Elinor Brent-Dyer
Encyclopedia
Elinor M. Brent-Dyer was a children’s author who wrote over 100 books during her lifetime, the most famous being the Chalet School
series.
When Elinor was three years old, her father abandoned his family, which by then included his second son, Henzell. Eventually, Elinor's father moved in with another woman who had been a servant at his lodgings in 1901, bore him another namesake son, Morris, and in 1911 was living with him as Mrs Dyer.
Elinor was educated in her birthplace town of South Shields
. She claimed in later interviews to have attended Dame Allan's School but this can only have been briefly (though she may have taught there for a short time). After finishing her education, she attended Leeds
Training College and returned to teach in her hometown. It was around this time that she adopted the name Elinor Mary Brent-Dyer.
In 1922, Elinor published her first book — Gerry Goes to School, which went on to become the first of the La Rochelle
titles.
She was received into the Roman Catholic Church
in 1930.
In 1933, Elinor and her mother moved to Hereford
. For a while, Elinor was a commuting governess, but she eventually opened her own school in Hereford — the Margaret Roper School. This school was closed in 1948. Elinor then devoted all her time to writing.
In 1964, following the death of her mother several years earlier, Elinor moved to Redhill
. She died there in 1969, and her final book was published posthumously the same year.
Chalet School
The Chalet School is a series of approximately sixty school story novels by Elinor Brent-Dyer, initially published between 1925 and 1970. The school was initially located in Austria, moved to Guernsey in 1939, following the rise to power of the Nazi Party, then to "Plas Howell", a house on the...
series.
Short Biography
Elinor M. Brent-Dyer was born Gladys Eleanor May Dyer on 6 April 1894. She was the only daughter of Eleanor Watson Rutherford and Charles Morris Brent Dyer. Gladys had a half-brother, Charles Arnold Lloyd Dyer, who was a product of Charles Morris Brent Dyer's first marriage to Helen May Arnold. Several accounts have declared at this point that Charles Arnold "never lived with his father", but he is shown on the Census with Charles senior living in Fanshawe Street, Southampton in 1891 and in Brownhill Road, Lewisham in 1901.When Elinor was three years old, her father abandoned his family, which by then included his second son, Henzell. Eventually, Elinor's father moved in with another woman who had been a servant at his lodgings in 1901, bore him another namesake son, Morris, and in 1911 was living with him as Mrs Dyer.
Elinor was educated in her birthplace town of South Shields
South Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
. She claimed in later interviews to have attended Dame Allan's School but this can only have been briefly (though she may have taught there for a short time). After finishing her education, she attended Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
Training College and returned to teach in her hometown. It was around this time that she adopted the name Elinor Mary Brent-Dyer.
In 1922, Elinor published her first book — Gerry Goes to School, which went on to become the first of the La Rochelle
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
titles.
She was received into the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in 1930.
In 1933, Elinor and her mother moved to Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
. For a while, Elinor was a commuting governess, but she eventually opened her own school in Hereford — the Margaret Roper School. This school was closed in 1948. Elinor then devoted all her time to writing.
In 1964, following the death of her mother several years earlier, Elinor moved to Redhill
Redhill, Surrey
Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate form a single urban area.-History:...
. She died there in 1969, and her final book was published posthumously the same year.
Chalet School Series
(in reading order)- The School at the Chalet
- 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
- The New House at the Chalet School
- Jo Returns to the Chalet School
- The New Chalet School
- The Chalet School in Exile
- The Chalet School Goes to It
- Highland Twins at the Chalet School
- Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School
- Gay From China at the Chalet School
- Jo to the Rescue
- a Mystery at the Chalet School
- b Tom Tackles the Chalet School
- c The Chalet School and Rosalie
- 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
- 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
- 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
La Rochelle Titles
- Gerry Goes to School
- A Head Girl's Difficulties
- The Maids of La Rochelle
- Seven Scamps
- Heather Leaves School
- Janie of La Rochelle
- Janie Steps In
Title Connected to the Chalet Series
These books have characters who also appear in the Chalet series.- The Lost Staircase
- Monica Turns Up Trumps
The Chudleigh Hold Books
A loosely connected series of adventure books- Chudleigh Hold
- The Condor Crags Adventure
- Top Secret
- Fardingales
- The Susannah Adventure
Other titles
- A Thrilling Term at Janeways
- Caroline the Second
- The School by the River (1930)
- The New House-Mistress
- Judy the Guide
- The Feud in the Fifth Remove
- Carnation of the Upper Fourth
- They Both Liked Dogs
- The School by the River
- The Little Marie-Jose
- Elizabeth the Gallant
- The Little Missus
- Lorna at Wynyards
- Stepsisters for Lorna
- Kennelmaid Nan
- Nesta Steps Out
- Beechy of the Harbour School
- Leader in Spite of Herself
- The School at Skelton Hall
- Trouble at Skelton Hall
- Bess On Her Own In Canada
- A Quintette in Queensland
- Sharlie's Kenya Diary
- Verena Visits New Zealand
- Jean of Storms