Evelyn Smith (1) (1885–1928)

Having looked forward to being in the Sixth Form all her life, Robin Sinclair was dismayed to learn that her family would be moving, and that she would not be spending her final school-years at good old Rothmere. As if being the new girl at St. Quentin's weren't bad enough, Robin soon finds herself part of the "Small Sixth" - a group of girls assigned to an inferior room, because the regular Sixth Form room was too crowded. But matters weren't altogether bleak: the S.S. (Small Sixth) soon show more formed their own little society, and the competition between themselves and the "downstairs" Sixth, provided many opportunities to make friends (and enemies).

An engaging, well-written story, The Small Sixth Form reads quickly, and has an appealing cast of characters, from the elegant Isobel Wingfield, to the sporty Gertrude "G.G." Glossop. The rivalry between the two sixth forms makes for entertaining reading, as does the growing friendship between Robin and Magda Morrison, a girl whose leadership potential is at first obscured by her shabby appearance. Rather atypically, the head-girl is not an object of adoration here, as it quickly becomes clear that Magda is the better girl.

I enjoyed this school-story from Evelyn Smith, although the references to the "S.S." were rather off-putting (this was published in the 1920s, long before the advent of WWII), as were the numerous times that G.G. compliments someone by telling them they are a "white man." Also unfortunate is the discussion between Robin and Miss Jobberns, in which reference is made to a wooly-haired "n*gger's" head. Of course, such outdated social content isn't unheard of in a book of this period, but they did seem to crop up fairly often in The Small Sixth Form, which would otherwise have been an unalloyed pleasure to read. show less

Elizabeth Howard Wilkinson, nicknamed "the little Betty" because there is already an Elizabeth Wilkinson in the fourth form at Weldham Girls' School, struggles to find her footing with her new form-mates, despite being the youngest, smallest, and least experienced student in the group. Inadvertently causing accidents wherever she goes, she seems to bring the form bad luck - an impression reinforced when, taking advantage of her kind-hearted and credulous nature, a classmate convinces Betty show more that the school's neighbor is mistreating her young niece, leading to a disastrous attempt to "help." It seems as if "the little Betty" will never find her place, when an influenza epidemic strikes, and she at last has a chance to show her mettle...

Published in 1923, The Little Betty Wilkinson was the fourth of Evelyn Smith's girls' school stories, following Binkie of IIIB, Nicky of the Lower Fourth, and Seven Sisters at Queen Anne’s. It also happens to be the first I have read in the original 1920s edition, and as a physical object, it is quite beautiful, with decorative covers, lovely thick paper, and four glossy plates. The narrative itself was entertaining, although I didn't find it quite as involving a story as Smith's earlier three titles. The absence of any real school-girl "villain" or adversary, while perhaps more realistic, makes for less dramatic tension, and Betty simply isn't engaging enough of a heroine to pick up the slack. Still, this amusing little novel does have charm, and will appeal to readers with an interest in the school-story genre. show less

A shy, sensitive young girl, more accustomed to being by herself than with other children, ten-year-old Marie Macleod was dismayed to learn that she was to be sent away to boarding school in England. With her vivid "elfin" face, her odd clothing, and her distinct Scots accent, Marie wasn't like the other girls at Ledbrooke Spa High School, and after a number of unfortunate misunderstandings, she seemed doomed to remain an outcast in her form. If the much-admired head-girl, Sylvia Leigh - show more herself half Scots - would only take notice of her, or the talented Diana Kyrle befriend her, Marie was sure she wouldn't be so lonely...

The eleventh Evelyn Smith school-story I have read, Marie Macleod, Schoolgirl has many of the elements I have come to associate with the genre, from the new girl who must find her feet, to the heroine's destined best friend, who must be won over following some initial argument or rivalry. Although not one of the author's strongest offerings, it does address some interesting themes, particularly the importance of clothing to schoolgirl success, and the role of national prejudice in the UK at that time (the 1920s).

Considered a "freak" by the hateful Maude Semple because of her shorter, tartan skirt, and her socks (rather than stockings), Marie is mercilessly "ragged" by the other girls in the Green Dorm, until her appearance changes. This sort of self-enforced conformity is not so unusual in schoolgirls, of course, but in other cases (such as that found in Smith's The Small Sixth Form) the "reform" is effected through gentler, friendlier means.

Also of interest is the anti-Scots prejudice displayed on more than one occasion, by both student and teacher. At one point Maude, sneering at Marie for accepting the other girls' "compensation" money for a broken doll, whispers "She's Scotch!", a clear reference to the stereotype of the parsimonious Scot. In another case, one of the teachers informs Marie: "Deceit, is rather worse than folly, as English girls, for the most part, know, and as you may doubtless be brought to realize."

This sort of social commentary, whether intentional or not, makes for fascinating reading, and one gets the sense that Smith is drawing from her own life experiences, as a teacher at a girls' school. Well worth the time of anyone with an interest in the genre, or in early twentieth-century girls' culture in Great Britain. show less

"They weren't the ordinary type of school nuisance; they hadn't any pricking desire to break rules for the sake of breaking them, or to be objectionable to mistresses and prefects just because they were in authority. But they had their own ways, which were not school ways..."

"They" were the "long family of Shortt," seven sisters who - when their beloved governess married - descended all together upon Queen Anne's school, in Queen's Norbridge. It was the beginning of the summer term, and head show more girl Thea Tennant was determined to do credit to her position, but the disruptive Shortt sisters seemed destined to involve her in trouble. The eldest, seventeen-year-old Pamela, was in Thea's own form, and excelled in both her studies and in tennis. But her standoffish ways soon created a tense environment amongst the senior girls, and Thea found herself caught between the new girl, and her long-time friend Trix.

Gwen Shortt seemed solid and dependable, and beautiful Sylvie was too gentle to cause much harm. But thirteen-year-old Tony (christened Antony Edgar by mistake) was either trying to read her novel-in-progress, The Bittersweet of Life, to her unwilling peers, or bolting in panic when anything went wrong. Unlucky Septima, whose hair was always sticking out like straw, and whose clothes seemed to be in a permanent state of disrepair, was prone to dashing about madly, and required a great deal of care. And then there were the infants - "fierce" Phyllida, who snarled, and had the face of a "tiger's cub," and Gerry, who had an unfortunate habit of eating anything to hand. Their many hilarious exchanges - "Phyllida dear, I don't think it's very nice of you to hold that jar in your arms when you know it's mine." "Gerry dear, it isn't a bit well-behaved of you to try to snatch it from me, when it's mine. What must the other girls think of you?" - lead inevitably to violent confrontations that are soon the talk of the school. But although Thea despairs of ever integrating the Shortts into life at Queen Anne's, a crisis reveals that the sisters - particularly Pamela and Tony - are the "right sort" after all, and everything ends happily...

Delightfully entertaining, Seven Sisters at Queen Anne's is the first in a trilogy featuring the Shortt sisters, whose adventures continue in Septima at School and Phyllida in Form III. A wonderfully humorous tale, that reminded me at times of Joanna Lloyd's Bramber Manor books, it offers a sensitive depiction of girlhood friendships and familial relations. Evelyn Smith understands young women, and whether it is Pamela, who longs to cast off responsibility, or Tony, who just wants a "bit of peace," her characters are well-drawn, and their story engrossing. I can easily understand why school-story critic Sue Sims considers this title to have been the point at which the author's talent truly became evident. I enjoyed it so much that I had hardly finished with it, when I was picking up the sequel. show less