The Chalet School series was a series of books written by Elinor Brent-Dyer set at a boarding school initially located in Austria. In 1939 the school moved to Guernsey, following the rise in power of the Nazis, and from there it moved to the Howells village on the English/Welsh border, and later to a fictional island of St. Briavels off the South West coast of Wales. By the end of the series the Chalet School is located in Switzerland. The first book in the series, The School at the Chalet, was published in 1925. Key characters include Madge Bettany (the founder of the school), Joey Bettany (Madge's sister), Jem Russell (doctor of a nearby Sanatorium for TB patients and later Madge's husband), and Jack Maynard (doctor of the San, protégé of Jem Russell and later Joey's husband). As younger characters like Joey grow up and have their own children a second generation of 'Chaletians' appears: many of the final books in the series are centred on Joey's triplet daughters, Len, Con and Margot. Elinor Brent-Dyer is widely regarded as one of the most famous writers of school stories for girls. There are a number of websites and societies of fans who still enjoy and collect her books.
Contents |
Original hardbacks
The books are (hardback titles):
- The School at the Chalet (1925)
- Jo of the Chalet School
- The Princess of the Chalet School
- The Head-Girl of the Chalet School
- The Rivals of the Chalet School
- Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School
- The Chalet School and Jo
- The Chalet Girls in Camp
- The Exploits of the Chalet Girls
- The Chalet School and the Lintons (1)
- The New House at the Chalet School
- Jo Returns to the Chalet School
- The New Chalet School (2)
- The Chalet School in Exile
- The Chalet School Goes to it (3)
- Highland Twins at the Chalet School
- Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School (4)
- Gay From China at the Chalet School (5)
- Jo to the Rescue
- The Mystery at the Chalet School (6)
- Tom Tackles the Chalet School (6)
- The Chalet School and Rosalie (6)
- Three Go to the Chalet School
- The Chalet School and the Island
- Peggy Of The Chalet School
- Carola Storms the Chalet School
- The Wrong Chalet School
- Shocks for the Chalet School
- The Chalet School in the Oberland
- Bride Leads the Chalet School
- Changes for the Chalet School
- Joey Goes to the Oberland
- The Chalet School and Barbara
- The Chalet School Does it Again
- A Chalet Girl from Kenya
- Mary-Lou of the Chalet School
- A Genius at the Chalet School (7)
- A Problem for the Chalet School
- The New Mistress at the Chalet School
- Excitements at the Chalet School
- The Coming of Age of the Chalet School
- The Chalet School and Richenda
- Trials for the Chalet School
- Theodora and the Chalet School
- Joey and Co. in Tirol
- Ruey Richardson - Chaletian (8)
- A Leader in the Chalet School
- The Chalet School Wins the Trick
- A Future Chalet School Girl
- The Feud in the Chalet School
- The Chalet School Triplets
- The Chalet School Reunion
- Jane and the Chalet School
- Redheads at the Chalet School
- Adrienne and the Chalet School
- Summer Term at the Chalet School
- Challenge for the Chalet School
- Two Sams at the Chalet School
- Althea Joins the Chalet School
- Prefects of the Chalet School (1970)
Differences in paperback
The number and names of the books vary depending on whether they are in hardcover, or in (often heavily abridged) paperback editions. The differences are as follows:
- Split into "The Chalet School and the Lintons" and "A Rebel at the Chalet School" in paperback
- Split into "The New Chalet School" and "A United Chalet School" in paperback
- Titled "The Chalet School at War" in paperback
- Titled "Lavender Leigh at the Chalet School" in paperback
- Titled "Gay Lambert at the Chalet School" in paperback
- These three books were written out of publication sequence. "The Chalet School Mystery" and "The Chalet School and Rosalie" have only appeared in paperback form.
- Split into "A Genius at the Chalet School" and "The Chalet School Fete" in paperback
- Titled "Ruey Richardson at the Chalet School" in paperback
Related books
There are also several related books by Brent-Dyer, and more recent compilations:
- The Chalet Book for Girls (1947)
- The Second Chalet Book for Girls (1948)
- The Third Chalet Book for Girls (1949)
- The Chalet Girls Cookbook (1953)
- The Chalet Club News Letter Book (2004)
- Elinor M Brent Dyer's Short Stories (2005)
Books by other authors
Several authors have written books about the Chalet School, some of them follow on from the last book of the series, and others attempt to fill in some of the "gaps" in the earlier years of the school.
Fill in novels
This list indicates the book which immediately precedes the new story.
- Juliet of the Chalet School - Caroline German (2006) - Jo of the Chalet School
- Visitors to the Chalet School - Helen McClelland (2004) - The Princess of the Chalet School
- Two Chalet School Girls in India - Priyadarshini Narendra (2006) - The New Chalet School (and A United Chalet School)
- Gillian of the Chalet School - Carol Allan (2001) - Two Chalet School Girls in India
- Joey and Patricia: A Reunion in Guernsey - Helen McClelland (2000) - The Chalet School in Exile
- The Chalet School and Robin - Caroline German (2003) - The Chalet School Goes to It
- A Chalet School Headmistress - Helen Barber (2004) - Gay From China at the Chalet School
- Hilda Annersley: Headmistress - Lesley Green (2005) - Gay From China at the Chalet School
- Peace Comes to the Chalet School - Katherine Bruce (2005) - The Chalet School and Rosalie
Sequels
The first book follows some of the Chalet School characters, though it is not set in the School itself. It is not recommended for younger readers.
- Chalet Girls Grow Up - Merryn Williams (1998)
These two books follow on immediately after Prefects of the Chalet School
- New Beginnings at the Chalet School - Heather Paisley (1999)
- The Chalet School Librarian - Pat Willimott (2005)
The Chalet School On The Internet
- Over the past few years the internet has contributed to a resurgance of interest in Brent-Dyer and the Chalet School, well actually the interest never went away, but now fans have been able to discover like-minded people and enjoy the books in a new way.
- It began with Friends Of The Chalet School who issue a quarterly magazine to members, and their venture grew to encompass publishing and the creation of Girls Gone By Publishers so now people can buy the book with the original text and illustrations, as Hardbacks can often reach hundreds of pounds!
- On the internet, as with the trend, fansites have appeared. This includes the Chaletian Bulletin Board which has a mixture of discussion threads and drabbles aka fanfiction. There is also a Chalet School Delphi Forum for discussion and the Sally Denny Library for more fanfiction.
