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The Chalet School #42
Theodora and the Chalet School
It seems as though Theodora Grantley is going to be one of the Chalet School's more troublesome new pupils. Her own mother writes to Rosalie Dene to warn her that Theodora has been expelled from three schools already "for bad behaviour and insubordination".
Then Miss Carthew, the much-beloved 'Carty' from Tirol days, writes to Joey Maynard to admit that it was she who recommended the Chalet School to Myra Grantley for her wayward daughter.
Then Miss Carthew, the much-beloved 'Carty' from Tirol days, writes to Joey Maynard to admit that it was she who recommended the Chalet School to Myra Grantley for her wayward daughter.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
110 people want to read
About the author
Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
171 books113 followersElinor M. Brent-Dyer was born as Gladys Eleanor May Dyer on 6th April 1894, in South Shields in the industrial northeast of England, and grew up in a terraced house which had no garden or inside toilet. She was the only daughter of Eleanor Watson Rutherford and Charles Morris Brent Dyer. Her father, who had been married before, left home when she was three years old. In 1912, her brother Henzell died at age 17 of cerebro-spinal fever. After her father died, her mother remarried in 1913.
Elinor was educated at a small local private school in South Shields and returned there to teach when she was eighteen after spending two years at the City of Leeds Training College. Her teaching career spanned 36 years, during which she taught in a wide variety of state and private schools in the northeast, in Middlesex, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, and finally in Hereford.
In the early 1920s she adopted the name Elinor Mary Brent-Dyer. A holiday she spent in the Austrian Tyrol at Pertisau-am-Achensee gave her the inspiration for the first location in the Chalet School series. However, her first book, 'Gerry Goes to School', was published in 1922 and was written for the child actress Hazel Bainbridge. Her first 'Chalet' story, 'The School at the Chalet', was originally published in 1925.
In 1930, the same year that 'Jean of Storms' was serialised, she converted to Roman Catholicism.
In 1933 the Brent-Dyer household (she lived with her mother and stepfather until her mother's death in 1957) moved to Hereford. She travelled daily to Peterchurch as a governess.
When her stepfather died she started her own school in Hereford, The Margaret Roper School. It was non-denominational but with a strong religious tradition. Many Chalet School customs were followed, the girls even wore a similar uniform made in the Chalet School's colours of brown and flame. Elinor was rather untidy, erratic and flamboyant and not really suited to being a headmistress. After her school closed in 1948 she devoted most of her time to writing.
Elinor's mother died in 1957 and in 1964 she moved to Redhill, where she lived in a joint establishment with fellow school story author Phyllis Matthewman and her husband, until her death on 20th September 1969.
During her lifetime Elinor M. Brent-Dyer published 101 books but she is remembered mainly for her Chalet School series. The series numbers 58 books and is the longest-surviving series of girls' school-stories ever known, having been continuously in print for more than 70 years. One hundred thousand paperback copies are still being sold each year.
Among her published books are other school stories; family, historical, adventure and animal stories; a cookery book, and four educational geography-readers. She also wrote plays and numerous unpublished poems and was a keen musician.
In 1994, the year of the centenary of her Elinor Brent-Dyer's birth, Friends of the Chalet School put up plaques in Pertisau, South Shields and Hereford, and a headstone was erected on her grave in Redstone Cemetery, since there was not one previously. They also put flowers on her grave on the anniversaries of her birth and death and on other special occasions.
Elinor was educated at a small local private school in South Shields and returned there to teach when she was eighteen after spending two years at the City of Leeds Training College. Her teaching career spanned 36 years, during which she taught in a wide variety of state and private schools in the northeast, in Middlesex, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, and finally in Hereford.
In the early 1920s she adopted the name Elinor Mary Brent-Dyer. A holiday she spent in the Austrian Tyrol at Pertisau-am-Achensee gave her the inspiration for the first location in the Chalet School series. However, her first book, 'Gerry Goes to School', was published in 1922 and was written for the child actress Hazel Bainbridge. Her first 'Chalet' story, 'The School at the Chalet', was originally published in 1925.
In 1930, the same year that 'Jean of Storms' was serialised, she converted to Roman Catholicism.
In 1933 the Brent-Dyer household (she lived with her mother and stepfather until her mother's death in 1957) moved to Hereford. She travelled daily to Peterchurch as a governess.
When her stepfather died she started her own school in Hereford, The Margaret Roper School. It was non-denominational but with a strong religious tradition. Many Chalet School customs were followed, the girls even wore a similar uniform made in the Chalet School's colours of brown and flame. Elinor was rather untidy, erratic and flamboyant and not really suited to being a headmistress. After her school closed in 1948 she devoted most of her time to writing.
Elinor's mother died in 1957 and in 1964 she moved to Redhill, where she lived in a joint establishment with fellow school story author Phyllis Matthewman and her husband, until her death on 20th September 1969.
During her lifetime Elinor M. Brent-Dyer published 101 books but she is remembered mainly for her Chalet School series. The series numbers 58 books and is the longest-surviving series of girls' school-stories ever known, having been continuously in print for more than 70 years. One hundred thousand paperback copies are still being sold each year.
Among her published books are other school stories; family, historical, adventure and animal stories; a cookery book, and four educational geography-readers. She also wrote plays and numerous unpublished poems and was a keen musician.
In 1994, the year of the centenary of her Elinor Brent-Dyer's birth, Friends of the Chalet School put up plaques in Pertisau, South Shields and Hereford, and a headstone was erected on her grave in Redstone Cemetery, since there was not one previously. They also put flowers on her grave on the anniversaries of her birth and death and on other special occasions.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 21, 2013
Theodora is one of the titles I have many many copies with. There's something amusing to me about how it pushes its way into my collection, either bundled up as part of a double with Trials or as a falling apart Armada.
And, relatively unusually for a later Chalet School title, it's quite interesting. This is Theodora's first term at the Chalet School - and her big secret is that she's been expelled from three schools beforehand for general insubordination and highjinks. Naturally things start to turn around at the Chalet School for the newly rechristened 'Ted' but it's not without problems. And one of those problems is named Margot Maynard.
Ted herself is a lovely character and one that I always feel a bit of regret over. As the series progresses from this point, she becomes more of a foil to Len and the triplets, and loses that bright independence she shines with in her introductory novel. This is one of the things that Brent-Dyer was Not Good At. She's got a habit of introducing the most fascinating characters (viz. Richenda, Prunella, Jo Scott etc) and then pushing them merrily into the background when she's had enough of them.
The greater interest in this book comes from Margot and her permanent 'get out of jail free' card. She engages in some particularly nasty behaviour and it's eye-opening to read, particularly if you bear in light some of the actions she engages in later in the series - Chalet School Triplets comes to mind, as does the whole 'how on earth did she not get expelled' thought. Also, and particularly relevant for Theodora, I'm always struck by how blame for the more dramatic incidents of Margot's behaviour is apportioned equally towards Con and Len.
So Theodora's a bit of a mixed bag really. On one hand you have the standard subsuming of the new girl into a Real Chalet School Girl, and on the other hand you have a storyline of bulllying and all round mean girl attitude balanced against that empowering journey of self-discovery. It's an intriguing, dark and thought-provoking mix.
(And now that I've said all that, can Mary-Lou please sod off for the entirety of this book? Thanks).
And, relatively unusually for a later Chalet School title, it's quite interesting. This is Theodora's first term at the Chalet School - and her big secret is that she's been expelled from three schools beforehand for general insubordination and highjinks. Naturally things start to turn around at the Chalet School for the newly rechristened 'Ted' but it's not without problems. And one of those problems is named Margot Maynard.
Ted herself is a lovely character and one that I always feel a bit of regret over. As the series progresses from this point, she becomes more of a foil to Len and the triplets, and loses that bright independence she shines with in her introductory novel. This is one of the things that Brent-Dyer was Not Good At. She's got a habit of introducing the most fascinating characters (viz. Richenda, Prunella, Jo Scott etc) and then pushing them merrily into the background when she's had enough of them.
The greater interest in this book comes from Margot and her permanent 'get out of jail free' card. She engages in some particularly nasty behaviour and it's eye-opening to read, particularly if you bear in light some of the actions she engages in later in the series - Chalet School Triplets comes to mind, as does the whole 'how on earth did she not get expelled' thought. Also, and particularly relevant for Theodora, I'm always struck by how blame for the more dramatic incidents of Margot's behaviour is apportioned equally towards Con and Len.
So Theodora's a bit of a mixed bag really. On one hand you have the standard subsuming of the new girl into a Real Chalet School Girl, and on the other hand you have a storyline of bulllying and all round mean girl attitude balanced against that empowering journey of self-discovery. It's an intriguing, dark and thought-provoking mix.
(And now that I've said all that, can Mary-Lou please sod off for the entirety of this book? Thanks).
March 3, 2011
Another one I'd read when younger, but didn't remember most of when re-reading: again, it was all very unfamiliar until the incident with the expensive clock.
I liked Ted a lot, she's a good character. But goodness me, I'd forgotten how absolutely horrible Margot Maynard can be! If she was more likeable I'd totally slash her and Emerence, but she's just a rotten brat who was totally at her worst here. Blowing up with jealousy because Len and Con dared to have other friends when they should have been satisfied with her - while she of course was allowed to be pally with Emmy because "that's different!" I shudder. She reminds me too much of someone else.
I liked Ted a lot, she's a good character. But goodness me, I'd forgotten how absolutely horrible Margot Maynard can be! If she was more likeable I'd totally slash her and Emerence, but she's just a rotten brat who was totally at her worst here. Blowing up with jealousy because Len and Con dared to have other friends when they should have been satisfied with her - while she of course was allowed to be pally with Emmy because "that's different!" I shudder. She reminds me too much of someone else.
June 19, 2014
Another great book from later in the series. This book sees the exploration if what makes naughty behaviour and what makes offensive behaviour. Also it explores the relationship between the triplets and has some interesting suggestions for living well. Very enjoyable.
December 18, 2023
Absolutely loved the unabridged version. Must have been really cut in the Armada, was like reading a whole new story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2010
Theodora Grantley is being sent to the Chalet School, after having been expelled from her three previous schools. One of the previous mistresses has written to the Chalet School to beg them to accept her, saying that Theodora isn't really naughty, just misunderstood, and that she's actually a good kid at heart.
The Chalet School authorities decide to give her another chance, and even give her a new name, Ted, so that it's a fresh start for her. She makes friends with Len Manyard, and during a quarantine for illness, their friendship grows even stronger.
Margot, one of Len's triplet sisters, resents this friendship, feeling that Len should be satisfied with her sisters. Ructions break out, especially when Margot discovers her own special friend, Emerence, is leaving school at the end of the term! Mary-Lou, the Head Girl, steps in to straighten things out.
The Chalet School authorities decide to give her another chance, and even give her a new name, Ted, so that it's a fresh start for her. She makes friends with Len Manyard, and during a quarantine for illness, their friendship grows even stronger.
Margot, one of Len's triplet sisters, resents this friendship, feeling that Len should be satisfied with her sisters. Ructions break out, especially when Margot discovers her own special friend, Emerence, is leaving school at the end of the term! Mary-Lou, the Head Girl, steps in to straighten things out.
February 17, 2010
Theodora Grantley has been expelled for bad behavior from not one but three schools but a former CS staff member recommends the Chalet School, now in Switzerland, to Theodora's frantic mother. It's her last chance to get a decent education! With the help of Len (the oldest and most responsible of Joey's triplets) she begins to succeed, until Margot (the youngest and least responsible of the triplets!) grows jealous and interferes. Will the righteous prevail?
This is one of my favorites of the Chalet School books, largely because of the obstreperous Theodora, and meddlesome Margot. Brent-Dyer is always better at her bad characters than her good ones.
This is one of my favorites of the Chalet School books, largely because of the obstreperous Theodora, and meddlesome Margot. Brent-Dyer is always better at her bad characters than her good ones.
July 16, 2015
Fast read. Mary-Lou prize-butter-in strikes again. My Margots devil is working overtime! Seems when this girl is particularly evil its all her Devil's fault. kinda pissed off her sisters are so wary around their triplet bratface. Ted is a good girl who apparently was bad before. Scarlet fever really helps on that role!..
June 6, 2016
Theodora starts at the Chalet School, is promptly re-christened "Ted", the poor girl - was Thea completely out of the question? - and settles in well apart from Margot Maynard taking a strong dislike to her and being generally awful. Moral lessons ensue.
September 13, 2011
Again, another smashing tale of the exploits of the Chaletians. Simply wizard!
September 23, 2019
Why does the Armada edition not even tell us the name of the new twins?
July 26, 2021
Why wasn't Margot ever expelled?
April 20, 2024
Published in 1959 but it could well have been set in the 20s or 30s. Joey continues to push out babies like a machine in this instalment, bringing her total up to 11. Fortunately it keeps her under the weather and off the page! Brent-Dyer is very coy about it all, not actually saying her "illness" is childbirth until the babies are actually shown. Shame Jo doesn't know how to raise the kids she already birthed; in this volume we discover that Margot, one of the Maynard triplets, is so very selfish and fond of her own way that as long as she gets what she wants "she didn't mind who else had to do without." When she's told No, she makes herself thoroughly unpleasant to all, family, fellow students, and staff alike. Lovely. Today she'd be called narcissistic, as she goes so far as to try to break up the friendships her sisters dare to make with other Chalet girls. They should be happy with just her! Not a very good advertisement for the school or for her lovely mother, is she? But then that's what happens when you send your kids to boarding school and seldom see them, even though the school is right next door. No "day girls" for Joey Maynard--she has to have peace and quiet for her writing and her endless pregnancies! It's obvious Brent-Dyer identified strongly with the Joey/Jo March character--with books as children, perhaps? That would explain her need to reproduce quite so often, in an odd Freudian sort of way.
The title character, Theodora, has another mother who packs her off to school after school, but "Ted" limited herself to acting out by pulling crazy stunts. Of course the Chalet School is the making of her--but I wonder if Margot really did get over herself.
At least in this volume there is no epidemic, no fire, flood or accident leading to someone being laid up for months or years. The episode of the cockchafers in the church did make me laugh out loud! A fast, lite read.
The title character, Theodora, has another mother who packs her off to school after school, but "Ted" limited herself to acting out by pulling crazy stunts. Of course the Chalet School is the making of her--but I wonder if Margot really did get over herself.
At least in this volume there is no epidemic, no fire, flood or accident leading to someone being laid up for months or years. The episode of the cockchafers in the church did make me laugh out loud! A fast, lite read.
March 21, 2025
Theodora comes to the Chalet School feeling that she will never overcome a record of bad behaviour and the knowledge that her mother doesn’t like her very much. But first Jo christens her ‘Ted’, then Miss Annersley gives her a makeover, and Len and Rosamund offer her friendship and support. But when Ted rouses Margot Maynard’s jealousy, it looks like her problems are beginning all over again…
I’ve never really liked that in this book we don’t get to see the Theodora who was a charismatic leader of others into mischief. It would make far more sense that Margot be so jealous if Ted was more like her. Instead Ted isn’t that distinguishable from the ordinary Chalet girl by the time she arrives, and is a completely innocent victim when Margot acts out. This isn’t one of my favourite Chalet books, but I don’t think it deserves some of the criticism that has been heaped on the characters. The triplets end their middle school careers with a transformative bust-up and Mary-Lou butts in for one final time. The only problem is that in subsequent books EBD reverts to previous characterisations and has Mary-Lou pop up to solve problems, sometimes literally, instead of really running with the character development we see here.
I’ve never really liked that in this book we don’t get to see the Theodora who was a charismatic leader of others into mischief. It would make far more sense that Margot be so jealous if Ted was more like her. Instead Ted isn’t that distinguishable from the ordinary Chalet girl by the time she arrives, and is a completely innocent victim when Margot acts out. This isn’t one of my favourite Chalet books, but I don’t think it deserves some of the criticism that has been heaped on the characters. The triplets end their middle school careers with a transformative bust-up and Mary-Lou butts in for one final time. The only problem is that in subsequent books EBD reverts to previous characterisations and has Mary-Lou pop up to solve problems, sometimes literally, instead of really running with the character development we see here.
November 7, 2025
I'm delighted to have acquired a 'Girls gone by' full edition of this book, which I had only read in the abridged Armada version over the past fifty years or so. And there's a lot that was removed. I compared it with my Armada, and found not just extra paragraphs but entire pages and scenes. They add significantly to the characterisation and background, though the Armada ones tell the story quite effectively.
Theodora comes to the Chalet School with a bad reputation, but is persuaded to become 'Ted', and to turn over a new leaf. It might have been predictable, but she's a likeable person, who becomes friendly with Len Maynard. And her triplet sister Margot becomes irrationally jealous. I thought it all very well handled, and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not too much detail about trivia, and a lot of different storylines.
Best read after the others, as there are so many people and previous situations referred to. But if you like this series, it's well worth acquiring, if you can find it inexpensively (which is not always the case). Originally for teens, mostly now read by parents and grandparents of teens...
Four and a half stars, really.
Longer review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
Theodora comes to the Chalet School with a bad reputation, but is persuaded to become 'Ted', and to turn over a new leaf. It might have been predictable, but she's a likeable person, who becomes friendly with Len Maynard. And her triplet sister Margot becomes irrationally jealous. I thought it all very well handled, and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not too much detail about trivia, and a lot of different storylines.
Best read after the others, as there are so many people and previous situations referred to. But if you like this series, it's well worth acquiring, if you can find it inexpensively (which is not always the case). Originally for teens, mostly now read by parents and grandparents of teens...
Four and a half stars, really.
Longer review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
November 9, 2019
Unlike most of the books in this series, this one focuses on a small group of girls, though of course other characters do interact with them. The main character is the Theodora of the title, though Jo Maynard decides she should be called "Ted" to give her a new start at her new school, since her previous experiences were not the best — expelled once and asked to leave twice! But at the Chalet School she is quickly taken under the wing of Len Maynard, much to Margot's consternation! We know that everything will turn out well in the end, but just how is what makes the reader continue turning the pages. Enjoyable as always!
February 18, 2021
I didn't remember Margot ever being this unpleasant. Much more like old fashioned Sunday school stories than the Chalet School usually is.
November 5, 2019
Not sure what happened here, but at the end I found myself thinking 'Dear old Mary-Lou'. Perhaps it's when she becomes an adult that she also becomes really irritating. Or maybe I was just feeling relief that she was finally shoving off to St Mildreds.
Another new girl. This time the basic plot is new girl turns up and fits right in (cf new girl turns up and doesn't). This means the drama comes from another girl not liking her. Mary Woodley didn't like Barbara, Ruth Wilson didn't like Jo Scott ... it's certainly been done before ... but this time, things get nasty. Margot Maynard, who has managed to behave herself reasonably well for a few terms now, is the jealous one, and she eavesdrops, bullies, plots blackmail, and ... erm ... accepts a gift of a valuable clock from her best friend (I've never really understood why that bit of behaviour was so disgraceful). I am irresistibly reminded of Joey's first villainess, the evil Rosetta Fernandez, of whom Matron said (sternly) 'Do you want the juniors to think such wicked girls exist?' (or words to that effect). And here we are, best part of 20 years later, with a much more experienced authoress creating exactly such an unappealing character.
Margot's badness in this particular book does seem to come from nowhere - previously she's been naughty rather than unkind - but then, perhaps she's feeling displaced by her mother having yet more babies. The worst of it is that for all three of the triplets, although everything seems super sorted-out here by the incomparable Mary-Lou, in just a few short books they will revert to being uber-responsible (Len), dreamy (Con) and unpleasant (Margot), so it was all a waste of a crisis anyway.
Updated November 2019 after reading the GGBP edition:
I bought this because it was listed as having 'minor frequent cuts' in Armada pb. These cuts are mostly bits of unimportant conversation between characters, but there are a couple of reasonable chunks of text which have now been restored. I've got to be honest - it doesn't change the narrative, so I still don't really understand what was so appalling about accepting a gift of an expensive clock. But it makes the whole thing more Chalet School-ish.
The short story neatly ties up the references to Miss Carthew made after her departure from the Chalet School; and, as a story, is just about perfect. I'm almost tempted to replace my HB CSBs with GGBP editions, just for the extra short stories. And they'd take up less shelf room than the HBs. Decisions, decisions...
Another new girl. This time the basic plot is new girl turns up and fits right in (cf new girl turns up and doesn't). This means the drama comes from another girl not liking her. Mary Woodley didn't like Barbara, Ruth Wilson didn't like Jo Scott ... it's certainly been done before ... but this time, things get nasty. Margot Maynard, who has managed to behave herself reasonably well for a few terms now, is the jealous one, and she eavesdrops, bullies, plots blackmail, and ... erm ... accepts a gift of a valuable clock from her best friend (I've never really understood why that bit of behaviour was so disgraceful). I am irresistibly reminded of Joey's first villainess, the evil Rosetta Fernandez, of whom Matron said (sternly) 'Do you want the juniors to think such wicked girls exist?' (or words to that effect). And here we are, best part of 20 years later, with a much more experienced authoress creating exactly such an unappealing character.
Margot's badness in this particular book does seem to come from nowhere - previously she's been naughty rather than unkind - but then, perhaps she's feeling displaced by her mother having yet more babies. The worst of it is that for all three of the triplets, although everything seems super sorted-out here by the incomparable Mary-Lou, in just a few short books they will revert to being uber-responsible (Len), dreamy (Con) and unpleasant (Margot), so it was all a waste of a crisis anyway.
Updated November 2019 after reading the GGBP edition:
I bought this because it was listed as having 'minor frequent cuts' in Armada pb. These cuts are mostly bits of unimportant conversation between characters, but there are a couple of reasonable chunks of text which have now been restored. I've got to be honest - it doesn't change the narrative, so I still don't really understand what was so appalling about accepting a gift of an expensive clock. But it makes the whole thing more Chalet School-ish.
The short story neatly ties up the references to Miss Carthew made after her departure from the Chalet School; and, as a story, is just about perfect. I'm almost tempted to replace my HB CSBs with GGBP editions, just for the extra short stories. And they'd take up less shelf room than the HBs. Decisions, decisions...
March 9, 2025
Read the GGB unabridged paperback
Ok book for this stage in the series
Another troubled new girl who very quickly settles into the Chalet School
The book avoided the repition of introducing the new girl to her cubicle and the explanation of dormitory/ bathing rules
Also no long description of the annual Sale
Theodore was used as a catalyst for starring roles for Joey’s triplets , and a last ‘butting in ‘ role for Mary-Lou in her last term at the Chalet School
I felt that EBD was preparing Len as the replacement for Mary-Lou role within the school and also greater roles for the triplets in the rest of the series
Ok book for this stage in the series
Another troubled new girl who very quickly settles into the Chalet School
The book avoided the repition of introducing the new girl to her cubicle and the explanation of dormitory/ bathing rules
Also no long description of the annual Sale
Theodore was used as a catalyst for starring roles for Joey’s triplets , and a last ‘butting in ‘ role for Mary-Lou in her last term at the Chalet School
I felt that EBD was preparing Len as the replacement for Mary-Lou role within the school and also greater roles for the triplets in the rest of the series
June 24, 2020
You have to love the classic style of this time
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews