Theodora and the
Chalet School

HB/PB comparisons      Publishing history  

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

Theodora and the Chalet School - Hardback versus Paperback

(The paperback used is the Parragon Trials/Theodora double volume, first published 1992).

This was, under the original system of numbering, the 42nd book in the series, but is now No. 46 - first published 1959.  It deals with a summer term which logic dictates we must imagine took place in 1954 - the Chalet School's 67th term.

Chapter I - Expelled Three Times!

This chapter tells how, just before term begins, Rosalie Dene reads the letter from Mrs Grantley, requesting the school to admit Theodora, to Joey.  Joey's reaction is disgust at Mrs Grantley's hostile attitude to Theodora, coupled with the conviction that the Chalet School might be just the thing Theodora needs!

The pb omits the first page and a half - a somewhat frivolous conversation where Rosalie ejaculates "Well!  Call me Aunt Fanny on my tombstone!"  Joey says she is unlikely to do this as (a) Joey is unlikely to be asked to write an epitaph for Rosalie, (b) Fanny is evidently not one of Rosalie's names, (c) Joey has no interest in tombstones less than 150 years old (oh no?).  Result - Rosalie throws a cushion at Joey.  But finally "Rosalie sat down and picked up her letter" and here the pb begins "This really is one of the most extraordinary epistles I've ever been fated to read!"

The rest of the cuts consist mainly of the trimming-down of the somewhat florid conversation between Joey and Rosalie regarding Theodora and what should be done with her, including shortening her name to "Ted" unless she should prefer "Theo" - however several interesting bits are cut, including the fact that the School has had "one or two promising young criminals in our time" - naming Emerence Hope, Betty Wynne-Davies, Joan Baker, and an allusion to Thekla von Stift, whose name Rosalie has forgotten (although I don't think Rosalie ever met Thekla, thinking about it).  Also we are told that Joan Baker will be joining the new secretarial classes the School is starting in September, while Rosamund Lilley has gone off the idea of becoming an air hostess, and may well be planning to go to a horticultural college instead.  Rosalie also observes that Mrs Grantley seems almost totally self-piteous in her attitude to Theodora's problems, while Joey is short of domestic help as "The Coadjutor" has gone to the dentist.

Blooper - but blame Joey, not EBD, for this one.  The adult Joey may well have no interest in tombstones less than 150 years old, but has she quite forgotten her younger days, when the highlight for her of a visit to Paris was Napoleon's oversize* tomb, then definitely less than 150?

*The adjective used by myself on postcards from Paris in 1972.

Chapter II - Theodora

Term begins and the girls arrive.  Joey tells Len to find Theodora and bring her to be introduced.  Len does so - Theodora (or Ted) is naturally bewildered by Joey and exactly what Joey's position is in the School, but leaves her feeling somewhat happier.

Cuts include the fact that Miss Annersley's private suite was known as "Head's House" and also housed Rosalie Dene and Mdlle. de Lachenais.  Minor cuts such as a French window is now "open" instead of "wide-open".  Larger cuts such as Joey looking wistfully at her triplets and thinking they are growing up fast!  She consoles herself with "three babies at home and hopes for July".  When Ted appears she has only "a thick bunch of black hair" rather than "black rat-tails, straight and lank as an Indian's".  The description of Naomi Elton's progress is abridged.  Also cut is Joey's remark to Theodora - before she says "Mayn't we make it "Ted", she elaborates "No one on this earth ought to have to answer to four syllables every day of her life."

Oh no?  Now why does Joey insist on giving her own daughter Felicity every one of her four syllables?  The rest of the cuts amount to pretty inessential conversation.

Chapter III - Explaining Theodora

This chapter is entirely set in the Staff-room, a week after term has begun, when Joey invites herself one evening to read out the immensely long letter from the former Miss Carthew (now a widow with four children - her married name, Walton, is dropped from the pb) concerning Theodora.

Cut is much social chit-chat including Joey's news of her children - Felix has been overeating himself and Cecil was cutting two back teeth at once.  Kathie Ferrars is planning to spend the next day (a Sunday) with Biddy Courvoisier.  Joey's remark that "Carty's written me a full-blown novelette" is also cut.  She's not wrong - it's over four pages whichever edition you read.

Cut also from the pb is any reference to Carty's children beyond "a lusty family of four" in fact their names are Margaret, Susan, Peter and Cyril.  Also the news that Theodora's parents had been forced to move to a smaller house shortly before the birth of their daughter.  The Head of Theodora's first school is no longer described as a "niminy-piminy creature", while the name of her second school - the Downs School - is also dropped, as is news of Theodora's three brothers.  Gerald is married and now farming in Canada, and the twins are both engaged.  "Besides, they aren't over fond of their sister ...".  Also lost is the name of the chief trustee of Mr Grantley's estate - Mr Orange, "pronounce French fashion, please - he's a Jersey man by birth!"  (Wonder if he's related to the La Rochelle dynasty?) and also Carty's remark to Joey that "you used to be able to understand people in the old days with amazing insight, considering you were a mere teenager.  I don't suppose you've lost the gift.  Knowing you, I expect it's grown on you ..."  Cut from the end of the chapter is Joey's elaboration of the penalty she offers to inflict upon any girl sent to her for the crime of smoking - but we still don't learn exactly what this is!

Chapter IV - Ted Settles In

A description of the second Sunday of term - chapel is followed by a ramble to Mahlhausen - partly by the mountain railway.  Ted finds it all quite thrilling, but is slightly
nervous of the railway system!

There are considerable cuts to the Staff's discussion of Ted and other pupils, reduced to the information that Ted begins in Inter V.  We also lose the information that Ted is a good tennis player, also no longer being told that Mary-Lou formerly lived in Switzerland (while her mother was in the San).  The description of the mountain railway is also most savagely cut, as are a few reminiscences of previous trips!  Also a few small updatings - "Kodak" becomes "camera" and "rücksac" becomes "rucksack".

Chapter V - A First Climb

The party arrives at the Rösleinalp where they leave the train to walk to Mahlhausen.  Ted enjoys it, encouraged mainly by Mary-Lou, but finds it somewhat exhausting - climbing is totally new to her.

Cuts to this chapter rather less savage.  One is a warning that "anyone who tries to climb the rocks and comes crashing down with an arm or a leg broken need not ask for sympathy".  Also cut is Pen Grant's warning to Ted that they sometimes have "potent storms" resulting in "seas of mud".  Mary-Lou is no longer described as Ted' "Mentor" while Len no longer congratulates Ted on being immediately able to identify a glacier!  We lose a physical description of Mary-Lou - "a handsome creature with clear blue eyes set in a face whose oval was as ripely tinted as a peach ... golden-brown curls ... her mouth was wide, but ... beautifully cut with sensitive lips".  Ted no longer longs for "a nice, deep bath - a cold one, for preference!"  Mary-Lou no longer asks if they may buy coffee from the Gasthaus - she is advised that "their coffee is mainly chicory and I doubt if you'd enjoy it".

Chapter VI - An Unexpected Event

Still at Mahlhausen.  Ted goes exploring with Len and Rosamund.  They discuss their respective families, the forthcoming school sports, Ted's abilities, weaknesses and chances of promotion to Vb - when they come across "a small girl of eight or nine sobbing bitterly".  While they attempt to comfort her, Dr Graves arrives from the San with the news that the girl's mother has smallpox, the child is probably sickening for it, and the trio must therefore be put into quarantine for at least 18 days.

Cut is the fact that the mistresses "settle themselves with books, a sketching-block and needlework" as well as the whole party gaining permission to fill their flasks at the spring.  At one point, Len and Rosamund have become "friendly" instead of "matey" (towards Ted) while Rosamund's account of her niece Sylvia's progress at talking is lost.  The sick woman now lies in a "bed" rather than a "wall-bed" and Ted's offer to tie back the woman's hair (a fellow-feeling!) is lost.  Rosamund's speculations regarding the infectious disease involved "Dip, perhaps, or measles" is also cut.

Observation here - no words appear in italics in this (pb) chapter.  There are many in the hb.

Chapter VII - Len takes a Hand

The three girls are forced into quarantine (3 weeks in the end) in the San, attended by Soeur Marie-Anne, a Vincentian from Provence.

Although the pb tells us that Biddy Courvoisier has a son and daughter, the speculation over their looks - they turn out to look more like mother than father - is cut.  Cut also is a passage saying "It says much for the hold the school was getting on her that apart from some half-playful grumbling, she (Ted) accepted their fate and did her best.  Presently she found that so long as they spoke fairly slowly she could understand most of what was said to her and she was gaining confidence herself in speaking."  Later we are told (cut from pb) that "Len was explaining the mysteries of quadratics in German to Ted".  (I'm glad I wasn't Ted!)  Shortly after, a passage explaining that Ted was grateful for the constant activity (no chance to plan any mischief!) is cut.  Remaining cuts comprise much of Ted's philosophising on whether she can trust herself to give up planning wicked deeds and dragging other people into them.  Nothing essential to the plot removed.

Chapter VIII - Insects - and a Shock for Ted

The trio return to school.  It is a Sunday and extremely hot.  In the evening many of the girls attend Vespers at the nearby Catholic chapel, where a swarm of cockchafers invade the church, causing widespread panic.  Con Maynard sleepwalks that night as a result - and ends up in Ted's cubicle.

Notes on the progress of Joey's youngest children are cut.  Rosalie's comment that Dr Graves had luckily vaccinated the three girls is cut, as is the fact that all three were in Tulip dormitory.  Description of the hot Sunday afternoon is cut, as is the fact that the Courvoisier twins have not yet visited the school.  Cut is the fact that the chapel had no resident priest but was served from a nearby monastery.  Description of fiasco in chapel shortened - for some reason the Juniors are now "terrified" instead of "screaming".  The sight of Con in her cubicle had "frozen" rather than "chained" Ted.  Rest of cuts very minor.

Chapter IX - Another Shock for Ted

Ted is summoned to Miss Annersley's study to be told of her promotion to Vb - and provided with a new hairstyle.

One paragraph cut, in which Ted reflects that she had filled in her entrance papers "in a careless, slapdash way, not really caring in the least", while an inconsistency in which Miss Annersley asks Ted if she has had her mid-morning milk, later sending for lemonade for her, disappears - "milk and biscuits" becomes "elevenses" the first time!  Also Ted's hair could no longer "have given points to Shock-Headed Peter".

Chapter X - Margot

Ted sets off for the Saturday morning walk with her new form.  Margot observes Len's developing friendship with Ted and is jealous.  Len has noticed.

We are no longer told that Mary-Lou formerly had two pigtails, or "Kenwigses".  Margot no longer assures Emerence that the local cows, likely to be seen on the walk, are harmless.  We also no longer learn that it is usual in the summer term to visit the lake two or three afternoons a week for swimming and boating.  (Ted is delighted).  The description of Margot's jealousy, and Len's concern is considerably shortened, and we completely lose a discussion at the end, concerning possible articles for the next "Chaletian". (Ted plans to submit an adventure story).

Chapter XI - Mary-Lou Butts In

Next day Len informs Margot that she (Len) will be helping Ted to move her possessions so cannot partner Margot on the morning walk.  Margot is not happy.  Len discusses matters with Con.  Mary-Lou, noticing that Len and Con both look unhappy, has a long talk with them about friendships, and Margot in particular.

We are no longer told the book Con is reading (The Black Riders) nor that Margot has red-gold hair.  Con no longer says that the last time Margot "went pop over things" was when Mary-Lou had "that ghastly accident" nor does she speculate that Margot might be relegated to Inter V if she should get into a really bad row.  Neither does the pb mention that private Sunday services replace visits to the two local chapels, the Mittagessen menu is altered and all walks forbidden (all due to the extreme heat).  Lost is the fact that Jack Maynard had once described Mary-Lou as "a butter-in second only to his own wife", as well as Mary-Lou's observation that Margot and Emerence "practically rushed on each other the moment they met.  Deep calling to deep, I imagine!"

Mary-Lou's highly patronising speech to Len and Con that each of the triplets seems to have taken on one special side of (Joey's) character, also disappears, as does Mary-Lou's reminiscence that her recently deceased Gran once told her that "You can't keep anyone entirely to yourself.  You've got to share them".

Observation.  What a deadly serious business is the etiquette of booking partners for walks at the Chalet School!

Chapter XII - Margot's Devil Takes Charge

Margot, meanwhile, in a thoroughly bad mood, illegally absconds to the garden of Freudesheim, where from behind a clump of bushes she listens to a tea-time conversation between Joey and Rosalie, from which she learns that Ted has been expelled from three previous schools.  Margot manages to return to school undetected, but although her conscience tells her it would be wrong to use this knowledge against Ted - indeed Margot lies awake until midnight thinking about it - finally "her devil" gains the upper hand.  A thunderstorm in the small hours causes Margot's waking up with a nightmare to go unnoticed (this last in hb version only!).

This chapter is drastically cut - reduced from eleven pages to three.  The pb confines itself to a short history of Margot's life and egotistic passions, Margot's decision to seek solitude in Freudesheim garden, her accidental eavesdropping resulting in the gain of this juicy information, and finally her furtive return to school in time for Kaffee und Kuchen.  The "crisis of conscience" is completely lost.

Chapter XIII - "I'm Finding Something to do about It!"

Hilary Bennet, the Games prefect, complains to Mary-Lou that Margot's performance - also behaviour - at tennis, have deteriorated.  General discussion of the triplets, and other girls occupy ten pages (reduced to just over five in pb) including mentions of Ricki Fry, Naomi Elton and Nina Rutherford - concluding in Mary-Lou's impressing upon Hilary the nature of the situation between the triplets and any other friends they might have, concluding in Hilary's promise to Mary-Lou "I'll back you up as far as in me lies".

Again drastically cut - but nothing essential to the construction of the story.  Details cut are such as the fact that Margot was partnering Rosamund Lilley (at tennis), Margot is likely to get a Heads Report if she continues as she is doing, Naomi Elton's slow but steady progress is also omitted, as is a great deal which has been fully covered in previous chapters, regarding the triplets and their friendships!

Chapter XIV - Con Blows Up

The half-term expedition details appear on the notice board, resulting in great excitement among the girls, except Margot who is obviously in a bad mood.  Con confronts her later and asks what is wrong, resulting in a stormy argument in which Margot lets slip that she knows of Ted's three expulsions.  Con hardly knows what to say to her, but makes it clear to Margot that she and Len intend to have as many friends as they wish.

The description of the half-term arrangement is cut until it concerns only the central group of characters, who are going to Zermatt, finally, it appears, in a party of 22 girls and four mistresses.  The news that Jo Scott's parents are leaving Switzerland and settling in Jersey is one of the items of news deleted.  Also deleted is a paragraph in which "Len, at fourteen and a half, realised that just at present "Mamma" ought not to be worried at all ..."  We lose Margot's description of Odette Mercier as "that ghastly French kid who howls like a baby for her mommy every term" while Margot's epithet "that beastly Ted Grantley girl" is no longer followed up with "tempting Providence wholesale by her outrageous language - only Providence wasn't going to be tempted just then".  Con no longer tells Margot it is "indecent" of her to repeat the story of Ted's expulsions, while cut is the statement in the penultimate paragraph "No more would Joey be able to say of her, "Con's still only a little girl".

Chapter XV - Mary-Lou begins her Campaign

Margot reports herself to the Games mistress, following which she is noticeably subdued.  Mary-Lou decides to ask Mdlle de Lachenais and Miss Ferrars if she might join Vb's trip to Zermatt instead of going with the Sixth Forms to Ticino.  Obviously she is required to explain her reasons - Mdlle and Miss Ferrars have already guessed the situation, and indeed they tell her in confidence about Ted's past history.

We lose Mary-Lou's remark to Vi Lucy that the essay she is doing was set by Miss Charlesworth and concerns the Sumerians (of whom Lesley Malcolm has not heard) as well as most of the next paragraph, which explains that Mary-Lou fortunately has good powers of concentration and can therefore give her mind to her essay, as she is very nervous about her plan of campaign.  Also cut is Miss Ferrars' asking Mary-Lou what Joey would think of Margot's behaviour - the reply is "Aunt Joey would be horrified, of course, but Uncle Jack would be far worse.  He's always been a lot more strict than Auntie.  Though when she puts her foot down, it's down."  Other cuts - two or three words missed out.

Chapter XVI - Zermatt

The expedition to Zermatt sets off - a most appealing description of the journey and the little town follows.  The girls settle into their pension - after supper they go out exploring.  Margot manages to work a reference to Ted's last school into a conversation - Con is not happy and Len realises trouble is brewing.

Description of the arrangements for the railway journey slightly cut.  On the second page, after Mary-Lou says "I found (the Ticino) the outside of enough" five pages are cut, until "the train drew up in Zermatt station".  In brief what is lost is that Odette Mercier has gone home for half-term at the last minute, that Zermatt is well over 5,000 feet and one can see the Matterhorn - that Mary-Lou has visited Zermatt before and said she wished to see it again, that the party changed trains at Thrun, that there are no motor-cars at Zermatt - only horse-drawn transport, and that the party may visit the Gornergrat (another 5,000 feet up) while at Zermatt.

Later the description of the Matterhorn is slightly abbreviated.  Mary-Lou confines herself to saying "Mountains are mainly feminine, like ships", in pb - in the hb she says "watches and ships".  (I don't think I ever heard anyone describe a watch as feminine!).  We lose the fact that "there was one large mirror" in the pension bedrooms.  A description of various of the girls' hairstyles, as they prepare for Abendessen, is lost.

Chapter XVII - A Trip - and a Pig! (hb title)  A Pig! (pb title)
On the Friday the trip to the Gornergrat takes place.  On return, the party takes a stroll in the meadows round Zermatt, where they come across a sow who has escaped from her pig-pen in pursuit of one of her week-old piglets, who has been abstracted by a five-year-old boy who is staying at the farm.  Miss Wilmot manages to catch the sow (upon whose back she ends of riding).  The scene is hilarious and even Margot seems happier.

The description of the Gornergrat trip, which runs to over seven pages, is completely cut from the pb hence the change of title.  Briefly, the party sets off, but after their picnic lunch seven of the girls have to return to Zermatt due to the effects of the altitude.  Those who remain discuss the names of the Matterhorn and other mountains, the legend of St Théodule, the first Bishop of Sion, who reputedly cheated the Devil (Mdlle. de Lachenais manages to turn this into a moral lecture on the dangers of listening to the Devil's lightest whisper.  Margot feels uncomfortable!) before the party rushes to catch the afternoon train back to Zermatt, where they have Kaffee und Kuchen and send postcards.

The pb joins the story again for the evening stroll, where the description of Ian McCleod's delinquencies (in hb he has tried "hugging kittens, calves and kids as well as piglets) is abridged, as is the account of his invasion of the pigpen.  The name of the farmer's son (Hansi) is lost, as is Nancy Wilmot's shout of "Steady the Buffs".  Herr Schulz no longer observes that his sow's babies "were beginning to demand to share Mother's tub".

The pb tells us that it was "that night" that Margot woke up to hear a queer sound from Ted's bed - in the hb it is "weeks later" that Margot "proclaimed" this.

The rest of the chapter is unchanged except that Margot no longer says to Ted "We don't want a row for talking after Lights Out!"

Chapter XVIII - Margot's Clock

The last morning of half-term - the girls set off - in small groups to buy gifts.  Len and Con want Margot to accompany them, to buy joint presents for their parents - Margot wants to go with Emerence first, but cannot tell Len and Con why, so an argument breaks out. However, Margot and Emerence manage to slip off together to buy a most extravagant clock, which Margot had seen and admired in the windows, and Emerence had insisted upon buying her.  After Margot has rejoined Len and Con, they catch a glimpse of the clock accidentally - trouble is afoot!

Cuts consist of details not really essential - on the first page the mistresses no longer enjoy a last cigarette after the girls go to bed - the girls are no longer told to don their wide-brimmed hats in case of sunstroke - Ted no longer mentions that her mother is on her way to a nine months' stay with her son in Canada.  Mr Hope's "London agent", Mr Peddy, is no longer mentioned.  Con's speech comparing the Maynards' lot to Emmy's after Margot sighs "I wish we were rich" also disappears - "Well, we're not, nor likely to be.  Emmy's only one and there are squads of us.  Anyhow, I'd rather have a big family and not much money than be an only and spend what you like.  Being an only must be very lonely!"  Len's appeal to Con "not to start listening to a devil" (when Con is annoyed with Margot) is also cut. The description of the clock is cut - in the hb we learn it is "small, about four inches high, in a case of cream enamel with tiny clusters of alpenroses in each corner.  The tiny face was rimmed round with a double row of rhinestone chips which glimmered and sparkled like rainbows where the light caught them".

Also cut is the news that "On their fourteenth birthday the triplets had been presented a bedroom apiece ...  Each room had a small cupboard that locked.   Margot felt that she could keep her clock there ...".  Cut is also a paragraph that Margot is so preoccupied by her conscience (regarding the clock) that Len and Con "had to choose the letter-opener without any help from her".

The final sentence is also cut - "What would Mamma say if she knew!"

Chapter XIX - Mary-Lou Butts In Again

The triplets, Ted, Rosamund and Emerence are having a blazing row, which has come to blows by the time Mary-Lou arrives.  Mary-Lou summons the six to a meeting in the Prefects' room when the party has returned to school.  The resulting meeting ends with Emerence being forced to tell the whole story of the clock, revealing that she is leaving at the end of term - to Margot's horror.  Margot then has to own up to her jealousy of the friendship between Len and Ted - Mary-Lou impresses upon her that her treatment of Ted amounted to intended blackmail.  Finally Mary-Lou lectures the triplets, telling Len that she must feel less responsible for Con and Margot, Con that she should think before she speaks, and Margot that she should report herself to Miss Annersley, which Margot agrees to do immediately.

Margot no longer insists in pb that Len and Con are not her "nannies" as well as her keepers.  A paragraph is cut in which it is explained that Mary-Lou has been round the town hunting up batches of girls and sending them back to the pension, it being almost time for Mittagessen.  A mention that Miss Andrews was in the party is cut, and it is now Miss Ferrars rather than Miss Wilmot who sees that Mary-Lou and her "prisoners" have a separate train compartment.

The explanation of how Mary-Lou reserves the Prefects' room exclusively for the evening is cut (i.e. the other prefects have a meeting to discuss Sports Day).  Cut is the fact that Emerence hopes Mary-Lou will not ask the cost of the clock, and also Rosamund's speech to Mary-Lou as Rosamund leaves the room - "You needn't be afraid I'll talk ... I hope you can settle it yourself."  Mary-Lou no longer dismisses Ted and Emerence with "Off you hop!"  Other cuts are minor.

Chapter XX - The Head Makes a Decision

Joey shows the new-born Geoffrey and Philippa to Miss Annersley, who refuses to tell her what has happened beyond the barest hint that events have been somewhat dramatic.  Later the Head reflects on events - her difficult interview with Margot, the subsequent one with Jack Maynard to discuss the matter of the clock (decided in Margot's favour) and the plan she has, which we later learn is to award a new prize in the school to any girl who shows herself an outstanding leader.

Cuts are considerable - six pages reduced to three and a half, but very little is lost which has not been covered in previous chapters.  The names of the new twins are dropped from the pb, as if Joey's announcement that she will make a brief appearance at the forthcoming Sports.  The most interesting cut of all must, however, be mentioned.

Immediately after Margot "admitted ... that the little clock had helped ... when she had been going to go wrong" the hb continues -
"And I'll have it with me when I'm at college", she added.  "After that, it must go to someone else - Phyll, perhaps.  You know what I told you I hoped for.  I know I don't deserve to have my heart's desire, but I have tried these past four years."

"And succeeded", Miss Annersley said with a smile.  "You must wait for it, Margot, but I am sure you will get it in the end".  But all that was four years ahead.  In these days, Margot was a girl who was truly repentant and doing her best to make good, as the Head believed."

I would be interested to know how many readers guessed Margot's meaning when they read these words originally.  I cannot speak for myself, as I read Prefects for the first time many years before I read Theodora!

Chapter XXI - Cheers for Mary-Lou!

Preparations for Sports Day - a fine afternoon fortunately!  The description of this highly entertaining event is followed by that of the final assembly of the term the following Monday evening, when the Head awards the first edition of the School's new "leader's prize", i.e. a "very complete first-aid outfit" - to Mary-Lou.

On the first page, Hilary no longer tells Vi Lucy not to be "a sentimental Sally by way of memorial", nor does she remind her fellow-prefects that they "have a year as Millies", and that they should "look forward and not back".  The tennis courts are no longer "en-tout-cas".  We no longer hear that Mittagessen "took place at noon" (no great loss!).  The Head's outfit is no longer her "festal garb".  All mention of the former Miss Carthew ("Cousin May" to Ted) who turns up at the Sports, is for some reason deleted.  We no longer learn that Margot won the egg-and-spoon open as well as the high jump - otherwise no cuts.

Conclusion
The cuts in this book are less drastic than some, but more so than others.  I am slightly surprised that anyone seeking to cut Chapter 17 chose to expel the trip (complete with legends) as it contains dialogue rather more relevant to other parts of the story, than the tale of the Pig!

Louise Burbidge

Publishing history