Chalet School
Encyclopedia
The Chalet School is a series of approximately sixty school story
novels by Elinor Brent-Dyer
, initially published between 1925 and 1970. The school was initially located in Austria
, moved to Guernsey
in 1939, following the rise to power of the Nazi Party, then to "Plas Howell", a house on the border of England
and Wales
, then to St Briavels, close to the English - Welsh border and finally to Switzerland
.
. She comes to the conclusion that starting a school would be a convenient way to generate some much-needed income, while also looking after her infirm
younger sister Joey. Finding that suitable locations in England would be too expensive for her plans, she decides to look abroad, and finally settles on a large chalet in the Austrian Alps
, conveniently providing a helpful climate for Joey's recuperation
. Within a few years a sanatorium
is built not far from the school, where tuberculosis
patients convalesce
. The founder, Dr Jem Russell, along with Dr Jack Maynard, provides assistance to members of the school and they eventually marry Madge and Joey respectively. Robin Humphries (in the later books Soeur Cécile) is also a main character, until she leaves the Chalet school to go to Oxford and later becomes a nun. The books then follow a variety of characters, including Daisy Venables, Bride Bettany and Gay Lambert, until Mary-Lou Trelawney comes to the school, and becomes the main character for several books. After she leaves school, in the later books, Joey's triplets, Len, Con & Margot, become main characters. The three main leads throughout the series are generally accepted to be Joey Bettany, Mary-Lou Trelawney and Len Maynard.
Throughout the series, various girls arrive at the school with personal problems, bad attitude
s or behavioural issues. As a result of the ministrations of better-behaved classmates and the school mistresses
, including Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson, they all tend to discover the error of their ways and become model
pupils, or 'real Chalet School girls'. This formula of a troublesome new girl who reforms and conforms is most common in the later books.
format between 1967 and 1995, usually updated for language, and some heavily abridged. A few were split into two paperback volumes, and several were retitled.
These two books follow on immediately after Prefects of the Chalet School
School story
The school story is a fiction genre centering on older pre-adolescent and adolescent school life, at its most popular in the first half of the twentieth century. While examples do exist in other countries, it is most commonly set in English boarding schools and mostly written in girls and boys sub...
novels by Elinor Brent-Dyer
Elinor Brent-Dyer
Elinor M. Brent-Dyer was a children’s author who wrote over 100 books during her lifetime, the most famous being the Chalet School series.-Short Biography :...
, initially published between 1925 and 1970. The school was initially located in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, moved to Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
in 1939, following the rise to power of the Nazi Party, then to "Plas Howell", a house on the border of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, then to St Briavels, close to the English - Welsh border and finally to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Background and main characters
The Chalet School is founded in 1925 by Madge Bettany when her brother Dick has to return to his job in the Forestry Commission in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. She comes to the conclusion that starting a school would be a convenient way to generate some much-needed income, while also looking after her infirm
Illness
Illness is a state of poor health. Illness is sometimes considered another word for disease. Others maintain that fine distinctions exist...
younger sister Joey. Finding that suitable locations in England would be too expensive for her plans, she decides to look abroad, and finally settles on a large chalet in the Austrian Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, conveniently providing a helpful climate for Joey's recuperation
Recuperation
Recuperation, in common usage, refers to a period of recovery. This has many uses, from medicine, in which sense it refers to the process by which medical patients recover from disease, injury, or mental illness, or finance, where it refers to the financial recovery of an individual or company....
. Within a few years a sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
is built not far from the school, where tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
patients convalesce
Convalescence
Convalescence is the gradual recovery and of health and strength after illness. It refers to the later stage of an infectious disease or illness when the patient recovers and returns to normal, but may continue to be a source of infection even if feeling better...
. The founder, Dr Jem Russell, along with Dr Jack Maynard, provides assistance to members of the school and they eventually marry Madge and Joey respectively. Robin Humphries (in the later books Soeur Cécile) is also a main character, until she leaves the Chalet school to go to Oxford and later becomes a nun. The books then follow a variety of characters, including Daisy Venables, Bride Bettany and Gay Lambert, until Mary-Lou Trelawney comes to the school, and becomes the main character for several books. After she leaves school, in the later books, Joey's triplets, Len, Con & Margot, become main characters. The three main leads throughout the series are generally accepted to be Joey Bettany, Mary-Lou Trelawney and Len Maynard.
Throughout the series, various girls arrive at the school with personal problems, bad attitude
Bad Attitude
Bad Attitude may refer to:*Bad Attitude , a 1984 album by Meat Loaf*Bad Attitude , a 2006 album by Simply Slang*"Bad Attitude", a song by Honeymoon Suite from their 1986 album The Big Prize...
s or behavioural issues. As a result of the ministrations of better-behaved classmates and the school mistresses
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, including Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson, they all tend to discover the error of their ways and become model
Role model
The term role model generally means any "person who serves as an example, whose behaviour is emulated by others".The term first appeared in Robert K. Merton's socialization research of medical students...
pupils, or 'real Chalet School girls'. This formula of a troublesome new girl who reforms and conforms is most common in the later books.
Hardback
Chalet School books were originally published in hardback between 1925 and 1970 by W. & R. Chambers.| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The School at the Chalet | 1925 |
| 2 | Jo of the Chalet School | 1926 |
| 3 | The Princess of the Chalet School | 1927 |
| 4 | The Head Girl of the Chalet School | 1928 |
| 5 | The Rivals of the Chalet School | 1929 |
| 6 | Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School | 1930 |
| 7 | The Chalet School and Jo | 1931 |
| 8 | The Chalet Girls in Camp | 1932 |
| 9 | The Exploits of the Chalet Girls | 1933 |
| 10 | The Chalet School and the Lintons [a] | 1934 |
| 11 | The New House at the Chalet School | 1935 |
| 12 | Jo Returns to the Chalet School | 1936 |
| 13 | The New Chalet School [b] | 1938 |
| 14 | The Chalet School in Exile | 1940 |
| 15 | The Chalet School Goes to It [c] | 1941 |
| 16 | The Highland Twins at the Chalet School | 1942 |
| 17 | Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School [d] | 1943 |
| 18 | Gay From China at the Chalet School [e] | 1944 |
| 19 | Jo to the Rescue | 1945 |
| 20 | Three Go to the Chalet School | 1949 |
| 21 | The Chalet School and the Island | 1950 |
| 22 | Peggy of the Chalet School | 1950 |
| 23 | Carola Storms the Chalet School | 1951 |
| 24 | The Wrong Chalet School | 1952 |
| 25 | Shocks for the Chalet School | 1952 |
| 26 | The Chalet School in the Oberland | 1952 |
| 27 | Bride Leads the Chalet School | 1953 |
| 28 | Changes for the Chalet School | 1953 |
| 29 | Joey Goes to the Oberland | 1954 |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | The Chalet School and Barbara | 1954 |
| 31 | Tom Tackles the Chalet School [f] | 1955 |
| 32 | The Chalet School Does It Again | 1955 |
| 33 | A Chalet Girl from Kenya | 1955 |
| 34 | Mary-Lou of the Chalet School | 1956 |
| 35 | A Genius at the Chalet School [g] | 1956 |
| 36 | A Problem for the Chalet School | 1956 |
| 37 | The New Mistress at the Chalet School | 1957 |
| 38 | Excitements at the Chalet School | 1957 |
| 39 | The Coming of Age of the Chalet School | 1958 |
| 40 | The Chalet School and Richenda | 1958 |
| 41 | Trials for the Chalet School | 1958 |
| 42 | Theodora and the Chalet School | 1959 |
| 43 | Joey and Co in Tirol | 1960 |
| 44 | Ruey Richardson: Chaletian [h] | 1960 |
| 45 | A Leader in the Chalet School | 1961 |
| 46 | The Chalet School Wins the Trick | 1961 |
| 47 | A Future Chalet School Girl | 1962 |
| 48 | The Feud in the Chalet School | 1962 |
| 49 | The Chalet School Triplets | 1963 |
| 50 | The Chalet School Reunion | 1963 |
| 51 | Jane and the Chalet School | 1964 |
| 52 | Redheads at the Chalet School | 1964 |
| 53 | Adrienne and the Chalet School | 1965 |
| 54 | Summer Term at the Chalet School | 1965 |
| 55 | Challenge for the Chalet School | 1966 |
| 56 | Two Sams at the Chalet School | 1967 |
| 57 | Althea Joins the Chalet School | 1969 |
| 58 | Prefects of the Chalet School | 1970 |
Paperback
The novels were reissued in paperbackPaperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
format between 1967 and 1995, usually updated for language, and some heavily abridged. A few were split into two paperback volumes, and several were retitled.
| Hardback | Paperback | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | The Chalet School and the Lintons | The Chalet School and the Lintons |
| A Rebel at the Chalet School | ||
| 13 | The New Chalet School | The New Chalet School |
| A United Chalet School | ||
| 15 | The Chalet School Goes to It | The Chalet School at War |
| 17 | Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School | Lavender Leigh at the Chalet School |
| 18 | Gay From China at the Chalet School | Gay Lambert at the Chalet School |
| 35 | A Genius at the Chalet School | A Genius at the Chalet School |
| Chalet School Fête | ||
| 44 | Ruey Richardson: Chaletian | Ruey Richardson at the Chalet School |
Additional books
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| The Chalet Book for Girls (including The Mystery at the Chalet School) |
1947 |
| The Second Chalet Book for Girls (including Tom Tackles the Chalet School, part 1) |
1948 |
| The Third Chalet Book for Girls (including Tom Tackles the Chalet School, part 2) |
1949 |
| The Chalet School and Rosalie | 1951 |
| The Chalet Girls’ Cookbook | 1953 |
| The Chalet Club News Letter Book | 2004 |
| Elinor M Brent Dyer's Short Stories | 2005 |
Books by other authors
Several authors have written books about the Chalet School. Some of them follow on from the last book of the series, and others attempt to fill in some of the "gaps" in the earlier years of the school. All books are published by Girls Gone By Publishers (formerly Friends of the Chalet School) unless otherwise stated.Prequel
This title describes the events which led to the founding of the Chalet School.- The Bettanys of Taverton High - Helen Barber (2008)
Fill in novels
This list contains all fill ins that have been published so far. The second title listed is the book that immediately precedes the respective fill in.- Joey and Patricia: A Reunion in Guernsey - Helen McClelland (2000) Published by The New Chalet Club - The Chalet School in Exile
- Gillian of the Chalet School - Carol Allan (2001) - Two Chalet School Girls in India
- The Chalet School and Robin - Caroline German (2003) - The Chalet School Goes to It
- A Chalet School Headmistress - Helen Barber (2004) - Gay From China at the Chalet School
- Visitors to the Chalet School - Helen McClelland (2004) First published by Bettany Press and later by Collins - The Princess of the Chalet School
- Hilda Annersley: Headmistress - Lesley Green (2005) Published by Matador - Gay From China at the Chalet School
- Peace Comes to the Chalet School - Katherine Bruce (2005) - The Chalet School and Rosalie
- Juliet of the Chalet School - Caroline German (2006) - The Guides of the Chalet School
- Two Chalet School Girls in India - Priyadarshini Narendra (2006) Published by Bettany Press- The New Chalet School (and A United Chalet School)
- Cornelia of the Chalet School - Jackie Roberts (2009) Published by Yersinia Press - Three go to the Chalet School
- The Guides of the Chalet School - Jane Berry (2009) - Jo of the Chalet School
- Deira Joins the Chalet School - Caroline German (2010) - The Guides of the Chalet School
Sequels
The first book follows some of the Chalet School characters, though it is not set in the School itself. It is not recommended for younger readers.- Chalet Girls Grow Up - Merryn Williams (1998) Published by Plas Gwyn Books
These two books follow on immediately after Prefects of the Chalet School
- New Beginnings at the Chalet School - Heather Paisley (1999)
- The Chalet School Librarian - Pat Willimott (2005) Published by Matador
The Chalet School on the Internet
- Friends Of The Chalet School issue a quarterly magazine to members, and also run Girls Gone By PublishersGirls Gone By PublishersGirls Gone By Publishers is a publishing company run by Clarissa Cridland and Ann Mackie-Hunter and is based in Bath, Somerset. They re-publish new editions of some of the most popular girls' fiction titles from the twentieth century.-Elinor Brent-Dyer:...
re-publishing the books with the original text and illustrations, as Hardbacks can often reach hundreds of pounds on auction sites and elsewhere. Girls Gone By also publishes new novels set in the Chalet School universe.
- In May 1995 the New Chalet Club was formed at the request of the late Helen McClelland, who became its first President until her death in November 2008. The Club produces regular Journals for members and has issued various supplements on EBD-related topics.