Jsut trying to do a bit of a catch up on here......
And yes I have a copy - it's only 111 pages long so I may be able to do a transcript. It's not the best of EBDs books shall I say
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| The Little Missus http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6477 |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | The Little Missus |
'The Little Missus' was published in 1942, the same year as 'The Highland Twins at the Chalet School'. EBD described it as "a historical tale", the same description given to 'The Little Marie Jose', but different to 'Elizabeth the Gallant', "a historical novel". Have you read this book, and if so what did you think of it? Was it similar to her other historical works, or did you feel that there was a difference? If you haven't read it, why not? Do you consider this to be one of EBD's less well known books, and if so why? Helen McClelland describes it as "quite charming in its way" but "much lesser in both size and content" as 'The Little Marie Jose'; is this a fair description? All quotes taken from 'Behind The Chalet School'. We have been unable to find either a synopsis or transcript of 'The Little Missus'. If you can help, please PM me. Thanks! |
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| Author: | Mia [ Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
Is this about Jessie Reid Crosbie or did EBD just appropriate the title? |
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| Author: | brie [ Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
I have never read this, but if anyone has money burning in their pockets there is a copy up on ebay with bids starting at £100... I would quite like to read one of EBDs historical ones, as I just can't quite imagine what they would be like... |
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| Author: | macyrose [ Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
I hope GGBP will publish it. I'd love to have a complete collection of EBD's books. |
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| Author: | Dawn [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
Jsut trying to do a bit of a catch up on here...... And yes I have a copy - it's only 111 pages long so I may be able to do a transcript. It's not the best of EBDs books shall I say
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| Author: | Kate [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
What is it about, Dawn? |
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| Author: | Dawn [ Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
This is the start of the first chapter: Her real name – the one written in the big family Bible – was Suzanne Marie Louise, after Pretty Mamma who had died when her little daughter was a tiny baby; but nobody ever called her by it. Great-Aunt Susannah called her ‘Susan’, which, she said, was a good old English name, without any silly French flummery about it. The four big step-brothers, who adored her, called her ‘Susie’ when they didn’t make it ‘Rosy’, or ‘Babykin’, or ‘Curlylocks’, or any one of a dozen pet names. The servants and her father’s tenants always spoke of her as ‘Little Missy’; and old Marthe, her nurse, who had helped to save Pretty Mamma from wicked Robespierre, and had escaped with her to England twelve years before this story begins, always called her ‘’La Petite’. But Dear Papa never called her anything but ‘Little Missus’. She lived in a big house in a beautiful village on the Kentish coast, and her step-brothers petted her, and Dear Papa spoiled her, so Great-Aunt Susannah said, when she came to stay at the Red Court during the summer months. She did lessons with the old Rector who had taught her brothers before they went to school; and old Marthe taught her to knit and sew, and was very particular about her manners. Pretty Mamma had been the daughter of a great gentleman In France, and her manners had been the admiration of all who met her. La Petite must have just the same, declared Marthe; so she insisted on all sorts of pretty behaviour such as would make boys and girls of today gasp with horror. All the same, she was a very happy little girl, though she had few toys and her story-books, which were six in number, would horrify most modern children. Everyone loved her dearly, even Great-Aunt Susannah, who was so strict, and corrected her so often that the Little Missus quite dreaded her visits. I've got the first chapter done and started the second (of 11), will try and get it done in the next couple of weeks although it's very dependant on my hands deciding to play nicely for a while. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
Thankyou for the teaser Dawn - I can't wait for the full transcript! Thankyou so much for doing it 
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| Author: | Kate [ Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
Thanks Dawn! |
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| Author: | Alison H [ Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
Thanks Dawn. Sounds intriguing! It sounds more 19th century than 20th century, and it sounds as if it's aimed at a younger audience than most of EBD's other books are. |
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| Author: | Carys [ Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
Thank you very much Dawn! It's interesting reading that as to me it does not sound like the EBD I know. Does anyone know if it was written a long time before publication? As if it was written just before or after Highland Twins then that is, arguably, when EBD was at her best, but The Little Missus does not suggest that! The other thing that struck me was that EBD seemed to grasp the concept of step siblings here, so why the whole sister by marriage thing for OOAO ML and Verity? |
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| Author: | JB [ Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
I don't think anyone knows when it was written - there's nothing in Behind the Chalet School. Given EBD's output in the years before the war (and paper shortages during it), I would imagine it was written around the time it was published. She knows what step-sisters are in Step-sisters for Lorna too. I'd love to know why she was later so adamant in her denials about OOAML and Verity. |
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| Author: | Kathy_S [ Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
I didn't have the impression that EBD had problems defining step-relationships. I thought it was just that Mary-Lou and Verity chose to call themselves sisters-by-marriage to disassociate their relationship from lingering negative connotations of "wicked step-sisters." ML just doesn't see herself cramming her "sturdy" foot into Verity's delicate glass slipper, etc. |
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| Author: | Alison H [ Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
Kathy_S wrote: ML just doesn't see herself cramming her "sturdy" foot into Verity's delicate glass slipper, etc.  I love the idea of a handsome prince turning down Mary-Lou in favour of Verity!
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| Author: | Dawn [ Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
I haven't forgotten about this - I'm down to less than 30 pages to go and hope to get it done before I go away on Wednesday. I will send it to Raya for the transcripts site, but if anyone wants me to send it to them direct, please pm me your email address and I'll do so. Don't know if it's just me, but EBD seems to use way more commas than I would.... 
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| Author: | Dawn [ Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
This is now done, I've emailed it out to those who specifically asked for it and will send it to Raya too for the transcripts site Just to warn you, some of the dialect speak is a little....strange - I've checked it all twice to make sure that I copied it correctly And I just wish that chest infections could be cured as easily as they are in this book!
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
Thankyou so much for doing it, Dawn! Sadly I don't have the time to read it at the moment, but I can't wait until I can
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| Author: | Dawn [ Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:54 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
ChubbyMonkey wrote: Thankyou so much for doing it, Dawn! Sadly I don't have the time to read it at the moment, but I can't wait until I can It's one of her shorter books - there were only 111 pages, and in reality only 101 as it didn't start till page 7 and there were 4 pages of illustrations
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| Author: | Kathy_S [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Little Missus |
Thank you, Dawn! That was interesting. For some reason the tone struck me as more like Mrs. Molesworth than EBD. Rather amusing when the plot partly revolves around Susannah adapting to a less old-fashioned household.
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