The Chalet School is a series of 58 school story novels by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer, initially published between 1925 and 1970. The fictional school was initially located in the Austrian Tyrol, before it was moved to Guernsey in 1939 following the rise to power of the Nazi Party, and again to Herefordshire following the Nazi invasion of the Channel Islands.[1] It later moved to a fictional island off the coast of Wales, and finally to Switzerland.[2]

Plot

The Chalet School is founded in 1925 by Madge Bettany when her brother has to return to his job in the Forestry Commission in India. 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 Tyrol, 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 the two Doctors eventually marry Madge and Joey respectively. Robin Humphries 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 become main characters.

Throughout the series, various girls arrive at the school with personal problems, bad attitudes or behavioural issues. As a result of the ministrations of better-behaved classmates and the school mistresses, they tend to discover the error of their ways and become model pupils. This formula of a troublesome new girl who reforms and conforms is most common in the later books.

Reception

As with contemporary series of school stories by other authors, the Chalet School books acquired a following of readers who tried to collect each new novel as it came out.[3] Its more exotic setting set it slightly apart from other British series in the same genre. It is the longest of any such novel series.[4]

Book details

Hardback

Chalet School books were originally published in hardback between 1925 and 1970 by W. & R. Chambers.[5]

TitleYear
1 The School at the Chalet1925
2 Jo of the Chalet School1926
3 The Princess of the Chalet School1927
4 The Head Girl of the Chalet School1928
5 The Rivals of the Chalet School1929
6 Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School1930
7 The Chalet School and Jo1931
8 The Chalet Girls in Camp1932
9 The Exploits of the Chalet Girls1933
10 The Chalet School and the Lintons [a]1934
11 The New House at the Chalet School1935
12 Jo Returns to the Chalet School1936
13 The New Chalet School [b]1938
14 The Chalet School in Exile1940
15 The Chalet School Goes to It [c]1941
16 The Highland Twins at the Chalet School1942
17 Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School [d]1943
18 Gay From China at the Chalet School [e]1944
19 Jo to the Rescue1945
20 Three Go to the Chalet School1949
21 The Chalet School and the Island1950
22 Peggy of the Chalet School1950
23 Carola Storms the Chalet School1951
24 The Wrong Chalet School1952
25 Shocks for the Chalet School1952
26 The Chalet School in the Oberland1952
27 Bride Leads the Chalet School1953
28 Changes for the Chalet School1953
29 Joey Goes to the Oberland1954
30 The Chalet School and Barbara1954
31 Tom Tackles the Chalet School [f]1955
32 The Chalet School Does It Again1955
33 A Chalet Girl from Kenya1955
34 Mary-Lou of the Chalet School1956
35 A Genius at the Chalet School [g]1956
36 A Problem for the Chalet School1956
37 The New Mistress at the Chalet School1957
38 Excitements at the Chalet School1957
39 The Coming of Age of the Chalet School1958
40 The Chalet School and Richenda1958
41 Trials for the Chalet School1958
42 Theodora and the Chalet School1959
43 Joey and Co in Tirol1960
44 Ruey Richardson: Chaletian [h]1960
45 A Leader in the Chalet School1961
46 The Chalet School Wins the Trick1961
47 A Future Chalet School Girl1962
48 The Feud in the Chalet School1962
49 The Chalet School Triplets1963
50 The Chalet School Reunion1963
51 Jane and the Chalet School1964
52 Redheads at the Chalet School1964
53 Adrienne and the Chalet School1965
54 Summer Term at the Chalet School1965
55 Challenge for the Chalet School1966
56 Two Sams at the Chalet School1967
57 Althea Joins the Chalet School1969
58 Prefects of the Chalet School1970

Paperback

The novels were reissued in paperback format between 1967 and 1995. Usually with updated language. Some were more or less uncut, but many others were abridged to various extents, including chapters deleted from some titles. A few were split into two paperback volumes, and several were retitled.[6]

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

TitleYear
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 Rosalie1951
The Chalet Girls' Cookbook1953
The Chalet Club News Letter Book2004
Elinor M Brent Dyer's Short Stories2005

Books by other authors

Many authors have written books set in the Chalet School universe. 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.

Prequels

These titles describe the events which led to the founding of the Chalet School.

  • Before the Chalet School: The Bettanys on the Home Front – Helen Barber (2015)
  • Before the Chalet School: The Bettanys of Taverton High – Helen Barber (2008, 2022)
  • Before the Chalet School: Last Term at Taverton High – Helen Barber (2018)

Fill in novels

This list contains all fill ins that have been published that fit within the time-scale of the Chalet School universe written by Elinor Brent-Dyer (i.e. not preceding or following it). The second title listed is the book that immediately precedes the respective fill in unless otherwise stated.

  • Visitors for the Chalet School - Helen McClelland (1995 Published by Bettany Press and 2000 Published by Collins) - The Princess of the Chalet School
  • Joey and Patricia: A Reunion in Guernsey – Helen McClelland (2000, 2018) Published by The New Chalet Club – The Chalet School in Exile
  • Gillian of the Chalet School – Carol Allan (2001, 2006, 2018) – The New Chalet School (and A United Chalet School)
  • The Chalet School and Robin – Caroline German (2003, 2012) – The Chalet School Goes to It
  • A Chalet School Headmistress – Helen Barber (2004, 2017) – Same term as The Mystery at 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, 2020) – A Guernsey Girl at the Chalet School
  • 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) – Juliet of the Chalet School
  • A Difficult Term for the Chalet School – Lisa Townsend (2011, 2021) – Three Go to the Chalet School
  • The Müller Twins at the Chalet School – Katherine Bruce (2012) – Jo Returns to the Chalet School
  • Champion of the Chalet School – Adrianne Fitzpatrick (2014) – Peace Comes to the Chalet School
  • Surprises for the Chalet School – Jackie Roberts (2014) Published by Yersinia Press – Same term as Peggy of the Chalet School
  • Joey and Co in Canada – Jackie Roberts (2016) Published by Yersinia Press – follows Carola storms the Chalet School
  • Juniors of the Chalet School – Katherine Bruce (2016) – Same term as The Princess of the Chalet School
  • Sisters at the Chalet School – Amy Fletcher (2017) – The Chalet School and Rosalie
  • The Chalet School Annexe – Adrianne Fitzpatrick (2018) – Same term as The Exploits of the Chalet Girls
  • The Chalet School and Cornelia – Katherine Bruce (2019) – Same term as The Head Girl of the Chalet School
  • A Refuge for the Chalet School – Amy Fletcher (2019) – Same time period as The Chalet School in Exile
  • The Bettany Twins and the Chalet School - Helen Barber (2020) - Same time period as Tom Tackles the Chalet School and The Chalet School and Rosalie
  • The Chalet School in Guernsey – Katherine Bruce (2020) – The Chalet School in Exile
  • The Chalet School Returns to the Alps - Lisa Townsend (2021) - Same term as The Chalet School and Barbara
  • A Guernsey Girl at the Chalet School - Amy Fletcher (2021) - Sisters at the Chalet School
  • Flight of a Chalet School Girl - Katherine Bruce (2022) - Ends during The Highland Twins at the Chalet School
  • Maeve of the Chalet School - Helen Barber (2022) - Same term as Shocks for the Chalet School and The Chalet School in the Oberland
  • Rosamund Heads the Chalet School - Lisa Townsend (2023) - Same term as Redheads at 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 books follow on after Prefects of the Chalet School

  • New Beginnings at the Chalet School – Heather Paisley (1999 Published by Friends of the Chalet School and 2002, 2006, 2020 Published by GGBP)
  • Nicola Goes To The Oberland – Josephine M. Hardman (2010) Published by Blurb (takes place over the year immediately following New Beginnings)
  • The Chalet School Librarian – Pat Willimott (2005) Published by Matador

Collections

A collection of stories that takes place at various points throughout the series:

  • The Chalet School Christmas Story Book - Various authors (2007)
  • Chalet School World – Helen Barber (2013)
  • Tales from the Chalet School - Helen Barber and Katherine Bruce (2023)

References

  1. ↑ Twentieth-century Children's Writers. Macmillan International Higher Education. 10 November 1978. p. 174. ISBN 978-1-349-03648-6.
  2. ↑ "Chalet School Locations". Friends of the Chalet School. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Benjamin Lefebvre (2013). Textual Transformations in Children's Literature: Adaptations, Translations, Reconsiderations. Routledge. pp. 73–75. ISBN 978-0-415-50971-8.
  4. ↑ Sue Sims; Hilary Clare (2000). The Encyclopaedia of School Stories: The encyclopaedia of girls' school stories. Ashgate. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-7546-0082-4.
  5. ↑ "Complete Numerical List of Titles in the Chalet School Series". Friends of the Chalet School. Archived from the original on 14 March 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
  6. ↑ "Chalet School reference list". The New Chalet Club. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  • The CBB - This was the main forum for Chalet School discussion, until the live part of it suddenly became unreachable from the web in March 2023, due to a severe technical error. However, some (totally random) parts of it can be viewed on the Wayback Machine, and for now at least, the forum archives (very old posts) are still available on the web via the above link. The archives include quite a lot of fanfiction.
  • ChaletSchool - This is a Chalet School subreddit.
  • The SDL - This used to be a very active fanfiction site, but some years ago, for some reason it became impossible for anyone to log in. So it became just a large read-only archive of stories.

Then it suddenly became unreachable from the web on the same day as the CBB, but some (also totally random) parts of it can be viewed on the Wayback Machine. Any fics still available tend to have missing chapters. They may or may not be available on other sites.

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