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A Fortunate Term
A classic novel for younger ladies, from about age 12 to 15 or more. School girls decide to go on an adventure involving intrigue and suspense.
- GenresSchool Stories
287 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1921
2 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Angela Brazil
236 books36 followersLibrarian 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 14, 2019
A classic period piece in every way. Simply topping.
Virtue rewarded, vice punished, that horrid Opal girl put in her place (she simply has no sense of honour!) and the wonderful and manly Bevis miraculously given his just reward.
Virtue rewarded, vice punished, that horrid Opal girl put in her place (she simply has no sense of honour!) and the wonderful and manly Bevis miraculously given his just reward.
December 9, 2012
I loved reading about Mavis and Merle, as well as Bevis' final happy ending. I guessed early on the plot twist, but it was still fun to read it through to the end. I loved the whole opal plot lines too, and the eventual outcome there. I still have some more of Angela Brazil's books to read, so I'll bet I'll enjoy those too!
January 16, 2015
Enjoyable story about two English schoolgirls. I had previously read the sequel, so had some idea of what was going to happen. And for some reason, the American edition of the sequel changed the girls' names from Mavis and Merle to Mary and Marjorie!
July 26, 2016
Jolly good fun.
September 6, 2022
Short summary because I don’t feel like typing!😂
Great book!
Didn’t like the bit of evolution in one chapter.
Also had some ghost stories that were not my favorite. (I typically don’t like ghost stories. I find them weird and pointless)
It was fun to read an old British book! I loved seeing the differences in American vs British slang!😂
Will read more by this author! I loved the characters!
Predictable, but I didn’t mind!
Great book!
Didn’t like the bit of evolution in one chapter.
Also had some ghost stories that were not my favorite. (I typically don’t like ghost stories. I find them weird and pointless)
It was fun to read an old British book! I loved seeing the differences in American vs British slang!😂
Will read more by this author! I loved the characters!
Predictable, but I didn’t mind!
March 1, 2021
Angela Brazil (pronounced Brazzle), according to Wikipedia was one of the first authors to write books for school girls from their point of view. I have found that besides Victorian novels, I also enjoy British novels written in the first half of the twentieth century as well.
July 9, 2023
Predictable but fun.
November 13, 2015
A cute, enjoyable, if not predictable book. A good read between my more...challenging reads.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews