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Books: Caroline the Second
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6224
Author:  JB [ Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Books: Caroline the Second
Caroline the Second was first published by the Girls Own Paper Office in 1937. There were no further editions until that published by GGB in 2005. I haven’t been able to find a transcript. If anyone else knows of one, perhaps they could let me know.

It is the second of EBD’s two books about Janeways school. It takes place 4 years or so after the A Thrilling Term at Janeways. Philadelphia, the only one of the Valentine sisters still at the school, is starting her first term as Head Girl. It isn’t all plan sailing as Basilia Dixon, one of the previous year’s sub-prefects, believes she should have had the job and causes trouble wherever she can.

The Caroline of the story is Caroline Janeways Anstey, a new girl and the great, great grand-daughter of the school’s first head girl. She has been brought up steeped in the traditions of the school and how much she has to live up to. Her reaction to this is to interfere with as many traditions as she can.

Please do post your comments on this book. Here are a few questions to (hopefully) start us off:

Is Basilia a believable villain? Does she have any redeeming features? Do you think Miss Baynard was right to make her a full prefect?

What about Caroline? Is she an appealing character? Does she possess that “nice naughtiness” which EBD has mentioned in other books?

Tradition is very important at Janeways. Do you think this is a good thing? How does it compare to the Chalet School in this respect?

The story which Constance Felthwaite tells about her ancestor is the story of Elizabeth the Gallant, the full version of which appears in the book of that name and is the subject of next week’s discussion. There’s a fairly recent GGB reprint but I haven’t found a transcript.
Author:  JS [ Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: Caroline the Second
It's a while since I read it, but I remember thinking Caroline was a bit of a pain, really. The premise of her wanting to subvert things was quite a nice idea but I seem to remember that it sort of fell away?

The thing that really sticks in my mind is the description of the head girl's study, which sounded really lovely - old rugs, books, paintings and leather chair - especially in contrast to the twee decor favoured by the villain.
Author:  MJKB [ Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: Caroline the Second
I didn't like this book very much, and I thoroughly disliked Caroline. It didn't seem to have the 'flavour' of the CS at all, especially in view of the fact that it was written around the time of the early CS.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Books: Caroline the Second
I liked this book much better than the earlier one and loved Caroline the Second whom I thought was a believeable character. I also liked Philadelphia as Head Girl. I think the whole thing about age deciding who should be a Head Girl is a dumb idea and only put in randomly. Joey Bettany was the second youngest Prefect when she was Head Girl and yet that never stopped her from becoming Head Girl. I think it should be decided on ability not age and Philadelphia certainly handled herself well and the other pupils. I can see Caroline as the usual naughty but nice because she is honest and truthful along wth it and will own to what she's done.

Miss Baynad, I think failed by making Basilia a Prefect. She was tangled in causing Mademoiselle to leave and therefore should have lost prefectship over it or kept as a sub-prefect. I know she was kept only as a junoir Prefect but she was still able to do a lot of mischief anyway.

Anyway, all up I liked this book much better than the first one. I thought it was interesting to find out Melody had become Head Girl after her inauspicious beginning :lol:
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