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Rachel and Damaris #4
Damaris Dances
Was Damaris born to be Dammy Ellerton, a girl who spent her life among bees and chickens and her family, or was she to be Mary Damayris, a great ballerina with the world at her dancing feet? Throughout her childhood, Dammy danced her own exquisite dances -- in the dormitory at school after 'lights out' before her entranced friends; or for her only sister Rachel -- or by herself for the sheer joy of it. She knows nothing of the magic world of the theatre and ballet and was happy in the thought of her coming life as a bee and chicken farmer -- until the day, dancing by herself in a cafe in France, she was seen by Monsieur Berthelot, lifeling lover of le ballet, who recognised the genius waiting to be released in the young girl.
271 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1940
2 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Elsie J. Oxenham
117 books23 followersA celebrated English girls’ school story writer, Elsie J. Oxenham's was born Elsie Jeanette Dunkerley in 1880 in Southport, Lancashire, She was the daughter of writer John_Oxenham, born William John Dunkerley, who had chosen the pseudonym ‘John Oxenham’. And Elsie decided to adopt the same surname for her writing career.
Her father was a clear influence upon her own writing. Her brother, Roderic Dunkerley, was also an author (published under his own name), as was her sister Erica, who also used the 'Oxenham' name.
She grew up in Ealing, West London, where her family had moved when she was a baby, living there until 1922, when the family moved again, to Worthing. After the deaths of her parents, Oxenham lived with her sister Maida. She died in 1960.
Oxenham, whose interests included the Camp Fire movement, and English Folk Dance traditions, is primarily remembered as the creator of the 38-book 'Abbey Girls' series. In her lifetime she had 87 titles published, and another two have since been published by her niece, who discovered the manuscripts in the early 1990s.
She is considered a major figure among girls' school story writers of the first half of the 20th century -- one of the 'Big Three,' together with Elinor Brent-Dyer and Dorita Fairlie Bruce.
Her father was a clear influence upon her own writing. Her brother, Roderic Dunkerley, was also an author (published under his own name), as was her sister Erica, who also used the 'Oxenham' name.
She grew up in Ealing, West London, where her family had moved when she was a baby, living there until 1922, when the family moved again, to Worthing. After the deaths of her parents, Oxenham lived with her sister Maida. She died in 1960.
Oxenham, whose interests included the Camp Fire movement, and English Folk Dance traditions, is primarily remembered as the creator of the 38-book 'Abbey Girls' series. In her lifetime she had 87 titles published, and another two have since been published by her niece, who discovered the manuscripts in the early 1990s.
She is considered a major figure among girls' school story writers of the first half of the 20th century -- one of the 'Big Three,' together with Elinor Brent-Dyer and Dorita Fairlie Bruce.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 14, 2021
Damaris thought her future was settled: she would keep bees and chickens in the country, while her sister Rachel became secretary to cousin Maidlin - but the urge to dance was just too strong. But with so many objections - a family background of disapproval, Maidlin’s thoughtful plans for the girls and Rachel’s concern for her little sister, what will happen to Damaris’ need to dance?
As a ballet book, this is of course flawed: instead of realistic training, auditions, and a hard slog towards success, Damaris effortlessly jumps over such details through a series of lucky encounters where hard nosed professionals break out in eulogies of her every step.
But as an Abbey book it’s a fascinating read. Rachel and Damaris, independent northerners, see the Abbey through the prism of their cousin Maidlin, who at this stage of the series is the embodiment of the Abbey spirit of help and home while Joy is offstage in New York. The events of other books are glimpsed through Rachel and Damaris’ perspective, and they bond with the twins in a way that foreshadows Rachel’s eventual role as mentor to the younger generation. The book is also another in a series on a familiar theme of EJO’s - two sisters who have different interests and attitudes in life trying to make their way in the world. Rachel’s determination that she and Damaris will stick together, and the sisters’ independent spirit, makes their journey very different to that of other such pairings. In fact the real theme of the book is the sisters’ finding a home - or rather their making a home and finding support at each stage of their journey through life, while retaining their freedom to pursue their own goals. That’s what makes this a satisfying read in its own right, rather than just a sideways-on book to the Abbey series.
As a ballet book, this is of course flawed: instead of realistic training, auditions, and a hard slog towards success, Damaris effortlessly jumps over such details through a series of lucky encounters where hard nosed professionals break out in eulogies of her every step.
But as an Abbey book it’s a fascinating read. Rachel and Damaris, independent northerners, see the Abbey through the prism of their cousin Maidlin, who at this stage of the series is the embodiment of the Abbey spirit of help and home while Joy is offstage in New York. The events of other books are glimpsed through Rachel and Damaris’ perspective, and they bond with the twins in a way that foreshadows Rachel’s eventual role as mentor to the younger generation. The book is also another in a series on a familiar theme of EJO’s - two sisters who have different interests and attitudes in life trying to make their way in the world. Rachel’s determination that she and Damaris will stick together, and the sisters’ independent spirit, makes their journey very different to that of other such pairings. In fact the real theme of the book is the sisters’ finding a home - or rather their making a home and finding support at each stage of their journey through life, while retaining their freedom to pursue their own goals. That’s what makes this a satisfying read in its own right, rather than just a sideways-on book to the Abbey series.
October 30, 2019
I'm very glad to have read this book for the fill in details (and ret-conning) it does to make Damaris into a dancer. All the same, it seems to be skimming along the timeline very fast to bring it to the point where her dancing fits into an actual Abbey book. There's not a lot of time taken with any particular incident, filling in quick vignettes instead.
A perfectly fine read, and I'm glad to have it and have read it, but it won't be a all time favourite EJO.
A perfectly fine read, and I'm glad to have it and have read it, but it won't be a all time favourite EJO.
November 6, 2021
Although somewhat unbelievable, this is a very enjoyable book. Damaris, now sixteen, took ballet lessons as a young child in America. But her English aunts were shocked by the idea, so she could only practice in private. In France, where her sister Rachel is studying French, Damaris is "discovered" by a local balletomane, who arranges for her to take lessons. Will this be the beginning of an unexpected career for Damaris? Recommended.
February 26, 2025
A lovely little story. I haven't got all the context - I've only ever read the Abbey books, and whatever mentions Damaris and Rachel have therein, so I had the general vibe but some of what was referred to is new to me. (This is a sign that I should go back and reread and catch up on all the ones I now have access to and have never read.) Cheerful, light-hearted and thoroughly wholesome, though don't go looking for anything really deep.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews