Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
- Francis
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Re: What other author are you reading at the moment?
Thank you Daisy and Courtenay - the forum is such a good place for information! I wonder
if Elinor ever lived on Guernsey - she seems to know quite a lot about the island and has obviously
set quite a few of her books there.
if Elinor ever lived on Guernsey - she seems to know quite a lot about the island and has obviously
set quite a few of her books there.
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- Francis
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Re: What other author are you reading at the moment?
Interestingly it appears that 'La Rochelle' books were written before the famous
'Chalet School' series.
'Chalet School' series.
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- Courtenay
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Re: What other author are you reading at the moment?
I'm impressed to see that the head of the Friends of the Chalet School, Clarissa Cridland, is a female C of E priest! In fact, she also runs Girls Gone By Publishers, which many of you already know.
Reading the short biography of Elinor on the Friends' site, I can't see any mention of Guernsey as a place where she visited or lived, and Wikipedia is even less informative. Perhaps someone has written (or should write!) a more extensive biography of her?
Reading the short biography of Elinor on the Friends' site, I can't see any mention of Guernsey as a place where she visited or lived, and Wikipedia is even less informative. Perhaps someone has written (or should write!) a more extensive biography of her?
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
Clarissa Cridland gave a talk at the 2002 Enid Blyton Day. She worked for Purnell in the 1980s and part of her job entailed dressing in a rather hot and cumbersome Noddy suit to promote the books.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
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"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
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- Courtenay
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Re: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
Aha, we've been moved - thanks, Anita.
Oh dear. I hope she finds her pastoral role more comfortable, or at least less embarrassing! But you're again making me wish I could have been around to attend at least one Enid Blyton Day...Anita Bensoussane wrote:Clarissa Cridland gave a talk at the 2002 Enid Blyton Day. She worked for Purnell in the 1980s and part of her job entailed dressing in a rather hot and cumbersome Noddy suit to promote the books.
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Daisy
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Re: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
This is a biography which I have had for many years. It contains most of the information we know about Elinor Brent-Dyer.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_nos ... let+School" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_nos ... let+School" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
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- Francis
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Re: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
My guess, and it's only a guess of course, is that Elinor must have gone to Guernsey on holiday
- she certainly shows a good knowledge of the island in her books. I must buy that biography, Daisy,
Elinor in many ways is quite remarkable in not avoiding the growing fascist menace.
- she certainly shows a good knowledge of the island in her books. I must buy that biography, Daisy,
Elinor in many ways is quite remarkable in not avoiding the growing fascist menace.
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- Courtenay
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Re: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
Here's a page on the Friends' website about the locations used in the Chalet School series and the real-life places that inspired them: http://www.chaletschool.org.uk/chalet-school-locations" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; It doesn't give much info as to whether Elinor personally visited any of them, but it's interesting, and there are some gorgeous photos!
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Francis
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Re: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
Thank you Courtenay - maybe you should start reading the Chalet School series - mind you the
books can be quite pricey. One of the pictures of Guernsey on the website is taken from one of the postcard
series I collect - the photos were taken on Guernsey in 1907.
books can be quite pricey. One of the pictures of Guernsey on the website is taken from one of the postcard
series I collect - the photos were taken on Guernsey in 1907.
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- Courtenay
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Re: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
I know my mum picked up a lot of them from charity shops in the 1990s - she may still have them. I could always ask. But really, I'm not a huge fan of school stories - I haven't even read any of Enid Blyton's, despite us having nearly all the Malory Towers books and most of the St Clare's! And I do have a big enough backlog of other books I want to read as it is. Still, I'll keep the Chalet School in mind.
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Francis
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Re: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
I'm sure Daisy would encourage you to read them - when you have the time!
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- Daisy
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Re: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
I do have the whole set in hardback and all 7 of the Guernsey set as well. I do a complete re-read of them about once every 5 years! ( I have the Abbey books too by EJ Oxenham which I read as well every few years. )
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
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- Courtenay
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Re: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
Being in full-time employment, I don't think I'd ever have the time to get through that many books!
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Francis
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- Joined: 17 Nov 2009, 21:13
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Re: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
Daisy wrote
I am very impressed - I only have three books altogether. Do you have some favourites or are they all good?I do have the whole set in hardback and all 7 of the Guernsey set as well.
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- Daisy
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Re: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - Chalet School, etc.
Some are better than others and everyone has their own ideas but one of the best in many people's view is "The Chalet School in Exile" when a group have to escape from the Gestapo at the time of the Anschluss. The story starts in Austria and ends up in Guernsey.
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
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