|
One of the most popular setting was school, but interestingly they were almost always the exclusive public (private) schools attended by a fraction of English children. The first school story was Thomas Hughes' Tom Brown’s Schooldays (1857), but it was more adult than children's literature. Kipling’s Stalky and Co. (1899) is perhaps the next most famous school story. Sports called games are normally paramount in most school stories. Status in the school novels came from hard earned accolades on the games field. Academic or musical talent stood for very little. In the normal school story, the intelectual was generally a desident. The hero was normally a clever boy who did not apply himself. There was a finally developed code of behavior expected from the boys. Honesty was expected above all else. It was absolutely not allowed for a boy to tell on another school mate, no matter how vile his behavior. There were several series of school books, including Billy Bunter, Biggles, and Jennings. Also boys were not expected to show their wealth and family connections at school, interesting in that the mere fact that they were attending these schools set them out as a privlidged minority. One of the most important school hero was Biggles, but he went on to become an important aviator. Jennings was set at a prep school rather than a public school. Some series were based more on the school than the boy, such as Priory School--of course a public school.
One of the most popular setting was school, but interestingly they were almost always the exclusive public (private) schools attended by a fraction of English children. Much of the school literature in the late 19th and early 20th century was set at public schools. We also note some stories set at grammar school, academically selective secondary schools. This began to change after World War I (1914-18). We note fewer school stories being written and this was especially the case after World War II (1939-45). The stories that were written were increasingly likely to be written for younger children and often set at prepartory schools, esebtially primary/junior high level private schools. Very few books were written set in state scools, with the possible exception of the Just William books.
Large numbers of books were written with school settings. Several have been of special importance. The first school story was Thomas Hughes' Tom Brown’s School Days (1857), but it was more adult than children's literature. Not as well known is Eric but published about the same time by Frederick W. Farrar (1858). Kipling’s Stalky and Co. (1899) is perhaps the next most famous school story. Several authors wrote numerous indivisual books with school themes. Many are not well known today, but the school stories were very popular in their day. A look at some of the books provides an interesting look at contemporary values, clothing, and society.
Sports called games are normally paramount in most school stories. Status in the school novels came from hard earned accolades on the games field. Academic or musical talent stood for very little. In the normal school story, the intelectual was generally a desident. The hero was normally a clever boy who did not apply himself. There was a finally developed code of behavior expected from the boys. Honesty was expected above all else. It was absolutely not allowed for a boy to tell on another school mate, no matter how vile his behavior.
There were several series of school books, including Billy Bunter, Biggles, and Jennings. Also boys were not expected to show their wealth and family connections at school, interesting in that the mere fact that they were attending these schools set them out as a privlidged minority. One of the most important school hero was Biggles, but he went on to become an important aviator. Jennings was set at a prep school rather than a public school. We are not familiar with all he different school series, but we hope that our British readers will provide more details here.
Some series were based more on the school than the boy, such as Priory School--of course a public school. Several authors in publications like the Boy's Own Paper wrote numerous stories about the same fictious school. We have very little information about the fictious schools that were commonly addressed in the periodicl publications including annuals. Later several authos wrote series of books with school settings. Enis Blytons "amous
Five" and "Secret Seven" often had school settings. The "Jennings" series was set at a prep school. The Billy Bunter series was set at a public school. Here we are just beginning to collect information.
The girls' school story may have a even longer linage than the boys' school story. This is surprising because until the 20th century, many did not think it very important to educate girls. Girls that were educated were commonly tutored at home. With few exceptions, boarding schools were for boys, although there were some "finish schools". The first school story appears to be Sarah Fielding's The Governess (1749), published more than a century before Tom Brown's School Days. The book is set in a small girl's boarding school. The girls' school story does not appear again until the late 19th century and in America. The mext book we know of is Susan Coolidge's What Katy Did at School (1873). A few British girls school stories also appear at this time, such as Mrs. Molesworth's Hermy (1880). About this time several girl's boarding schools are being founded in England and an increasing number of partents are taking an interest in the education of their daughters. The genre of girls' school stories becomes increasingly popular after the turn of the century, but a pioneer was Talbot Baines Reed in the 1890s. Sone of the important authors included L. T. Meade (1854-1914), Angela Brazil (1868-1947), and Dorita Fairlie Bruce. A HBC reader tells us about two authors, Elinor Brent-Dyer and E. J Oxenham immediately come to mind. Both of these authors have now died, but both have web pages with a very large following of all ages. E B-D wrote the very popular ‘Chalet School’ series and EJO wrote the ‘Abbey School’ series.
Boys being boys, most of these characters are schoolboys. Tom Brown's exoloits are the first school story. The beginning of a fasinating genre in English literature. The characters, however, vary widely to the extent tpo which their exploits concern school. The Jennings and Billy Bunter series are set in schools. The William and Jim Starling series hace relatively little to do with school. Several different issues occur to us about these school stories. One is the type of schools in which the adventures are set. Another interesting question is the relative popularity of the characters. A reader writes us, "You say that 'William Brown is the one of the two most famous schoolboy in English literature. (The other of course is Jennings.)" Well, what about Billy Bunter? I would have thought that he is the most famous of the three. [Collings] This is an interesting question.
There are several English authors that are especially noted for their school stories. The classic school authors were those who wrote about the English public school in the late 19th and early 20th century, but there are several other authors who wrote about schools. Enid Blyton wrote a lot of stories set in schools, including two series the Famous Five and Secret Seven. Anthony Buckeridge created Jennings, perhaps the most famous English school boy. Jennings as he was usually referred to is a prep school boy. Meredith Fletcher wrote Jefferson Junior and several other chool stories. Captain W.E. Johns wrote 80 books about Biggles and his airplane adventures. The Biggles saga begins in India and at about age 15, Biggles is sent home to England and begins at Malton Hall boarding school. Soon the Biggles books move away from the school story. Thomas Hughes wrote Tom Brown' Schooldays, considered by many to be the first of the genre. Rudyard Kipling wrote Stalky and Co. (1899), one of the most famous school story. Stanley Morries wrote: The Penalty Area (1929) and The Senior Perfect (1932). Frank Richards wrote one of the most famous school series--the Billy Bunter stories. Bunter's teacher was Mr. Quelch (Kynaston Reeves) and Harry Wharton, Bob Cherry, Inky, Ram Singh, Frank Nugent, Mauly, and the bully Coker were his schoolchums at Greyfriars School. He loved jam tarts particularly.
One of the interesting aspects of the English school literature is that there are numerous descriptions and images of school activities. Ths is at a time, especially the late 19th century, when there are almost no photographic images of school activities. Almost all of the scholl images from the 19th century are stiff, formal class portraits. These school iiterature thus offer the only images we have of late 19th and early 20th century school life. Especially in the 19th centuy, photography was not capable of capturing images of many activities, especially sports here motion was involved. They are of course idealized images, but we believ do show an aspect of school life. Westress that these images ae not of the school life of most British boys. Almost always they are images of activities at the elite public schools atended by the children of the elite and prosperous middle class.
There were also several illustrators epecially noted for school story ilustrations. Some of the best known are J.R. Burgess and Harold Copping. Burgess' illustrations are very similar to Copping's work. Burgess seems to focus on the zenith of the moment in a far more dramatized fashion.
The English school books varied greatly in quality. Some were very well written with original plots. Other were formalistic approaches and rather hacnayed books. Some were beautifully illustrated Others had no illustrations at all. we note some books had the exact same cover, with only the title canged. The same cover illustration was used. That is an indication as to just what a low budget prodution some of these books were.
The school story was primarily an English genre. We have noted some American school storie. We do not, however, very few details about school stories published in oher coutrie. We have noted some school stories in the French Signe de Piste sries and some German books set in milirary schools. With these few exceptions, almost all of the few school stories we have noted are English. One facto here surely much be the fact that boarding schools wer much more common in England.
Navigate the HBC literary pages' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main English children's literature theme page]
[Return to the Main children's literary page]
[Return to the Main literary page]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[About Us]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Girls]
[Theatricals]
[Topics]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
