First Term at Malory Towers by Enid Blyton has now been in print for almost sixty years - a testimony to the timeless nature of its contents and those of the five books which follow it. Malory Towers is possibly the most "complete" set of school stories written by Blyton, since the series covers one term for each of the six years that its heroine, Darrell Rivers, attends the school.
First Term at Malory Towers deals with Darrell's first experience of boarding school. There is a strong theme of friendship running throughout the book, and Darrell finds that she has to make choices between playing up to madcap Alicia, investigating the secret of strange Sally, discouraging the adoring Mary-Lou and getting to grips with Gwendoline Mary - not to mention managing her temper and her schoolwork!
In Second Form at Malory Towers Darrell has become firm friends with the steadfast Sally Hope. Drama is plentiful with glamorous new girl Daphne and serious Ellen, who is so desperate to do well in her work that she begins to lose her sense of honour. Darrell continues to struggle with her own temper, all the while busying herself sorting out everyone else. Night-time adventure and tricks on Mam'zelle fitted as standard.
Third Year at Malory Towers has an interesting duet of themes - horse-mad Bill learns how to fit into boarding school, with the help of her arch-rival turned saviour, the similarly horse loving Miss Peters. Meanwhile glamour-loving American Zerelda and singing sensation Mavis are having equal difficulty coming to terms with being "just" schoolgirls. A dramatic series of events brings Mavis, Bill and Miss Peters together, each learning some difficult lessons. After a brief friendship with Mavis, Zerelda disappears from the series after this single appearance. With a rather lucky twist for Darrell, we are also treated to the first lacrosse game of the series, which is described for just the right length of time.
Upper Fourth at Malory Towers deals with an interesting relationship between a pair of twins - Ruth and Connie - which comes to a rather satisfactory conclusion in the beginning of the next book. Darrell's young sister Felicity and Alicia's cousin June join the first year, although the focus remains on Darrell's class, now studying for their school certificate. One of the busiest books, Upper Fourth is one I enjoy re-reading over and over again. It is also one of the darker books that deals with very serious deceit and dishonesty, and harsh leassons learned by more than one girl, entwined in a number of storylines. As head girl, Darrell acts as the link between each storyline, as well has having her own struggles with leadership.
In the Fifth at Malory Towers is probably my favourite book. Each of the girls in the unusually talented fifth form takes a part in putting together a pantomime "Cinderella". As well as the numerous talents and hobbies, and the usual friendship pairs, there are particularly interesting and often amusing scenes of how the form with its many strong characters copes with the leadership of Moira, the domineering head girl and 'Saint' Catherine, the new form doormat.
By the time we reach Last Term at Malory Towers it feels like the reader has known Darrell, Sally, Irene, Alicia et al for a lifetime. The series comes to magnificent ending as Gwendoline finally learns a bitter lesson and Darrell seems grown up, ready to move on to the next stage of her life. Gwendoline's story is one which runs right throughout the series, and as the series closes we do not see Gwen reformed or destined to be a brat forever, but at a very real crossroads in her life. Her trials are covered rather profoundly in this final book and these may not be fully appreciated by young readers. All the more reason to keep re-reading the series for the next sixty years!
Published between 1946 and 1951 the six Malory Towers books were the last set of school stories written by Enid Blyton. Perhaps the practice and feedback from the earlier Naughtiest Girl and St Clare's series along with stand alone school story Mischief at St Rollo's aided Enid Blyton in what arguably became her best school story books, and some of the best books she ever wrote.
It saddens many English speaking fans of Malory Towers, then, to learn that while the Naughtiest Girl lived on through the pen of Trebizon author Anne Digby, who created six new titles about Elizabeth Allen, and while we can now learn just exactly what those O'Sullivan twins got up to in years 3 and 6, thanks to Pamela Cox, the completeness of the six Malory Towers books left little for extension or completion.
If you are an English speaker, that is.
For there are, in fact, an extra TWELVE books about Darrell and her friends. Except that she is called "Dolly" and the books are in German. The 12 extra Dolly books follow Darrell through time at a new Malory Towers Finishing School, coming back to teach at the school and eventually becoming its headmistress as an ideal replacement for its beloved Miss Grayling. These new Malory Towers books have never been translated into English, so unless you are able to read and understand German, you won't be able to read these books and decide for yourself whether or not that is a good thing! The books' titles and subtitles are rather confusing. There are 18 "bands" (books) which were published last year as 6 "sammelbands" (3-in-1 editions).
There are many critics of other books written in Blyton's name - not least Claude Voilier's "Five" books and nine Secret Seven books by Evelyne Lallemand. The fact that the real author of the extra Dolly books has chosen to hide very discreetly behind Enid Blyton's famous signature may not be a particularly good sign. However, for those who can't get enough of Darrell and Sally, you might wish to grit your teeth and try reading these. The good news is that they are currently being translated online (shh!) and you can read the first part of Band 7 (or sammelband 4!) in English here: http://www.freewebs.com/malorytower/book7.htm
Naughtiest Girl books by Ann Digby:
The Naughtiest Girl Keeps a Secret 1999
The Naughtiest Girl Helps a Friend 1999
The Naughtiest Girl Saves the Day 1999
Well Done, the Naughtiest Girl! 1999
The Naughtiest Girl Wants to Win 2000
The Naughtiest Girl Marches On 2000
St Clare's books by Pamela Cox:
Third Form at St Clare's 2000
Sixth Formers at St. Clare's 2000
With thanks to Michael Edwards, Tony Summerfield and Mason Willey for bibliographical information from their various websites and publications listed below. Thanks also to Dr Justin Moretti for his helpful comments
Michael Edwards: http://www.foxall.com.au/users/mje/Blyton.htm
Tony Summerfield: An Illustrated Bibliography Part 2
Mason Willey: A Bibliography of First Editions and Other Collectible Books by Mason Willey