Tag Archives: girls boarding school book

The Chalet School in Exile by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer

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The Chalet School in Exile by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer was first published in 1940 by Chambers, but my copy is an abridged paperback Armada. I don’t have that many of the hardbacks as they tend to be overpriced, in my opinion.

Anyway, this one is quite different from previous books as the location of the Austrian Alps became distinctly uncomfortable when the local Nazis started to flex their muscles. A simple walk by some of the girls in the school’s surroundings leads to a dangerous encounter with locals who call the Gestapo, accusing the girls of being spies.  Before the Gestapo come calling the girls attempt an escape into Switzerland and safety, it’s a terrifying journey, but they have no choice.

Meanwhile – back at the Chalet School it has become obvious that the school needs to find a new home. The German pupils go home, as do some others. So much school equipment will just have to be abandoned.

This is a very different read from the others I’ve read in this series as it involves spies and a chase across the Alps.  A new school will have to be started up elsewhere, and Guernsey is chosen as the new location!!

As this book was published in 1940, the same year that the Nazis invaded the Channel Islands including Guernsey, I’m intrigued. What made Brent-Dyer choose Guernsey for the new school location? Possibly by the time the book was published Guernsey had already been over-run. Anyway, they are obviously going to have to move the school yet again. This was an enjoyable romp.

Towards the end of this book there’s a shock for Jo who is now married. I suspect that the birth of triplets was seen by many readers to be very far-fetched, but I knew a woman who did give birth to triplets, naturally, it was pre test tube babies, and the mother was over 40!

There was an article in today’s Guardian about adults reading books for Young Adults which you can read here. Apparently 74% of Young Adult fiction readers are adults. If writing is good I don’t think there is an age category, it’s for readers of all ages to enjoy.

I started reading the Chalet School books again as it’s so long since I read them, they’re a real nostalgia kick for me, not that I can actually remember much about them. But the ambience seemed cosmopolitan to the ten year old me.

The Head Girl of the Chalet School by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer

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The Head Girl of the Chalet School by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer was first published in 1928 and it seems to be the fourth book in the boarding school series.

In this one Grizel has been made the head girl and she’s conflicted about it, as are some of the staff and pupils. Grizel has rather an impetuous and stubborn character which has got her into trouble in the past. She’s going to find it difficult to remember that she should be a good role model for the rest of the school.

In fact before she even reaches the school for the new term she has a bit of a brainstorm and goes off on her own on a personal sightseeing trip, telling nobody of her plans. Miss Maynard, the maths teacher who is accompanying Grizel with a few other girls is frantic and the careful plans made by the others have to be abandoned to chase after Grizel.

Has the head teacher made a big mistake in putting her faith in Grizel? To make matters worse one of the other pupils Deira had been expecting to be chosen as head girl and she’s livid that Grizel was chosen, she’s determined to cause trouble.

I have no idea how many Chalet School books I read as a youngster, but I’m enjoying re-visiting them, they’re comfort reads for me and I like that eventually all will be well.

I am a bit intrigued by the author’s choice of name for her main character though. Grizel is a Scottish name which is definitely not common because it just doesn’t sound nice, it’s a bit too much like grizzle which is how it is pronounced and that always makes me think of grumpy babies. I had a friend who had a very elderly aunt called Grizel but otherwise I’ve only heard of it being used by J.M. Barrie of Peter Pan fame in his Tommy and Grizel book which was published in 1900. I very much doubt if the name features in any of those baby name books that are so popular nowadays.