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The Chalet School #34
Mary-Lou of the Chalet School
Mary-Lou Trelawney, returning late to school owing to the death of her grandmother, finds a very odd new girl in the common-room. Jessica Wayne seems to have a permanent black dog on her back. Joey Maynard, who knows the inside story for this, persuades Mary-Lou to take a hand with her and, by half-term, that canny young woman has managed to get to the bottom of the trouble and helped Jessica along the right path.
How Jessica pulls herself together, and how, thanks to the evil doings of Emerence Hope, Mary-Lou herself is nearly involved in tragedy, are all told in Mary-Lou of the Chalet School. However, all ends happily and the school goes home for the Christmas holidays, thankful to know that it still has its one and only Mary-Lou.
How Jessica pulls herself together, and how, thanks to the evil doings of Emerence Hope, Mary-Lou herself is nearly involved in tragedy, are all told in Mary-Lou of the Chalet School. However, all ends happily and the school goes home for the Christmas holidays, thankful to know that it still has its one and only Mary-Lou.
270 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
127 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 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 25, 2013
Dearest Mama,
I lifted up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my wealth, and I thought lo, it is Alpengluckwhateveritis tonight. The pink and dusky sky made me think of you and your habit of bringing God into *everything* so I thought I would write you and, well, tell you what's what.
It's been a bit of an exciting term, really. I don't think I like everything that's happened but it has happened in that way things do tend to do so here. Have you ever thought what would happen if things - didn't? It's as if we're at the control of some almighty force that simply propels us to be all a bit batty! (Oh mama, I know what you're thinking and I don't mean God, please do focus).
Mama, I know you like Mary-Lou but gosh she does go on. I'm glad she's okay and everything and I was a bit tremulous over it all but really, to be honest, the peace was lovely whilst she was gone. Jessica and I practically polka'd with relief. And I know that Emmy, even though she's a big daft thing, feels the same. It's as if, you know, you've got an extra parent! Oh Mama, you and Papa are alright lovely, but really I can barely cope with the two of you and I don't want a third.
My devil sends you lots of love.
Margot. (Who is NEVER going to send you this!)
I lifted up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my wealth, and I thought lo, it is Alpengluckwhateveritis tonight. The pink and dusky sky made me think of you and your habit of bringing God into *everything* so I thought I would write you and, well, tell you what's what.
It's been a bit of an exciting term, really. I don't think I like everything that's happened but it has happened in that way things do tend to do so here. Have you ever thought what would happen if things - didn't? It's as if we're at the control of some almighty force that simply propels us to be all a bit batty! (Oh mama, I know what you're thinking and I don't mean God, please do focus).
Mama, I know you like Mary-Lou but gosh she does go on. I'm glad she's okay and everything and I was a bit tremulous over it all but really, to be honest, the peace was lovely whilst she was gone. Jessica and I practically polka'd with relief. And I know that Emmy, even though she's a big daft thing, feels the same. It's as if, you know, you've got an extra parent! Oh Mama, you and Papa are
My devil sends you lots of love.
Margot. (Who is NEVER going to send you this!)
August 5, 2016
Really pleased I invested in the GGPB edition, because although it was mostly just bits of conversation missing in the pb, they all added up to quite a lot of Chaletishness. I quite like this book - possibly my affection stems from the excitement (which I can still remember) of getting it new as a 9 year old. But read in context, things really are starting to get formulaic ...
May 17, 2024
This is one of my favourite’s of the chalet school series . Elinor M Brent-Dyer wrote such fabulous characters like Joey and Mary-Lou that you can’t help but like them in the most infectious of manners .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2015
Love the slang:
“You’re the cat’s bathmat” [derogatory] (p.7)
and sayings:
“Pigs may whistle: but they’ve small mouths for it” (p.10) and
“Oh, my only perruque” [a man’s wig of the C17th/C18th] (p.59).
“You’re the cat’s bathmat” [derogatory] (p.7)
and sayings:
“Pigs may whistle: but they’ve small mouths for it” (p.10) and
“Oh, my only perruque” [a man’s wig of the C17th/C18th] (p.59).
August 21, 2015
Another classic CS book. Fascinating reading what a Swiss woman's role was in the 1940s: being able to cook, clean, sew, knit, buy thriftily for the household, not to fritter husband's money when they marry on silly trifles and needless expenses. !!?
January 11, 2025
This is 34th in the original lengthy series. It's set in Switzerland in the middle of the 20th century. Mary-Lou Trelawny is one of the strongest characters in the series, introduced in ‘Three Go to the Chalet School’. By the time this story opens she’s fifteen, and returning to school a week late as she’s just lost her beloved grandmother.
Mary-Lou meets a new girl called Jessica who seems to have a permanent black shadow hanging over her. She’s told everyone else to leave her alone, and they’ve done so. But Mary-Lou is determined to find out what’s wrong. She’s grown up quite a bit since her early, outspoken years, and has learned some tact, so she ponders for a while before trying to get to the root of the problem.
The writing isn’t the greatest; there are too many descriptions of food and irrelevant small talk, and a couple of dull educational chapters in the middle featuring the school on a field trip. But that doesn’t matter when the people seem so real. The climax to the book is extremely moving.
Recommended to all who enjoyed this series in their teens, and to anyone who likes 20th century school stories of this genre.
Latest longer review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
Mary-Lou meets a new girl called Jessica who seems to have a permanent black shadow hanging over her. She’s told everyone else to leave her alone, and they’ve done so. But Mary-Lou is determined to find out what’s wrong. She’s grown up quite a bit since her early, outspoken years, and has learned some tact, so she ponders for a while before trying to get to the root of the problem.
The writing isn’t the greatest; there are too many descriptions of food and irrelevant small talk, and a couple of dull educational chapters in the middle featuring the school on a field trip. But that doesn’t matter when the people seem so real. The climax to the book is extremely moving.
Recommended to all who enjoyed this series in their teens, and to anyone who likes 20th century school stories of this genre.
Latest longer review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
April 5, 2010
Mary-Lou's grandmother has just passed away, which resulted in Mary-Lou returning to the Chalet School one week after term began. When she returns, she discovers that there's a new girl in her form, Jessica Wayne.
Jessica seems to have a permanent black dog on her shoulder, and Joey Manyard asks Mary-Lou to help out with Jessica, and to try and be friendly with her. Jessica's situation at home is very similar to Mary-Lou, her mother married a man who already has a daughter. This daughter is ill, and Jessica's mother has been spending a lot of time with the daughter. This resulted in Jessica thinking that her mother doesn't love her anymore, causing her to act up at home / school.
Mary-Lou helps Jessica to cope with the situation, and Jessica becomes a girl that the Chalet School can be proud of.
Jessica seems to have a permanent black dog on her shoulder, and Joey Manyard asks Mary-Lou to help out with Jessica, and to try and be friendly with her. Jessica's situation at home is very similar to Mary-Lou, her mother married a man who already has a daughter. This daughter is ill, and Jessica's mother has been spending a lot of time with the daughter. This resulted in Jessica thinking that her mother doesn't love her anymore, causing her to act up at home / school.
Mary-Lou helps Jessica to cope with the situation, and Jessica becomes a girl that the Chalet School can be proud of.
May 20, 2009
Wherein we meet Jessica, who is one of those characters who has been sent away to boarding school so that her parents can spend all their time and energy on their other child - in this case, Jessica's new step-sister who is ill. Usually it's a new baby, but same sort of feelings. Is it any wonder girls like this end up jealous and resentful?!
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August 21, 2021Jessica had my total sympathies. I have often thought of writing a version with her tell Mary Lou where she got off and adding to her "sin" by telling Joey that she was not only an interfering so-and-so but "I think your books are lousy!"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2012
When the worl is difficult, spending time at the Chalet school makes everything easier.
July 4, 2021
This is where Mary-Lou becomes really obnoxious. And why was she Head of the Middles when no-one else ever is
September 2, 2024
When Mary-Lou Trelawney returns to school a week late, she immediately notices new girl Jessica Wayne, who appears troubled and unhappy. But how can she help her? After Joey Maynard tells her more about Jessica's background, Mary-Lou is even more determined to help, if only she can find a way to break through the wall Jessica has built around her. A clash with the school's music master starts the thawing process. Mary-Lou is front and center in other school activities, including winter sports, when a potentially tragic accident occurs.
August 8, 2019
Mary Lou is annoying, but admirable as well. This is the one where she gets stuck on the cupboard, and has a sledging accident - I remember reading this a very very long time ago - and am really glad to have rediscovered it not
February 16, 2022
If I were Jessica, I'd have pushed Mary-Lou off a cliff during that "ramble" part.
This book is very weirdly paced - why spend so much time on the prefects/Sybil planning their event and then not even describe the event itself?
I hope never to hear about "the Gang" again either.
This book is very weirdly paced - why spend so much time on the prefects/Sybil planning their event and then not even describe the event itself?
I hope never to hear about "the Gang" again either.
April 17, 2023
Really enjoyed being back in the Chalet School World. Mary Lou is one of my favourite characters and it was nice to re read this book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews