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#1: Andreas and Marie's children Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 8:59 am
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I may have imagined this, but is there something in one of the hardbacks - other than Exile - about Andreas and Marie's children, other than one vague reference to their eldest daughter? I've just been thinking how weird it must've been for them living at Die Rosen/the Round House.

#2: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 11:50 am
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I think I remember mention of them having four children, the oldest of which was a daughter called Gretchen. I'm guessing any details will be in one of the Plas Howell books...

Yes, must have been most strange for them. Hopefully, with four kids, Madge allocated them more than just one bedroom located up a random ladder from the kitchen.....

If you think about it, the Russells have to provide a home for their own children, the Bettany kids and the four children of their servants. That's one big house. I wonder if the Le Mesuriers (sp?) had their own sitting room or bathroom? Did they eat in the kitchen, perhaps? Where did the children go to school?

Questions, questions.
Caroline.

#3: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 11:53 am
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Found it - except they've changed name again by this point. It's in Gay from China:

Quote:

There she was shown into the beautiful drawing-room by smiling Marie, who had been with Lady Russell from the time when, as Madge Bettany, she had begun her school on the shores of Tiernsee, the most beautiful lake of all Tirol. Marie had wedded Sir James Russell’s servant, André Monier, and the two had remained in the service of the doctor and his wife, having their own rooms in whichever house the family occupied. The Monier babies had been among the earliest playfellows of the Russell children, and Greta, Jacques, José and Petit André had been brought by their parents to England when the Chalet School and the Sanatorium had been forced to leave Tirol after Hitler had marched into Austria. The Moniers had applied for naturalisation papers, but he war had prevented the matter being concluded. However, José and Petit André had both been born in England, so they, at least, could claim British nationality.

#4: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 12:05 pm
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Brilliant, thanks Caroline! I've only got the pb of Gay.

I am v confused in that Andreas seems to be Austrian when he marries Marie, then by Exile he's become French and changed his name to André Le Mesurier, and then he appears to be called André Monier, but that's just EBD!

#5: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 12:15 pm
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It's insane, isn't it? And the eldest daughter is definitely Gretchen in other books - although I suppose Greta could be a short.

Andreas / Andre might win the prize for most different names for one character - jointly with Maynie's husband who is variously called Ralph Arden (Joey's Convict), Mr Bennet (can't remember when) and Kenneth MacKenzie.

EBD really should have kept records.
Caroline.

#6: Author: Róisín, Location: Gaillimh

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 12:18 pm
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I always wondered about this as well and find it a fascinating reference. Especially as it says that they were the earliest playfellows. They must have been playing out in the garden/playroom so, every time we read descriptions of baby/toddler Sybil in New etc. But EBD pretended they weren't there, or ignored them. What about when people leaned over the fence to comment on the beauty of the Russell/ Bettany children? Did they too ignore the Monier children? Poor little pets Sad

#7: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 12:40 pm
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That's what I was after - having gone off at a slight tangent in yesterday morning's drabble post and brought them into it! Why do we never see them with the Russell/Bettany/Venables kids? & I bet they had a really interesting take on events!

#8: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 12:53 pm
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Probably because we never see the Russell/Bettany babies/small children for more than two paragraphs per book! They really only exist to a) give Jo and Robin a larger family background b) provide plot dodges such as illnesses and kidnappings and c) to develop into full and interesting characters in the later books (the girls anyway)

I'm glad that bit on Gay confirms they all played together, that's quite sweet really.

#9: Author: Róisín, Location: Gaillimh

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 12:55 pm
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I'd assume they'd have attended the same school that Biddy was taken out of before she was deemed too clever to be there. And that at the ages of 13/14 they then started to work, either with their parents or in the school or nearby somewhere, as maids and handymen.

#10: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 1:12 pm
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Ha! Maybe Marie ditched her childhood sweetie Andreas for sexy french Andre during that missing year Laughing

#11: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 2:21 pm
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Caroline wrote:

And the eldest daughter is definitely Gretchen in other books - although I suppose Greta could be a short.

The "chen" is a diminutive, so Gretchen would be "little Greta."
It's especially amusing when random "chens" and "leins" are stuck onto American names.

But there's no accounting for the rest of the name changes....

#12: Author: Laura V, Location: Czech Republic

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 3:51 pm
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Quote:

Ha! Maybe Marie ditched her childhood sweetie Andreas for sexy french Andre during that missing year

oooo, how interesting that drabble would be!!

#13: Author: Kat, Location: Kingston-upon-Thames/Swansea

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 10:39 pm
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How come there is never any mention of Marie having to take things easy because she's pregnant? Even being a servant, I can't see Jem as a Dr, or Madge as a kind Mistress, letting her continue with her usual work.

Would they have bought in another woman to help?

#14: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 8:25 am
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Rosa (Marie's sister) also worked for the Russells, as a nanny/nursemaid, although she'd probably have had her hands full with all the kids. Quite honestly, I think EBD forgot about Marie's family most of the time! I get the impression she married Marie and Andreas off so that she could write that lovely wedding chapter in Head Girl - whereas Rosa never gets married, and Anna has a boyfriend briefly but it comes to nothing - and then only periodically remembered to mention that they had children!

#15: Author: Mel, Location: UP NORTH

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 12:39 pm
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The Round House had a farm attached didn't it? Perhaps Marie and Andreas were given a cottage eventually or coverted stables or something. I can't imagine the Russells/Bettanys playing with servants' children! They might catch something or pick up all kinds of language - well perhaps not as they are Tyrolean and therefore perfect in every way. Sybil would have a field day bullying them though. And what if a romance developed later?

#16: Author: Róisín, Location: Gaillimh

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 12:40 pm
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Mel wrote:

And what if a romance developed later?

*sends bunny treats*

#17: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 12:42 pm
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Mel wrote:

The Round House had a farm attached didn't it?

Where does it say this? Could be useful *ponders* But are you thinking of the Quadrant?

Last edited by Mia on Sat May 27, 2006 12:44 pm; edited 1 time in total

#18: Author: Carys, Location: London

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 12:44 pm
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Maybe that was the real reason why Jem and Madge took Sybs and Josette to Australia, to keep one of them away from one of Marie's sons!

*Bats the bunny away*

#19: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 1:32 pm
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Sends the bunny back to Cazx, having told it that she really wants to write that drabble.

#20: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 12:11 am
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Mia wrote:

Mel wrote:

The Round House had a farm attached didn't it?

Where does it say this? Could be useful *ponders* But are you thinking of the Quadrant?

It's mentioned in Highland Twins:

Quote:

At one meadow she nodded, and told them that her sister, Lady Russell, lived in a house among the trees. ‘At least, it’s not exactly among the trees,’ she added. ‘Really, it stands above them. It’s an old Georgian hunting lodge, and it has a glorious round room for the—well, I suppose you’d call it the living-room. There’s a farm attached, and so my sister has her work cut out, what with all her family, and four of my brother’s kiddies, as well as her own three to look after.

#21: Author: Mel, Location: UP NORTH

Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 2:33 pm
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Thanks KB I knew I had read that somewhere.

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