacy of engaging stories that resonate with young readers.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Reginald Leslie Ottley
Writer
- Born: July 18, 1909
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: March 25, 1985
Biography
Reginald Leslie Ottley was born on July 18, 1909, in London, England. He attended St. Mary Magdalene’s Church of England School in London. By the time he was fourteen, he had left home and school, and gone to sea, serving as a deck boy and a cook. In 1924, he arrived in Australia, and worked as a cattle worker and a horse breaker in the Outback. He managed a cattle station in Fiji until 1939.
During World War II, Ottley joined the Australian Remount Corps, and worked procuring and conditioning horses for the military from 1939 to 1945. After the war, he began a career as a racehorse trainer, and then went to work for the British Colonial Administration on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. He returned to cattle ranching in New Caledonia in the French Pacific Islands.
Ottley did not begin writing until the 1960’s. He began writing stories about his colorful career for magazines and for radio. In 1961, he published an adult novel, Stampede. His first young-adult book was By the Sandhills of Yamboorah (1965), about a young boy who heads into the rugged Outback to find and rescue his dog. The book, published in the United States as Boy Alone (1966), was quickly followed by The Roan Colt of Yamboorah (1966) and Rain Comes to Yamboorah (1967), both issued in America with different titles.
In fifteen years, Ottley published eleven young-adult books and one adult novel, most set in the Outback. He died on March 25, 1985. Ottley was noted for his ability to capture a sense of place, and his realistic portrayals of adolescent characters. Boy Alone was an American Library Association Honor Book, and made the Horn Book honor list. It was also named a runner-up for the Best Book of the Year Award from the Australian Children’s Book Council, as was The Bates Family (1970).