A Fourth Form Friendship

by Angela Brazil, Frank E. Wiles (Illustrator)

Angela Brazil (pronounced "brazzle") (30 November 1868 ? 13 March 1947) was one of the first British writers of "modern schoolgirls' stories", written from the characters' point of view and intended primarily as entertainment rather than moral instruction. In the first half of the twentieth century she published nearly 50 books of girls' fiction, the vast majority being boarding school stories. She also published numerous short stories in magazines. Her books were commercially successful, were widely read by tween girls, and influential upon their readers. While interest in girls school stories waned after World War II, her books remained popular until the 1960s. They were seen as disruptive and a negative influence on moral standards by some figures in authority during the height of their popularity, and in some cases were banned by headmistresses in British girls' schools. While her stories have been much imitated in more recent decades, and many of her motifs and plot elements have since become clichs or the subject of parody, they were innovative when they first appeared. Brazil made a major contribution to changing the nature of fiction for girls. She presented a young female point of view which was active, aware of current issues and independently minded; she recognised adolescence as a time of transition, and accepted girls as having common interests and concerns which could be shared and acted upon.

Genres: School Stories, British Literature, Boarding School, Childrens, School, Classics

255 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Born in Preston, Lancashire in 1868, Angela Brazil (pronounced "brazzle") was the youngest child of cotton mill manager Clarence Brazil, and his wife, Angelica McKinnel. She was educated at the Turrets - a small private school in Wallasey - and then, when the Brazils were living in Manchester, at the preparatory department of the Manchester High School, and (as a boarder) at Ellerslie, an exclusive girls’ school near Victoria Park. She subsequently attended Heatherley's Art School, in London, with her sister Amy, and sketching remained a life-long interest.

With the death of Clarence Brazil in 1899, the family left the North-West of England for Llanbedr, Wales, where they took up residence in their former summer house. It is believed that, at some point during this period (1899-1911), Brazil worked as a governess, although she does not mention it in her autobiography, My Own Schooldays (1925). In 1911, she moved to Coventry, where she kept house for her doctor brother, living in that city until her death, in 1947.

Brazil's first children's novel, A Terrible Tomboy, was published in 1904, and is believed to have been autobiographical, featuring the adventures of a young Angela (Peggy), and her friend Leila Langdale (Lilian). It was only with the 1907 publication of her second novel, The Fortunes of Philippa, that she turned to the genre in which she would become so influential: the Girls' School Story.

Brazil is often described by readers as "the first author of modern girls' school stories," and her publisher Blackie once claimed, in a bit of promotional hyperbole, that she had originated the genre! While not actually true - the genre predates her by some time, and other authors of modern girls school stories, such as May Baldwin, were publishing before she was - Brazil was certainly immensely influential, in the genre's move away from a didactic, moralistic model, towards one aimed more at entertainment. Her books are told from the perspective of her girl characters themselves, and were immensely popular with young readers, both in her own lifetime, and afterward. All told, she published close to sixty children's novels, most of them girls' school stories.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Kavita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aldred Laurence is a 'misunderstood' teenager who is finally sent off to school at the recommendation of her governess. Once at school, she befriends the resident aristocrat, Mabel Farrington, who mistakenly believes that Aldred is a heroine who saved a young girl from a burning house while on holiday. At first, Aldred has no idea why Mabel is so nice to her but when she learns the reason, she chooses to remain silent. Eventually, their friendship deepens and the truth comes out.

I have usually enjoyed Brazil's books and I enjoyed this one as well. But both the main characters, Aldred and Mabel, were extremely annoying. Aldred was a diva who lied her way through everything and never faced up to the consequences of her actions. Mabel was a goody-two-shoes, who is too irritating and falsely thrusts saintliness on Aldred. I felt that the plot was unnecessarily extended and the friendship developed for far too long on a false basis. They both were not the people the other thought. The end was cheesy, predictable, and boring.

That said, I enjoyed the descriptions of school life. Some of the teachers were interesting characters, the girls had great fun enacting pageants, skating, taking field trips, etc. So many schoolgirl adventures, which is why I love reading school stories. Admittedly, there was a lot thrust into a mere 250 pages but it kept focus away from the Aldred and Mabel, meandering towards other stuff, which saved the book for me.

A solid 3 stars, and I may even read this again! :)

[Romana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect school story. Aldred is terrible and you read just desperate to see what awful thing she will do and not own up to next. I can't wait to find out how Mabel discovers what she's been up to, and how the denouement in which they are bound to become best friends again will work out...

[Mbuye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Schoolgirl friendship founded on deceit on one side and idealisation on the other. Young Aldred is a vain, deceitful girl, at the same time gifted with intelligence and a streak of the genuine artist in her composition. Finding that a highly admired and popular student believed her to be the heroine of a rescue, she does not disabuse her, but allows her friend Mabel to continue in her mistaken hero-worship.

After a series of school and holiday adventures, none of which are particularly admirable, and indeed, some are downright dangerous, Aldred finally confesses to her initial deception and the others built upon it. Friendship is resumed, after Aldred proves herself to be a heroine of no mean order herself.

[Verity W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favourite sort of school story at all. The heroine is a raging pita who deserves everything she gets - and some she doesn’t get. My first Angela Brazil and I wasn’t that impressed with it sadly.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was kind of fun that the main character is such a jerk!
Warning for the n word.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aldred Laurence is very happy to be going to boarding school. But once she arrives, it's not all smooth sailing. For one, she's placed in a dormitory with 5th formers, while she's in the fourth. The fourth form only includes seven other girls. Six of them share a dormy and also have formed a sort of a clique. The seventh, Mabel, has a room of her own, as her mother is a friend (and mentor) of the headmistress. But Mabel takes a liking to Aldred, and invites her to share her room. Only, when Aldred discovers why, she is in a quandary as Mabel has a mistakenly good opinion of her. Can Aldred confess the truth if it will end their friendship?

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

To begin with, Aldred is a dreadful character. She is so incredibly unappealing, and you have wonder where her brother found his goodness I'll never know. she makes you cringe to read about, she really does. However, early on we learn her secret, and the reader is bound to carry on until all is revealed at the end. I did enjoy the story, despite Aldred, so a four star book this is.

[Mhairi Gowans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aldred was an interesting character - cowardly, selfishness and conceit, yet she was also talented, earnest and not really mean at all. It was a well constructed plot that focused on two very well depicted characters, in an interesting and pleasant school setting. This is a very good example of a school story.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

read it as a child, do not remember it