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The Chalet School #23
Carola Storms The Chalet School
PRE-ISBN
From the back cover:
“I’m sick of it!” Carola flared out. “I’m sick – sick – sick of perpetually travelling about! I want to go to school like other girls, and have fun and games with them, and proper lessons – not stupid little lectures from governesses! I want to go to the Chalet School!”
Carola was very unhappy as normally happy girls go – and as normally happy girls go she went – straight to the Chalet School …
And so began one of the most eventful times ever for Carola – and for the other girls of the Chalet School too! “
From the back cover:
“I’m sick of it!” Carola flared out. “I’m sick – sick – sick of perpetually travelling about! I want to go to school like other girls, and have fun and games with them, and proper lessons – not stupid little lectures from governesses! I want to go to the Chalet School!”
Carola was very unhappy as normally happy girls go – and as normally happy girls go she went – straight to the Chalet School …
And so began one of the most eventful times ever for Carola – and for the other girls of the Chalet School too! “
159 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1951
About the author
Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
176 books114 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 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 9, 2022
Another solid, middle-era addition to the Chalet School canon that’s readable and enjoyable in the very best school-story tradition.
Damn those pesky cigarettes that all the teachers reach for with a sigh of relief, though. There’s certainly a moral in this particular tale (no spoilers).
Damn those pesky cigarettes that all the teachers reach for with a sigh of relief, though. There’s certainly a moral in this particular tale (no spoilers).
January 1, 2014
It's interesting to look back at the phases of Chalet School life. We have the glorious idealism of the early Tyrol phase; epitomised in moments such as Madge going, "Well, I thought I'd start a school." Later in the series, around the war books (say Highland Twins and Lavender in particular), we get some intense and searing social commentary wrapped up in a pseudo-simple girls' school story. Later still, we get the second (third?) generation of family pupils to attend the school and the whole 'do you remember when?' This phase is at times the Swiss 'Enterprise' to the Tyrolean 'Next Generation' of the Chalet School. That is, to say, not very good.
And here, in Carola, though I'd nevr quite twigged it before, is Brent-Dyer's 'batty relative phase'. There's a connection now needling at me between the propensity of relatives to be a bit rubbish (Annis' Aunt, Kat Gordon's ... Aunt, Carola's whole family) and the way that all the girls concerned decide to take control of their own stories. To be honest there's now also a connection needling at me about the propensity of Chalet School staff / groupies to hang around in seaside bed and breakfasts but that will wait until I eventually scrape up some dosh to do a phd.
So this book! It's great because it's early enough to still have some semblance of plot and that plot is delivered with Intense Verve. Basically: Carola pitches a fit after Biddy of the Lush Irish Hair And Never Fading Accent tells her lovely stories about the Chalet School and then runs off to join it whilst leaving her Aunt on a cruise ship to Jamaica. As new girl stories go, it's one of the best. ("Has she drowned?" "No, she's at the Chalet School." "But we're in the middle of the sea." "She's your relative, Miss Curry, not mine.")
Carola's first term is excellent. I always think that the girls who were at the School during the St Briavels phase miss out slightly as their surroundings aren't quite as dominant as Switzerland or Tyrol. Of course Brent-Dyer works her usual melodramatic brilliance on the Island (There's a phd in the whole 'why does Joey keep getting almost / actually shipwrecked', I think), but somehow it never quite rings true to me. I think perhaps it's epitomised best in this book where Carola goes to the Maynards' (naturally) house, and then several chapters later accidentally discovers the house again ("Oh this is Mrs Maynard's house!" "But of course it is Carola, you've already been here you big div") as she's walking around the island with Taciturn As All Scottish Characters Are Scottish Jean.
But this book remains lovely and glorious in a way that only a Brent-Dyer can be. I haven't even begun to mention the epic flame-throwing d'enouement.
And here, in Carola, though I'd nevr quite twigged it before, is Brent-Dyer's 'batty relative phase'. There's a connection now needling at me between the propensity of relatives to be a bit rubbish (Annis' Aunt, Kat Gordon's ... Aunt, Carola's whole family) and the way that all the girls concerned decide to take control of their own stories. To be honest there's now also a connection needling at me about the propensity of Chalet School staff / groupies to hang around in seaside bed and breakfasts but that will wait until I eventually scrape up some dosh to do a phd.
So this book! It's great because it's early enough to still have some semblance of plot and that plot is delivered with Intense Verve. Basically: Carola pitches a fit after Biddy of the Lush Irish Hair And Never Fading Accent tells her lovely stories about the Chalet School and then runs off to join it whilst leaving her Aunt on a cruise ship to Jamaica. As new girl stories go, it's one of the best. ("Has she drowned?" "No, she's at the Chalet School." "But we're in the middle of the sea." "She's your relative, Miss Curry, not mine.")
Carola's first term is excellent. I always think that the girls who were at the School during the St Briavels phase miss out slightly as their surroundings aren't quite as dominant as Switzerland or Tyrol. Of course Brent-Dyer works her usual melodramatic brilliance on the Island (There's a phd in the whole 'why does Joey keep getting almost / actually shipwrecked', I think), but somehow it never quite rings true to me. I think perhaps it's epitomised best in this book where Carola goes to the Maynards' (naturally) house, and then several chapters later accidentally discovers the house again ("Oh this is Mrs Maynard's house!" "But of course it is Carola, you've already been here you big div") as she's walking around the island with Taciturn As All Scottish Characters Are Scottish Jean.
But this book remains lovely and glorious in a way that only a Brent-Dyer can be. I haven't even begun to mention the epic flame-throwing d'enouement.
December 18, 2021
This one is good fun. Carola is a great addition to the school.
Read
August 13, 2022More Chalet School from the Internet Archive! This one is much more fun than the later ones (I love the reviewer elsewhere on this book's page who describes the school's Tyrol phase as its Next Gen phase and the Swiss phase as its Enterprise phase. I guess by this logic the island ones are the Voyager phase which sounds about right, they're not all great but they have some very good bits. Carola, unlike everyone else on earth, has run away *to* school - having heard all about the Chalet School from a friend she made at a B&B, she has ditched her distant cousin and guardian and run away to the school, not having quite thought through that they'll know when she's not on her lists. Dull Cousin Maud, meanwhile, is on a steamer to Jamaica wondering where her dear niece has got to, and Carola's parents are in "Equatorial Africa" (tbf to the author, we later learn exactly where), and can't be reached. Kind of impossible to keep the pace going from that incredible start and the rest of the book is fine if nothing special, but Carola is a DELIGHT.
March 26, 2017
This is FUN. I love the books where new girls are given a few chapters of backstory before they get to the school. And this is particularly hilarious backstory. Carola runs away - to school!
Carola is a delight; she fits in well, she wants to be in school, and she has some not-too-dramatic adventures. I mean: they fry donuts in cod liver oil! Of all the domestic science Incidents, that has to be the funniest. (Yes, they have a subject called Domestic Science. What can I say: this was published in 1951.)
(Note: this is where Miss Burn meets Dr. Graves. Why are there always a plethora of doctors around the school, how are they always single, and why do they all marry the teachers?) (I like them both! I'm Just Saying.)
This is also a book where I enjoyed reading about the sale. I love Tom's doll houses.
Carola is a delight; she fits in well, she wants to be in school, and she has some not-too-dramatic adventures. I mean: they fry donuts in cod liver oil! Of all the domestic science Incidents, that has to be the funniest. (Yes, they have a subject called Domestic Science. What can I say: this was published in 1951.)
(Note: this is where Miss Burn meets Dr. Graves. Why are there always a plethora of doctors around the school, how are they always single, and why do they all marry the teachers?) (I like them both! I'm Just Saying.)
This is also a book where I enjoyed reading about the sale. I love Tom's doll houses.
March 19, 2011
If you can overlook the painfully of-their-era cultural appropriation and casual racism, and the lack of suspense when anyone's life is threatened... well, that goes for most of the proper Chalet School series, since all were originally published between 1920 and 1970...
Anyway, if you can, "Carola" is one of the most interesting and entertaining books in the series otherwise, and the eponymous Carola Johnstone (Carola, not Carõla, "without any accent whatsoever") makes for one of the most vivid, lively and naturally friendly and least snobbish characters of the series. I always regretted that she hadn't a great deal more face-time after her book.
Anyway, if you can, "Carola" is one of the most interesting and entertaining books in the series otherwise, and the eponymous Carola Johnstone (Carola, not Carõla, "without any accent whatsoever") makes for one of the most vivid, lively and naturally friendly and least snobbish characters of the series. I always regretted that she hadn't a great deal more face-time after her book.
September 12, 2011
Another Chalet School book, which I now have in hardback form. As with so many of this series it's all the better for having the original text even if a bit long-winded in places. In this story, Carola is a determined and likeable but somewhat thoughtless teenager who is bored with travelling around the world with her aunt, and runs away to the Chalet School. She has not considered her aunt's feelings, or what the school might do with her - or even whether they would allow her to stay - but she is fortunate that things work out well.
Carola turns out to be a good addition to the school, offering good ideas and immense courage at times. Since so many of the books are about girls who do not want to go to school, or who struggle with fitting in, this one offers a different perspective.
Each time I read this, I find that I remember some of the plot, but have entirely forgotten other sections. One of the more interesting and well-written books of the series in my view; I find the last chapter extremely moving.
Recommended to anyone who likes school stories from the middle of the twentieth century, although it's quite hard to find used, and is no longer in print.
Four and a half stars, really.
Latest full review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
Carola turns out to be a good addition to the school, offering good ideas and immense courage at times. Since so many of the books are about girls who do not want to go to school, or who struggle with fitting in, this one offers a different perspective.
Each time I read this, I find that I remember some of the plot, but have entirely forgotten other sections. One of the more interesting and well-written books of the series in my view; I find the last chapter extremely moving.
Recommended to anyone who likes school stories from the middle of the twentieth century, although it's quite hard to find used, and is no longer in print.
Four and a half stars, really.
Latest full review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
February 10, 2020
Of the many Chalet School books I read as a kid, this was easily one of my favourites. I read it over and over again, delighting in this tale of a girl who ran away TO (not from) school. I know it well enough that I can spot the cuts and edits that were made to the unabridged novel (which I'm reading for the first time on this particular read)
Still had a lot of fun revisiting it - thoughtless, determined Carola Johnstone remains one of my favourite (more or less) one-and-done Chalet School girls. Her exploits in running away to the School and then proving how she deserves to be there (by literally SAVING LIVES yo) is the stuff of schoolgirl fantasy - the ultimate comfort food reading.
That said, I must admit that this particular installment in Elinor M. Brent-Dyer's long-running series hasn't aged as well as others have. Reading it again now, it's easier to spot the creakier aspects of the novel - the way characters constantly make references to past glories and stories, for instance. This is the kind of stuff that EBD fans mock (mostly kindly) about the drop in quality of the writing that happens in the later part of the series. I have to say I didn't recall it happening as early as this book!
4 stars ish now. 5 stars if I'd rated this as a kid.
Still had a lot of fun revisiting it - thoughtless, determined Carola Johnstone remains one of my favourite (more or less) one-and-done Chalet School girls. Her exploits in running away to the School and then proving how she deserves to be there (by literally SAVING LIVES yo) is the stuff of schoolgirl fantasy - the ultimate comfort food reading.
That said, I must admit that this particular installment in Elinor M. Brent-Dyer's long-running series hasn't aged as well as others have. Reading it again now, it's easier to spot the creakier aspects of the novel - the way characters constantly make references to past glories and stories, for instance. This is the kind of stuff that EBD fans mock (mostly kindly) about the drop in quality of the writing that happens in the later part of the series. I have to say I didn't recall it happening as early as this book!
4 stars ish now. 5 stars if I'd rated this as a kid.
January 20, 2024
3.5
Ok but Carola not especially memorable character and her arrival at the School and their acceptance of her strains credulity, although not unusual for Chalet School- although they did at least query whether the fees would be paid
More interesting is the first mention of the plan to relocate the school to the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland plus, at this stage EBD was planning on returning the English branch to Plas Howell which I would have thought a better choice
Poor Grizel!
I was always surprised that giving EBD’s emphasis of the ‘foundation stones’ of the school and its history in the Tirol that Grizel was overlooked during her years teaching at the school, especially when compared with Hilary Burn and Gillian Linton
Sad that Grizel ended this section of Grizel’s life and relationship with the school on a sad note with a display of Grizel’s temper
There is the feeling in these books that EBD is filling time until the move back to the Alps
Ok but Carola not especially memorable character and her arrival at the School and their acceptance of her strains credulity, although not unusual for Chalet School- although they did at least query whether the fees would be paid
More interesting is the first mention of the plan to relocate the school to the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland plus, at this stage EBD was planning on returning the English branch to Plas Howell which I would have thought a better choice
Poor Grizel!
I was always surprised that giving EBD’s emphasis of the ‘foundation stones’ of the school and its history in the Tirol that Grizel was overlooked during her years teaching at the school, especially when compared with Hilary Burn and Gillian Linton
Sad that Grizel ended this section of Grizel’s life and relationship with the school on a sad note with a display of Grizel’s temper
There is the feeling in these books that EBD is filling time until the move back to the Alps
January 22, 2026
A particularly good story, especially the first bit when Carola runs away and joins the school without being registered for it.
And, not one, but two ex-pupils become engaged to doctors. Are there any unmarried doctors left in the UK now, or ones that don’t know Jack Maynard, asks cynical me?
And, not one, but two ex-pupils become engaged to doctors. Are there any unmarried doctors left in the UK now, or ones that don’t know Jack Maynard, asks cynical me?
March 9, 2026
Good Adventurous Story of the Chalet School
Midrange of the Chalet series, Carola gate crashes the school. Turning up at the station and joining the returning girls as a new girl. Routine antics follow, nothing too outre. A good fill in while the school is on the island. Suitable for 8 year Olds upwards.
Midrange of the Chalet series, Carola gate crashes the school. Turning up at the station and joining the returning girls as a new girl. Routine antics follow, nothing too outre. A good fill in while the school is on the island. Suitable for 8 year Olds upwards.
October 1, 2022
Carola, as another reviewer said, is an absolute delight, which does make it a pity that this book has so many near-death calls. I would've loved to see Carola (and the rest of the Fifth) just being Carola. Well, it is what it is. 3.4 stars
February 26, 2020
This is me going back to a beloved childhood series.
I enjoyed this story and the antics of Carola, she is a fun character who you take to and hope that all works out for.
I enjoyed this story and the antics of Carola, she is a fun character who you take to and hope that all works out for.
March 1, 2020
A nice easy going book to read and enjoyed it
April 16, 2008
I don't really remember reading this before - I don't remember the character of Carola, particularly - but I do remember the Sale they have in this book, with the magnificent doll's house, and the competition at the Sale to win the doll's house. I wanted that doll's house, man.
Anyway, Carola "storms" the Chalet School by running away from her Evil Aunt and joining the girls on the train and pretending she was already enrolled (she'd bought herself a brown blouse and skirt to fit in). She's discovered pretty promptly, but because her aunt is Evil she is allowed to stay and plunges delightedly into school life, and is informally adopted by Jo (of course. Do you think Jo's numerous children get pissed off at the number of strays Jo insists on bring into their family life?).
Anyway, Carola "storms" the Chalet School by running away from her Evil Aunt and joining the girls on the train and pretending she was already enrolled (she'd bought herself a brown blouse and skirt to fit in). She's discovered pretty promptly, but because her aunt is Evil she is allowed to stay and plunges delightedly into school life, and is informally adopted by Jo (of course. Do you think Jo's numerous children get pissed off at the number of strays Jo insists on bring into their family life?).
January 3, 2014
I do like the St Briavels ones, despite the high EBDism rate. This one sees the return of Biddy O'Ryan (yay!), the departure of Grizel Cochrane (well - it's not entirely clear whether she actually leaves at the end of this book or the next one, but yay anyway), Hilary Burn winning a wet T-shirt competition (first prize - a doctor), a fabulous doll's house (probably my favourite of all the ones Tom makes), and more Clem than Mary-Lou (always a good thing). My copy is paperback, so probably has huge chunks edited out, but I still enjoyed it.
March 10, 2010
Carola is sick and tired of traveling around the world with her cousin, she wants to go to the Chalet School! With Carola, once she's got the idea in her head, nothing will stop her. She manages to buy most of the clothes she will need, and sneaks off whilst her cousin is busy boarding a boat for their next holiday. She makes her way to the Chalet School, and once there, tries to blend in as if she were a new girl.
November 6, 2011
Carola Storms The Chalet School is book 26 of a reread (I started at Exile don’t @ at me, then went back to School at the Chalet and continued forward from there), and is book 23 in the series, being one of the books set on St Briavel. First reread of the Chalet School books since I went to Pertisau.
I do love this book, it’s funny and is charming and Carola is a lovely heroine. Hilarious moments abound and naturally Carola proves herself to be a Real Chalet School Girl.
I do love this book, it’s funny and is charming and Carola is a lovely heroine. Hilarious moments abound and naturally Carola proves herself to be a Real Chalet School Girl.
June 22, 2012
I have to hand it to EMBD that I haven’t read many classic school stories where the heroine’s opinion of home-education is so low that she runs away TO school; yet by what appears on the surface to be a praiseworthy action, turns out to be littered with complications (a ready supply of pocket money being just one).
I do so love the quaintly humorous lesson on the importance of wearing ‘stout underclothes’ (p.150) Honestly, the mind boggles!
I do so love the quaintly humorous lesson on the importance of wearing ‘stout underclothes’ (p.150) Honestly, the mind boggles!
March 6, 2014
I think all Chalet school fans can sympathise with Carola's desire to run away to the Chalet School. Carola is a slightly unusual girl - heroic and selfless. I like this book a lot even though I don't like the island books as much.
September 1, 2009
Carola wants so badly to attend the Chalet School that she runs away from her guardian to attend. Better than average entry in the popular series.
October 25, 2009
Carola is brilliant fun! She runs away to GO to school because the Chalet School is just that awesome XD
May 11, 2015
Lovely tale, back in the old format with a new girl and a couple of disasters!
October 30, 2018
This is a review for 2020.
Finally got to read the unabridged version for first time ever!
Finally got to read the unabridged version for first time ever!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews