The Chalet School
and Richenda

HB/PB comparisons      Publishing history  

Click to see a larger image of the dustwrapper. On the right is a paperback edition.

The Chalet School and Richenda - Hardback versus Paperback

I compared my rather tattered 1958 hardback with my 1986 edition paperback.  Obviously the paperback had fewer pages - 159 compared to 224 in the hardback.  There is also a missing chapter to account for - 'Monday's Trip' - part of the half-term adventure.  What struck me most whilst conducting this comparison was the amount of small detail which was cut for the paperback - as has been mentioned in other comparison articles.  Many times I thought, "That would have been interesting to know!"  (However a few times the thought was more that the cuts were made in the best interests of the story and the hardback overemphasised things most readers would already know - like how wonderful Mary-Lou is and how Margot was coddled as a child).  However, here are the main changes to the book.

Chapter I - A Khang-he Vase

This has quite a few of the small omissions, most of which make little difference to the story.  Interesting things to note are that the glaze on the Khang-he vase was a sang-de-boeuf glaze and that Richenda had previously broken a little blue crackle jar when her father had startled her in the Chinese Room.  There are a lot of cuts relating to what Nanny fed Richenda whilst she was awaiting her punishment - lettuce and bread and butter followed by 'tinned apricots and a large dollop of ice-cream' for lunch, eclairs and more apricots and ice-cream for tea and for supper a sardine sandwich.  Then Nanny notices she has made a poor supper!  There is also missing the news that Professor Fry found out about the Chalet School through Professor Dunne - father of Amy Dunne who left the previous term.

Chapter II - Richenda Takes the Plunge

The fact that the door of the Chinese Room had been kept locked since the fateful day Richenda had been caught with the Khang-he vase was omitted from the paperback.  Also missing is the fact that Nanny is distinctly hard of hearing and liked Miss Ferrars because she didn't mumble or shout at her. Richenda read the book 'The Adventure of the Amethyst' whilst on the train. We are told that Sue is not likely to write by airmail and that it would have done Richenda good to have a good shaking or a smart slap - understandably removed from the paperback.  The paperback readers are also spared the story of Mary-Lou's holiday on the Hebridean Island of Inchcarrow where Clem and Tony Barras had lived before Three Go to the Chalet School.  Mr. Carey had gone to see the specialist in Glasgow. Inchcarrow was a long sea trip from the Scottish mainland but it is a 'duck of an island' with white washed cottages with great bushes of fuchsias growing up to the roofs.  Mary-Lou also mentions that Clem's sketches have improved since she went to Art School.  The tactful Betty Landon also tells Prudence Dawbarn that she should pull her socks up now she is nearly sixteen.

Chapter III - New Experiences for Richenda

Surprisingly (!) Richenda gets to taste the 'luscious black cherry jam of Switzerland' at the Basle station restaurant.  During the discussion on what kind of food they eat at school Richenda pronounced sauerkraut as soakrort and we are told that the meaning of this is sour cabbage.  Miss Annersley's beauty is again emphasised as we are told that she had masses of brown hair coiled low on her neck in a big knot.  The secret behind Karen's roast veal is revealed to be garlic and her lemonade is described as very different to Nanny's, as Karen's was made with thinly sliced fresh lemon, powdered with sugar before being doused in boiling water whereas Nanny used crystals from a bottle.

Chapter IV - In Form Vb

Famously Len offers to teach Rosamund the basis of the violin - why do we never hear any more about this?  Len herself is taught by Herr Steinach who says teaching someone else helps you understand what you are doing and why.  Doesn't this sound a bit familiar to readers of Gay from China?  The only other interesting omission is the reminder Miss Annersley gives out that it is the turn of the Fifth Form for external exams this year.

Chapter V - Plans for Richenda

When Margot is left behind in Hall when Vb leave Len whispers "Buck up, Margot!  Remember what Auntie Hilda promised at half-term!" and Richenda, who feels she can hardly ask questions about the relations of the Maynards, overhears this.  When Miss Ferrars enters the room her gown is 'flying with the breeziness of her movement.'  It is mentioned that the number of foreigners is almost equal to the number of English girls - so why do we hear so little of them?  Maeve says she may have news later on in the term about Peggy and Bride and is very mysterious about this, although nothing seems to be revealed.  Miss Dene recommends that Richenda read magazines in French or German to improve her languages. Much to her surprise Richenda finds that she likes some people and ruminates that she is more irritated with the way he punished her rather than the punishment itself.  She decides that if she must write home she would send short notes.

Chapter VI - A Different Outlook

There is the revelation that Miss Coulson of St. Margaret's had been engaged for the past two years and had spent most time planning her new home, hence the problems for her students.  There is praise in this chapter for the teaching of Miss O'Ryan, now Madame Courvoisier, who this term is teaching the Hanoverian period.  Whilst the shortened form of Richenda's name is discussed in the letter to Sue it is mentioned that Professor Fry was very proud of her name as it was an old one in his family and that he would not have liked it to be shortened.  Richenda and friends had attended country dancing classes so she could join in here, and the more complicated dances performed by the advanced people were "Oranges and Lemons," "Parson's Farewell" and "Confess" as well as other unnamed dances.  After this Richenda decides this was not a punishment and her only complaint was that Sue was not there.  On Sunday, Miss Annersley entertained Matron, Miss Dene, Miss Wilson and Mrs. Graves ('another Old Girl who had married another doctor and lived up here') and when Richenda interrupted them there was talk of Cecil cutting teeth which meant that Richenda and the triplets were not to go to Freundesheim until half-past fifteen. Richenda also received an invitation to see Hilary's two girls.  In fact Hilary seems to go out of her way to make Richenda feel uncomfortable in this scene.

Chapter VII - Joey Puts Her Oar In

Joey says she's always on the lookout for unusual names.  It is reiterated that Cecil's eyes are black like Joey's.  Felix doesn't want to wait too long for the triplets to bring him the building bricks.  Margot says it seems ages since they saw Jack.  Joey later informs Hilda of Richenda's short and in return is told that Professor Fry heard about the school through Amy Dunne's father.  Hilda also mentions that Richenda's letters home are very short but that she sends bigger letters to Nanny and to Sue Mason, who will be coming to the school next term.  Richenda and Sue are not to know this until the Christmas holidays.  Rosalie interrupts this to see why Hilda isn't at Abendessen.  Joey makes a point of saying she knows Richenda is 15 because Richenda herself said so incidentally and predicts Richenda will grow up warped if her relationship with her father continues like this.  After the conversation ends the paperback readers are spared Hilda saying, "Bless the girl!  What a whirlwind she is!" and going on to wish Joey could get her hands on the Professor and help Odette's acute homesickness which would result in her being sent home if it continued.

Chapter VIII - Taking Odette in Hand

Richenda decides that the Chalet girls are quite as jolly as those of St. Margaret's and that the teaching was much better at the Chalet and there was no time to mess around. Richenda had learned French for the past six years and was coming on well in German.  However she found it hard to understand why they are outside so much of the time.  Len explains there are often violent rainstorms in November and December leaving a 'sea of mud' so they are outside as much as possible and that skiing and tobogganing usually have to wait until next term.  Len goes on to offer to practice German conversation, a prospect Richenda finds less than appealing.
Richenda finds Joan Baker an enigma, showing superficial cleverness, but breaking down when asked to delve deeper.  The other girls saw her tastes as crude and sometimes vulgar. Richenda regarded her with scorn due to her words and phrases.  "Rosamund was one with the rest of them in such matters."
With regard to Odette, Mary-Lou had tried to keep and eye on her but was too busy.  Len, however saw it and having made up her mind began to do something about it.
There is missing the description that sunset is immediately followed by night in the mountains, although it was sunny and warm at the moment.  However, Matron refused a request by Mary-Lou and Hilary Bennet to leave off their big coats.  They are also given a lecture on common sense, and how storms can arrive suddenly.  On their return to the prefects Hilda Jukes says, "I told you so!" and Hilary replies that she dislikes most the people who say things like that.
Va who are a musical form go to Interlaken for a concert at the Kursaal.  Vb liked the three mistresses assigned to them (Misses Moore, Ferrars and Wilmot) because they were 'young enough to sympathise with the girls over various things.'  This despite the fact that Richenda had made a mess of her relief map of New Zealand and had been told off by Miss Moore.  The tree Richenda sat on had been blown down in a gale last winter - not chopped down as that is against the law.  After getting up from this log Len and Richenda needed a brush down.  It is mentioned that Joey had spent a week with Winifred.  While praising Len for seeing the problems with Odette, Miss Wilmot says that Con is too dreamy to notice unless pushed and Margot is said to be 'quite unobservant.'  Prudence Dawbarn is quoted as calling Odette 'a wet.'

Chapter IX - Thunder in the Offing

Richenda attempts to talk to Odette, mainly using 'lingua franca'.  Len reminisces about when she and Con met Margot again in Canada.
It is said that the Swiss are as noted for their cleanliness as the Dutch.  There follows a description of the Swiss house where the milk is obtained.  There is a bedroom containing a very high bed, with pillowslips in a blue and white check, two featherbeds and a linen bedspread embroidered with intricate designs.  There are also pegs for clothes and a tiny mirror and crucifix.
When Richenda remarks that you'd be smothered under featherbeds Con turns on her and cites the fact that the Princes in the Tower must have been sleeping under featherbeds as they were smothered by them.  Len dismisses this idea saying that if Richard III had murdered the princes, Henry would have told everyone and she assumes Henry himself killed them as he managed to get eliminate all the rightful heirs to the throne.
Con is said to have inherited her mother's gifts although her best talent was poetry - some of which Joey treasured in a locked drawer, looking forward to when Con would produce much better works.  Con became so curious about the pastes and glazes Richenda mentions that it took her mind off her poetry.
Food is again mentioned.  There was too much per person, but all ate like they were half starved.  Fruit was stored during the season to be consumed during the winter months.
Joey has told the triplets they have to stand on their own two feet.
When Len comments on the stillness of the air, all that heard looked round.  Betty Landon does not like the idea of telling Miss Ferrars and being snubbed.  However the mistresses were as weatherwise as Len and also noticed.

Chapter X - Racing the Storm

The girls ran along the road as they had been taught on the sports field.  The authorities ensured the road was kept in good repair.  The speed with which storms can arise in the Alps is mentioned.  The French girls are said to not race around like schoolboys, the Swiss to do more climbing than running and the Germans not to encourage racing down roads.  Odette's stumble could have caused a strained ankle or a bumped head.  Miss Wimot was obeyed without question because she was not only the eldest but had also been at the school for longer.  (I doubt this was actually the case, since Miss Moore joined the school whilst it was in Wales!)  The barn was generally left unfastened except for a couple of heavy bars dropped across the doors.  The bars are then lifted by some of the girls.  Miss Wilmot knew things would be better if she could get the girls to shelter as they would be soaked when the rain came. Richenda says the atmosphere in the barn is 'fuggy'.  Jo is told not to scare the rest, whilst Odette misses the discussion on how long they will be in the barn as she was squirming to make herself comfortable.  Miss Moore says they'll have to hurry to get home.  Betty had thought the stream would be bigger than earlier.  Miss Ferrars is asked to hand over 'that shillellagh of yours.'  (According to the spell checker this should actually be shillelagh.)  Lightning can be seen on the opposite shore of Lake Thun and we are told that Dr. Maynard is known as Dr. Jack to the school.

Chapter XI - The Staff at Leisure

It is said that if Richenda is obstinate she got it from her father.  Paperback readers miss out on the information that Anna and Rosli are to have a fortnight's holiday - don't be too pleased though because then they have a week to give Freudesheim a thorough cleaning.  Bruno will stay with the Graves, as the Head refuses to have him, as he is not as well trained as Rufus and would distract the lower school.  We are reminded that health is the main priority in the school.  Miss Denny will be going on a half-term trip as 'Plato is off to Rome on some mysterious errand of his own.'  Rosalie Dene defends Primrose, saying she had been at the other Chalet School and that Teddy (Miss Edwards) had said Primrose was becoming trustworthy and responsible.  When Kathie tries to ask about the other school Miss Andrews complains, saying "I never knew such people for harking back to post events!"  She reveals her half-term plans are to visit an old French school friend who married a Frenchman and now lives in Belfort with their daughter named Charlotte Marie.  The staff are said to be very fond of 'their roundabout, rosy little Sharlie Andrews.'  Mlle de Lachennais and Julie Berné are to go mountain climbing near Zermatt.  Peggy Burnett says twins are very dull and Biddy should start her family with triplets to equal Joey.  Matey is said to like to have her plans 'cut and dried in good time.'

Chapter XII - The Professor Upsets Things

Joey had refused to tell the triplets about her illness until there was some definite news.  Miss Annersley says that as Joey had been at Montreaux when Winifred had appendicitis, the triplets could have been there in two or three hours, whereas in Britain it would take longer and flying would be expensive.  Len would like to press further but recognised 'Auntie Hilda' was now 'the Head.'  Len's eyes are described as being like English wood violets.  Richenda was a good netball shooter who practised all she could and had scored five times out of seven when Len arrived.  The Professor could not see that it was his own attitude that caused Richenda's letters to be so short.  As a result of his resentment he sent a really unkind letter.  Richenda was late in putting away her things because she had been delayed and is described as looking as if she had lost all her friends and relatives at once.  Again we are told health comes first and that if she doesn't watch out Richenda will find herself down in the twenties for the fortnight instead of four or five where she should be.  Richenda decides to enjoy the rest of the weekend before slogging for the three days of school that remained.  The chapter concludes saying that both the Professor and Richenda 'had a good deal to learn before they understood each other and reached the terms on which they should always have stood, and not all of the lesson was pleasant!'

Chapter XIII - Joey

Cut is the description of the exodus at half-term.  This includes the fact that Miss Annersley locked the 'great door' before handing the key to Len to give to Jack, then driving with Miss Dene to Basle to spend half-term with Frieda von Ahlen.  Miss Annersley also hands over a present to share amongst the four girls.  They later open the parcel to find a box of 'sweets of all kind.'  There follows a long conversation about 'Auntie Hilda' and the Maynard's other adopted aunts.  Missing is the news that Anna is offered one of the sweets and that for elevenses there would be Leckerli.  The triplets are always to have had separate rooms when they reached fourteen and this will occur next week.  The girls are forbidden to go on the lakes until next year if they do not have an adult with them.  Richenda had never heard of Meerschaum pipes as her father rarely smoked and then only cigars.  It is mentioned that Great Grannie painted a picture of Unterseen when she was a girl.  Surely this is supposed to be the picture painted by Mary-Lou's Gran mentioned in Barbara.  Jack knew that Joey would not have pointed out to the girls that holidays were not as restful for their parents.  Joey does not wish to eat tripe and Jack knows better than to give it to her.  Even Richenda could see that Jack and Joey were still lovers after fifteen years of marriage.  The reins might be in the cloakroom or might be in the play-room.  Twenty-five francs made a big difference to Richenda, who declares she must do something to show Joey how grateful she is, rather than just saying 'Thank you.'

Chapter XIV - Joey Has A Crack At It

Len and Con are sympathetic about Richenda's trepidation about driving down the mountain road.  The Jungfrau was veiled in mist on that day.  The perfume bought by Richenda for Joey was very expensive.  Richenda enjoyed taking her plate and fork to choose a cake.  Joey says that her royalties have gone up considerably that year, mentions that Steven won a scholarship last term and Jack says that Steven means to follow in the footsteps of David Russell.  Coal is not used in Switzerland as she has very little as a natural resource, but hydro-electric power is used instead.  Although Joey disapproved of the Professor's methods of punishment, she approved even less of Richenda's attitude.  Joey tells of her early resistance to marriage and her plans to remain a maiden aunt.  Richenda had convinced herself that she was completely correct in her stand against her father.

Chapter XV - Monday's Trip

The missing chapter is devoted in the main to descriptions of towns visited by the Maynards and is not actually that interesting.  Breakfast of bacon and eggs is taken at 7:15 and Richenda dresses Felicity whilst Len takes care of Felix.  Joey baths Cecil who is in a rage, as she is not allowed a swan in her bath.  The itinerary is a short tour of part of Valais, including Sion.  There follows a description of the journey by road.  Joey and Jack are 'stunned into silence' when Len announces her plans to join the Alpine Club when she is old enough.  The first stop is Aigle, a place famous for white wines and we are given a description of a Valais speciality dish - viande séchée - pork dried in warn air and sliced wager thin, served with pickled gherkins and sauté potatoes cooked in butter.  This is followed by an apricot flan, covered in whipped cream flavoured with Kirsch, a liqueur made from cherries.  Jack allowed the girls to have a small glass of a sweet dessert wine called Malcoisie.
They than travel through St. Maurice, which had been a Roman station (Agaunum).  St. Maurice was the leader of the Theban Legion who refused to burn incense to the Roman gods because he was a Christian and so was beheaded.  The town was later named after him.  All the Theban Legion refused to offer sacrifice when ordered by Maximianus Herculis, the general, and all died.  Their memorial is 'Christianity throughout Switzerland,' and the oldest Abbey in the Alps, founded in the fourth century.
They also visit Martigny, which is the best starting point for the Grand St. Bernard Pass as the Rhône valley sweeps round in a great bend.  The Pass was 'the obvious way into Helvetia' and was described by Caesar in De Helvetiis.  Martigny is actually three small towns and is at the centre of apricot country.  It has a covered bridge over the Rhône, a glacier river, but the bridge is not as good as those in Lucerne.  The Tour de la Batiaz was the remains of the palace of the bishops of Sion, dismantled in 1515.  On the Pass is the House of the St. Bernard Hospice where monks spend on average eighteen years, beginning when they are eighteen to twenty-two and ending when their health breaks down through cold and hunger.  Then they return to the parent house in the town, after proving they are strong and healthy.  There is a description of the day of a monk.  The orchards seen by the family are not very old as a method of irrigation had to be invented before the fruit could survive the summer.  Many men were killed setting up the series of bisses, which carry water down, from the top of the mountains.
Sion is the last town on the trip and Richenda notes that it seems to be built on two hills, one 'crowned by a castle and a great church, the other by the ruins of an old castle.'  When she points to them and asks their names, Joey says it is rude to point.  The church is the old cathedral - Notre Dame de Valéry and the castle is the Valeria, whilst the ruin is the old bishop's castle destroyed by a fire in 1788.  The girls went shopping and meat Jack at Au Vieux Valais for cakes and rolls.  Joey bought woodcarvings, gave the girls lace trimmed handkerchiefs and Jack a bottle of apricot liqueur which he was not very impressed with.  The four girls had small dolls for Felicity and Cecil, toy cart and horse for Felix, a box of sweets for Joey, cigarettes for Jack (Len remembers his preferred brand) plus a match stand with a figure of St. Maurice, chosen by Richenda who also bought Joey a statuette of the saint.  Richenda received a book on the region, containing colour photographs, from the triplets.
On the journey home they stopped for coffee and rolls in Aigles.  On reaching home they were sent to bed, although Jack then appeared and gave them each a rhinestone brooch.

Chapter XVI - A Terrible Accident

Joey hopes that the four girls will not suffer from upset stomachs when they return to school, as Matey would complain about that.  Whilst the triplets are told that Joey and Jack will be in England for their birthday, Richenda is sent to play with the babies.  Len is told to take the doleful look off her face, and then asks Joey to come and say goodbye and enquires about what will happen to the babies.  Joey says they will go to Madge's, while Anna will clean the house.  In Joey's letter she comments that the triplets seem to have had a good birthday, with hide-and-seek all over the house (for their fourteenth birthday!) and that Con's present was a small portable typewriter, which would stay at home if her report was not good enough.  Con says she had better not write during term time and that Len and Margot should tell her if they think she is dreaming too much.  After her operation Joey had sipped some milk and gone to sleep.
Matey books the dentist for Saturday and we are told that apart from the fifteen who visit the dentist, everyone else had passed the examination.  Junior speculates that the all the girls would cry and the mistresses had provided lots of extra hankies for that purpose.  The girls quietly carried on reading and ignored Junior totally.  Matron decided Junior was 'a badly spoilt young monkey who would have an unpleasant time of it when he went to school unless he had learnt better by that time.'  Mrs. Van Allen also exclaimed when Junior pulled Rosamund's hair.  The patient in the surgery was very nervous and had delayed Herr von Francius from asking about the noise.  The patient was forgotten about whilst Richenda was taken to the eye clinic.  Mrs. Van Allen is described as 'a pretty, fluffy little woman with few brains and less sense.'  Miss Ferrars dragged Junior round with her as she settled the girls, and comments that if Poppa 'does his duty, he won't SAY - he'll ACT!'  Junior had no chance of disobeying Matron.  Miss Wilmot tells Matron that she gave the squirt to Mary-Lou.

Chapter XVII - Professor Fry

The Professor muses that 'It's hard on a man when he's left with a girl on his hands.'  The Professor rings up B.E.A., rather than the airport.  Iris is ordered to draw the fires and pack the silver into the silver-chest.  Nanny writes a note to the police to warn them to keep watch on the house, and then goes to pack for herself and the Professor.  The Professor wonders what is wife would have said if she knew about him sending Richenda away to school and an accident happening so far away.  Professor Fry took his case to the car and clambered in after Nanny.  Mrs. Mason shut the car door and shared a smile with her husband before they drove off.  Professor Fry tells himself that even Nanny must feel better on the journey because she had nothing to blame herself for.  Miss Ferrars is described as short and quiet, and we are told she was quiet for the last few minutes of the journey to the hospital.  The nurse tells Professor Fry that he may kiss Richenda very gently out of pity, not knowing of their strained relationship.  Miss Annersley asks the Night Sister about Richenda's condition and is told the pulse is stronger and that she is sleeping more easily - partly as a result of the drug she has been given.  Herr Fincke may be able to make a thorough examination in the morning.  Miss Annersley tells Sister she will take the Professor and Nanny to the hotel and then telephone the school.  Nanny could not understand German, but the Professor spoke the language badly, with a strong British accent, and could understand the Head's words.  He offers to pay anything if they can save Richenda's sight, and the Sister escorts the party to the street door, followed by Miss Dene and Miss Ferrars.  Herr Fincke assures everyone that he hopes the blindness is not permanent.  The Professor asks Richenda if she thought he would stay away from her when he heard about the accident, and she replies saying she didn't know what he would do.  Richenda found the examination trying, as her left eye was still painful.  Professor Fry found Herr Fincke's handshake very vigorous, whilst Herr Fincke found Professor Fry to be phlegmatic and preferred Nanny's more emotional reaction to good news.  Miss Annersley says work has been piling up for her at school and when she returns finds piles of letters on her desk.  We are given news of the Van Allen family.  Mr. Van Allen had a conversation with Professor Fry who 'made no attempt to mince matters', whilst Mr. Van Allen said he had given Junior 'the father and mother of a hiding' and the Professor said this should have happened sooner.  The Professor refused to allow the Van Allens to pay the expenses incurred.  In the future Junior found he had to obey orders and Mrs. Van Allen found him much easier to handle.

Chapter XVIII - All's Well

It is noted that Len's legs look unusually long.  Richenda's glasses are described as 'bright blue rims' with 'an elfish upward tilt at the corners.'  Len says they give Richenda an intellectual look, an idea Richenda scoffs at.  Jack Maynard and Professor Fry elected to sit away from the twins.  The Christmas peal began softly, swelling to a 'triumphant crashing'.  Nina Rutherford, who had left at the end of the previous term and was now studying music at 'a world-famous conservatoire', had written the overture.  She had the musical genius and the overture showed glimpses of what she might produce in the future.  No one had expected Doris Hill to be so funny, whilst Lois Graves would have been applauded had this not been a nativity play.  The skates swung by the boys in the Tudor scene were made of sheep's marrow-bones.  There is a large section of the play which has been cut following the interval including a scene set in Victorian times about a couple who had lost their only child who adopt two young orphans who arrived on the doorstep on Christmas Day.  Their departed daughter then appears as one of a group of angels and says she is happy for the children.  The daughter is played by Valerie Ford, who had found it hard to memorise her lines, leaving the prefects, who had coached her, holding their breath whilst she was on the stage.  Joey tells Richenda how Madge had written the play, with the emphasis on compassion.  Richenda, her father and Nanny are to return to the Ticino for Christmas as the climate there was doing her so much good.

Overall the story remains unchanged, but there are a great number of details that are missed in the paperback and so the hardback remains the copy to aim for.

Anne Brown
 

Publishing history