Malory Towers - Enid Blyton

Malory Towers is a series of six novels by English children's author Enid Blyton. The series is based on a girls' boarding school that Blyton's daughter attended, Benenden School, which relocated during the war to the Cornish seaside. The series follows the protagonist, Darrell Rivers, on her adventures and experiences in boarding school. Darrell Rivers' name was inspired by that of Blyton's second husband, Kenneth Darrell Waters.

In 2009, six more books were added to the series by author Pamela Cox. Events in these take place after Darrell has left the school and focus on her younger sister, Felicity Rivers. 

 Darrell Rivers begins her first year at Malory Towers, a castle-like clifftop boarding school in Cornwall. Determined to do well and make friends, her first term is turbulent. Her temper causes problems, her efforts at playing the fool backfire, and the first book ends with Darrell becoming best friends with Sally Hope.

Darrell's career from this point is smoother, and she eventually covers herself in the personal, scholastic and sporting glory that was originally expected of her. She is head of the fourth form, games captain of the fifth, and head girl in her final year as well as being a successful lacrosse and tennis player. When she is in the fourth form, her younger sister, Felicity, joins her as a first former at the school. From then up until "Last Term at Malory Towers", we also focus on Felicity and the rest of her form, especially June, the troublesome cousin of Alicia. In all of the books, Darrell plays a pivotal role, though she is not always successful in her endeavours.

The school has four towers that are four storeys high. The kitchen, dining hall and common rooms are on the ground floor, dormitories are on the first and second floors, teachers' rooms and storage are on the top floor.

The school forms a square with a courtyard in the middle. The sides of the school are three storeys high. Between the west and the north towers there are the classrooms. Between the north and east towers are the 'san' and the headmistress's rooms. Between the east and south towers are the entrance, gym, assembly hall, labs and art room. Between the south and west tower are the mistress's rooms.

The school also has a rose garden, stables, tennis courts, sports pitches and an outside, natural swimming pool.

The six official books of the series are:

First Term at Malory Towers (1946)

Second Form at Malory Towers (1947)

Third Year at Malory Towers (1948)

Upper Fourth at Malory Towers (1949)

In the Fifth at Malory Towers (1950)

Last Term at Malory Towers (1951)

Pamela Cox wrote six sequels of the series in 2009 which focus on the adventures of Felicity Rivers, June Johns and Susan Blake:

New Term at Malory Towers (2009)

Summer Term at Malory Towers (2009)

Winter Term at Malory Towers (2009)

Fun and Games at Malory Towers (2009)

Secrets at Malory Towers (2009)

Goodbye Malory Towers (2009)

Got a copy of this last month - and glimpsing through it transposed to the school days.  51 of 2020 was a nice walk down the memory lane. Spend time specially going through In the Fifth at Malory Towers as it had a play we did in school as well. Was transposed to the days when school would reopen, the thoughts and feelings then, how we welcome new members, and get involved into a year, and it is just over very soon with sports, games, singing, dancing, drama, studies, fights, laughter and cries. 

Darrell and Sally are writing the script of the pantomime, Irene with music, Janet with dresses, and Belinda with scenery and designs. Was reminded of our Cindrella act.

And then, Felicity plays her first match, and shoots the winning goal, and Moria gets anonymous letters, and Alicia and Betty resign from the show (Because of Moira). Soon, June is discovered to be the one who is writing poison-pen letters, and is going to be expelled. But Moira saves her from being expelled, and Alicia and Betty join back in to the show.

Looking back, it strikes me that Blyton’s prolific output was so successful because it perfectly taps into the paradox of children: they crave freedom and familiarity. She is the 4th author whose books have been translated into many languages. Her Secret Seven and Famous Five books were the most common books in library during school days.