This is a collection of 4 Molesworth books. I finished the first (Down with skool, i think). It's good... but not as great as it's reputation. Yes, funny- clever, biting and so forth but also a bit predictably and a little tired. I will pick it up again for the other books, but found that one book of Molesworth goes a pretty long way. ( )

The Compleet Molesworth by Geoffrey Willans and Ronald Searle (co-creator and illustrator) had been on my TRL for ages. I was intrigued by the illustrations that were depicted on the cover and its comparison to my dear Roald Dahl. This is a classic children's series (bound together in its entirety here) about a boy named Nigel Molesworth who narrates his time in a boy's boarding school called St. Custard's. Willans captures the spirit of boyhood in a private boarding school especially well owing to his being a Headmaster himself. (This is even funnier once you get to know Headmaster Grimes who is particularly fond of the cane.) This book is replete with bad spelling (evidenced in the title) and absolutely stunning illustrations by Searle who was a satirical cartoonist (perfect for this series). Molesworth and his buddies get up to many hi-jinks and shenanigans which are generally instigated by our hero. Amidst all of this tomfoolery Willans and Searle have taken jabs at the inequalities of the classes by showcasing the Head Boy Grabber as only being placed in such a prestigious position because his parents shell out lots of money. (The Headmaster is greedy and generally does all he can to cut corners most notably with the selection of food offered to the students.) If you can get used to the bad spelling, grammatical errors, made-up slang, and seemingly arbitrary abbreviations for everything you will see why this has held up as a true children's classic. It's witty, cutting in its bluntness, and in general everything I hoped it would be. 10/10 ( )

I read and reread this when I was 13 or 14. It captured for me the sense of struggle against the teachers, the school system and the other boys that is such a big part of being a teenager. It is still hilarious. Sadly the master cartoonist, Ronald Searle, has recently died but his masterpiece lives on. ( )

A classic, as any fule kno. ( )

A compendium of Nigel Molesworth's four books about life at his prep school, St Custard's:
"Down with Skool! : A guide to school life for tiny pupils and their parents"
"How to be Topp : A guide to Sukcess for tiny pupils, including all there is to kno about SPACE"
"Whizz for Atomms : A guide to survival in the 20th century for felow pupils, their doting maters, pompous paters and any others who are interested"
"Back in the Jug Agane"

Very humorous, with wonderful illustrations. Here is Molesworth's attempt at reciting poetry in English class, while being sabotaged by his great friend Peason:

SIR THE BURIAL SIR OF SIR JOHN MOORE SIR AT CORUNNA SIR

(A titter from 2B they are wet and i will tuough them up after.)

Notadrumwasheardnotafuneralnote
shut up peason larffing
As his corse
As his corse
what is a corse sir? gosh is it
to the rampart we carried
(whisper you did not kno your voice was so lovely)
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot.
PING!
Shut up peason i know sir he's blowing peas at me
Oer the grave where our hero we buried.

(A pause a grave bow i retire and Egad! peason hav placed a dainty pin upon mine seat. Fie!) ( )