by Sheila Ray
Having read through what I have written for this chapter, I am not sure that I have answered the question I asked — “what is it, though, that has fuelled my obsession thus far?” — and I’m not sure that I can put this into words. The charm of Nina K. Brisley’s illustrations has to play a large part, but cannot alone be responsible. Perhaps it is the fun of finding out more, or the fun of buying or being given a book I don’t have. Probably, though, it is what links all of us who are Friends of the Chalet School — the friendships I have made in my researches. Whenever I ask for help, I receive replies to my queries. Sometimes I already know the answers and sometimes they set me leaping for joy and off on another tack. Whichever it is, it doesn’t matter. It is the spirit of friendship in which those letters were written which is important and which gives me the encouragement to go on with my research.
This chapter has been written at an interim stage and doubtless I shall get letters as a result. Some may point out mistakes, others will fill in further clues. I look forward to them all.
APPENDIX: BOOKS BY ELINOR M. BRENT-DYER
La Rochelle series
(published by W. & R. Chambers, Edinburgh)
1. Gerry Goes to School (1922)
2. A Head Girl’s Difficulties (1923)
3. The Maids of La Rochelle (1924)
4. Seven Scamps (1927)
5. Heather Leaves School (1929)
6. Janie of La Rochelle (1932)
7. Janie Steps In (1953)
Chalet School series
(published by W. & R. Chambers, Edinburgh)
1. The School at the Chalet (1925)
2. Jo of the Chalet School (1926)
3. The Princess of the Chalet School (1927)
4. The Head Girl of the Chalet School (1928)
5. The Rivals of the Chalet School (1929)
6. Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School (1930)
7. The Chalet School and Jo (1931)
8. The Chalet Girls in Camp (1932)
9. The Exploits of the Chalet Girls (1933
10. The Chalet School and the Lintons (1934)
11. The New House at the Chalet School (1935)
12. Jo Returns to the Chalet School (1936)
13. The New Chalet School (1938)
14. The Chalet School in Exile (1940)
15. The Chalet School Goes to It (1941)
16. The Highland Twins at the Chalet School (1942)
17. Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School (1943)
18. Gay From China at the Chalet School (1944)
19. Jo to the Rescue (1945)
The Chalet Book for Girls (1947)
The Second Chalet Book for Girls (1948)
The Third Chalet Book for Girls (1949)
31. Tom Tackles the Chalet School (1955)
(first published in The Second Chalet Book for Girls and The Third Chalet Book for Girls)
The Chalet School and Rosalie (1951)
20. Three Go to the Chalet School (1949)
21. The Chalet School and the Island (1950)
22. Peggy of the Chalet School (1950)
23. Carola Storms the Chalet School (1951)
24. The Wrong Chalet School (1952)
25. Shocks for the Chalet School (1952)
26. The Chalet School in the Oberland (1952)
The Chalet School Cook Book (1953)
27. Bride Leads the Chalet School (1953)
28. Changes for the Chalet School (1953)
29. Joey Goes to the Oberland (1954)
30. The Chalet School and Barbara (1954)
32. The Chalet School Does It Again (1955)
33. A Chalet Girl from Kenya (1955)
34. Mary-Lou of the Chalet School (1956)
35. A Genius at the Chalet School (1956)
36. A Problem for the Chalet School (1956)
37. The New Mistress at the Chalet School (1957)
38. Excitements at the Chalet School (1957)
39. The Coming of Age of the Chalet School (1958)
40. The Chalet School and Richenda (1958)
41. Trials for the Chalet School (1959)
42. Theodora and the Chalet School (1959)
43. Joey and Co. in Tirol (1960)
44. Ruey Richardson — Chaletian (1960)
45. A Leader in the Chalet School (1961)
46. The Chalet School Wins the Trick (1961)
47. A Future Chalet School Girl (1962)
48. The Feud in the Chalet School (1962)
49. The Chalet School Triplets (1963)
50. The Chalet School Reunion (1963)
51. Jane and the Chalet School (1964)
52. Redheads at the Chalet School (1964)
53. Adrienne and the Chalet School (1965)
54. Summer Term at the Chalet School (1965)
55. Challenge for the Chalet School (1966)
56. Two Sams at the Chalet School (1967)
57. Althea Joins the Chalet School (1969)
58. Prefects of the Chalet School (1970)
Janeways books
A Thrilling Term at Janeways (Thomas Nelson, 1927)
Caroline the Second (Girls’ Own Paper, 1937)
Lorna books
Lorna at Wynyards (Lutterworth Press, 1947)
Stepsisters for Lorna (C. & J. Temple, 1948)
Adventure books
Fardingales (Latimer House, 1950)
The “Susannah” Adventure (W. & R. Chambers, 1953)
Chudleigh Hold (W. & R. Chambers, 1954)
The Condor Crags Adventure (W. & R. Chambers, 1954)
Top Secret (W. & R. Chambers, 1955)
Schoolgirls Abroad
(A series of geography readers published by W. & R. Chambers, 1951)
1. Verena Visits New Zealand
2. Bess on her Own in Canada
3. A Quintette in Queensland
4. Sharlie’s Kenya Diary
Skelton Hall books
The School at Skelton Hall (Max Parrish, 1962)
Trouble at Skelton Hall (Max Parrish, 1963)
Others
Judy the Guide (Thomas Nelson, 1928)
The New House Mistress (Thomas Nelson, 1928)
The School by the River (Burns, Oates & Washbourne, 1930)
The Feud in the Fifth Remove (Girls’ Own Paper, 1931)
The Little Marie-José (Burns, Oates & Washbourne, 1932)
Carnation of the Upper Fourth (Girls’ Own Paper, 1934)
Elizabeth the Gallant (Thornton Butterworth, 1935)
Monica Turns Up Trumps (Girls’ Own Paper, 1936)
They Both Liked Dogs (Girls’ Own Paper, 1938)
The Little Missus (W. & R. Chambers, 1942)
The Lost Staircase (W. & R. Chambers, 1946)
Kennelmaid Nan (Lutterworth Press, 1954
Nesta Steps Out (Oliphants, 1954)
Beechy of the Harbour School (Oliphants, 1955)
Leader in Spite of Herself (Oliphants, 1956)
