Malory Towers is a fictional
CornishCornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...
seaside
boarding schoolA boarding school is a school where some or all pupils not only study, but also live during term time, with their fellow students and possibly teachers. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board", that is, food and lodging...
which features in a series of six
novelA novel is a long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s by British children's author
Enid BlytonEnid Mary Blyton was a British children's writer known as both Enid Blyton and Mary Pollock. She was one of the most successful children's storytellers of the twentieth century....
. In 2009 six more books were added to the series by author
Pamela CoxPamela Cox is a children's author. She was asked to complete Enid Blyton's St. Clare's series, and has written The Third Form at St. Clare's, The Sixth Form at St. Clare's, and Kitty at St. Clare's. She has also written three new stories in the popular Malory Towers series, New Term at Malory...
, who has also made additions to Enid Blyton's series St Clare's.
The series follows the heroine Darrell Rivers from her first year at Malory Towers to when she leaves. Other characters include Sally Hope (Darrell's level-headed best friend), Felicity Rivers (Darrell's younger sister), Gwendoline Mary Lacey (the
formA form is a class or grouping of students in a school. The term is used predominantly in the United Kingdom, although some schools, mostly private, in other countries also use the title...
's spoilt martyr), Alicia Johns (sharp tongued, competitive and intelligent), Mary-Lou (small and timid, but very kind hearted), Irene (scatterbrained music and maths genius), Belinda (scatterbrained artistic genius), Jean (shrewd and straightforward) and Wilhelmina (Bill) (completely horse-mad).
The characters are very similar to the set of characters in the St Clare's series, which Blyton also wrote.
The series is believed to be semi-autobiographical, and the name "Darrell Rivers" is clearly drawn from Blyton's second husband's name, Kenneth Darrell Waters.
Malory Towers is a fictional
CornishCornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...
seaside
boarding schoolA boarding school is a school where some or all pupils not only study, but also live during term time, with their fellow students and possibly teachers. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board", that is, food and lodging...
which features in a series of six
novelA novel is a long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s by British children's author
Enid BlytonEnid Mary Blyton was a British children's writer known as both Enid Blyton and Mary Pollock. She was one of the most successful children's storytellers of the twentieth century....
. In 2009 six more books were added to the series by author
Pamela CoxPamela Cox is a children's author. She was asked to complete Enid Blyton's St. Clare's series, and has written The Third Form at St. Clare's, The Sixth Form at St. Clare's, and Kitty at St. Clare's. She has also written three new stories in the popular Malory Towers series, New Term at Malory...
, who has also made additions to Enid Blyton's series St Clare's.
The series follows the heroine Darrell Rivers from her first year at Malory Towers to when she leaves. Other characters include Sally Hope (Darrell's level-headed best friend), Felicity Rivers (Darrell's younger sister), Gwendoline Mary Lacey (the
formA form is a class or grouping of students in a school. The term is used predominantly in the United Kingdom, although some schools, mostly private, in other countries also use the title...
's spoilt martyr), Alicia Johns (sharp tongued, competitive and intelligent), Mary-Lou (small and timid, but very kind hearted), Irene (scatterbrained music and maths genius), Belinda (scatterbrained artistic genius), Jean (shrewd and straightforward) and Wilhelmina (Bill) (completely horse-mad).
The characters are very similar to the set of characters in the St Clare's series, which Blyton also wrote.
The series is believed to be semi-autobiographical, and the name "Darrell Rivers" is clearly drawn from Blyton's second husband's name, Kenneth Darrell Waters. It is also widely supposed that Blyton based the creation on the famous Scottish boarding school
St Leonards SchoolSt Leonards School and Sixth Form College, formerly St Leonards School for Girls, is an independent school, founded by the University of St Andrews in the nineteenth century....
in
St AndrewsSt Andrews is a town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle. St Andrews has a population of 16,596 making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
, which is, of course, the heroine’s University destination.
Story
Darrell, the main character, begins her career ingloriously. Determined to do well and make friends, she falls under the spell of the brilliant but mischievous Alicia Johns, neglecting her schoolwork in favour of fooling around and playing pranks on the staff. The reader is treated to an early exposition of her violent temper (inherited from her father) when she rescues Mary-Lou, a smaller, weaker girl in her form, who is being held under water by the malicious Gwendoline Mary Lacey, and delivers a stinging rebuke to Gwendoline with the flat of her hand. She rebuffs Mary-Lou's attempts to make friends, since she believes Mary-Lou to be feeble and unable to stand up for herself, and clashes with fellow new girl Sally Hope, who insists that she is an only child despite written and verbal assurances from Darrell's mother that she has an infant sister. This leads to another altercation, in which a violent shove from Darrell exacerbates Sally's smouldering appendicitis, forcing Darrell's father (a surgeon) to perform an impromptu appendectomy in the school's sick-bay. The experience of thinking that she has made Sally seriously ill, leads Darrell to a greater determination to conquer her temper. Sally's attitude is revealed as pathological jealousy, which is resolved by her parents leaving her infant sister behind to visit her. Sally and Mary-Lou later stand by Darrell during a malicious episode (orchestrated by Gwendoline) in which Darrell is unjustly accused of spitefully destroying Mary-Lou's fountain pen. The first book ends with Darrell and Sally being firm friends and Mary-Lou an associate.
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
lacrosseLacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin that is played using a small solid rubber ball and a long-handled racquet called a crosse or lacrosse stick. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose netting that is designed to hold the lacrosse ball...
and tennis player. In all of the books she plays a pivotal role, though she is not always successful in her endeavours and indeed is temporarily stripped of her fourth-form captaincy (she is caught shaking a smaller girl who was threatening to reveal a misdeed of Darrell's out of personal spite), though she gets it back again by resolving a particularly complicated case of sibling rivalry. She is on friendly terms with most of her classmates and even makes her peace with Gwendoline Lacey at the end, when a personal tragedy strikes the vain, selfish class outcast.
At the end of her school career, Darrell is bound for the
University of St AndrewsThe University of St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland and third oldest in the English-speaking world, having been founded between 1410 and 1413...
. She charges her younger sister Felicity to uphold the standard that she and her classmates set.
Books
The six 'official' books of the series are:
- First Term at Malory Towers
First Term at Malory Towers is the first Malory Towers book by Enid Blyton. In this book, we first meet the main characters including Darrell Rivers, Sally Hope, Mary-Lou, Alicia Johns, Betty Hill and teachers such as Miss Potts and Miss Grayling.-Plot:...
(1946)
- Second Form at Malory Towers
Second Form at Malory Towers is the second book in the Malory Towers series by Enid Blyton. It was published in 1947.-Plot:Darrell is more settled in in this book, so the main focus is on the new girls. Belinda Morris is a scatter brain, but an art genius, who becomes very popular. Daphne Turner is...
(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 CoxPamela Cox is a children's author. She was asked to complete Enid Blyton's St. Clare's series, and has written The Third Form at St. Clare's, The Sixth Form at St. Clare's, and Kitty at St. Clare's. She has also written three new stories in the popular Malory Towers series, New Term at Malory...
wrote six sequels in 2009 which focus on the adventures of Felicity Rivers and June Johns:
- 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)
German translations
The
GermanGerman is a West Germanic language, thus related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. It is one of the world's major languages and the most widely spoken first language in the European Union. Around the world, German is spoken by approximately 105 million native speakers and also by...
translation of the series adds twelve books occurring after the sixth, with Darrell (in the German version: Dolly Rieder) returning to a college associated with Malory Towers ("Burg Möwenfels"), the "Möwennest" (Malory Nest). As the story develops she returns to Malory Towers, first as educator, then she becomes matron of the famous 'North Tower' where she resided as a child. She marries her former "Möwennest" teacher in German and Literature, has a baby girl (Katharina) and finally becomes headmistress of Malory Towers, after Miss Grayling (Frau Greiling) had been seriously injured in a traffic accident, and is unable to work any longer. Several other characters from the first six volumes appear again: Felicity (Felizitas), Darrell's sister, gets her A-Levels at Malory Towers and moves on to the Malory Nest. Later she marries one of Bill's brothers, Ralph. Bill (Will) and her friend Clarissa take over the riding school of both Malory Towers and Malory Nest, Gwendoline (Evelyn) is a student at Malory Nest in Vols. 7 to 9, and Ellen returns to Malory Towers first as teacher, marries a colleague and succeeds Darrell as matron of the North Tower when Darrell becomes headmistress in Vol. 18. Vol. 14 ("Klassentreffen auf der Burg") is about a class reunion, with most of the characters from the first six volumes in attendance.
Although these books also bear the author's name Enid Blyton, they are not translations of any English books, and some serious fans question their authenticity and their right to be counted as 'canon'. The author who wrote these books is Rosemarie von Schach who uses several pseudonyms - such as Enid Blyton and Claudia Jones. She is best known as Tina Caspari and the likeness between Tina Caspari's books (most of them are about girls or horses) and the added Malory-Towers-books is striking.
Main characters
Characters (with the forms they attend within the school during the series) include:
| Name |
Nick Name |
Appeared in Form |
Note |
| Darrell Rivers |
Darrell |
Form 1-6 |
The heroine, or protagonist. Her athletic prowess is matched by her academic achievements. Many, but not all, of the events in the books are seen from her perspective or through her eyes. |
| Sally Hope |
Sally |
Form 1-6 |
Darrell's best friend. Steadfast and very loyal to Darell. |
| Gwendoline Mary Lacey |
Gwen, Dear Gwendoline Mary |
Forms 1-6 |
The spoilt one of the form, who always entertains the girls at the start of the term with a crying fit from her mum. |
| Irene |
|
Form 1-6 |
No last name is given this character, despite her being one of the few characters to last through all the books (Forms 1-6). Irene is a scatterbrain and befriends Belinda Morris. She is a genius at mathematics and has a talent for music. |
| Emily Lake |
|
Form 1-2 |
She is largely unnoticed, and not heard of from Form 3. |
| Violet |
|
Form 1 |
Although she is largely unnoticed, not heard of from Form 2. |
| Jean MacDonald |
|
Forms 1-3 |
|
| Alicia Johns |
Alicia |
Forms 1-6 |
An active and playful girl, who often play pranks on teachers and friends. |
| Betty Hill |
Betty |
Forms 1-6 |
Is also one for tricks. Betty is Alicia's best friend. |
| Mary-Lou |
|
Forms 1-6 |
Mary-Lou can be rather timid. |
| Katherine |
|
Form 1 |
Head of the First Form in the first book, but goes straight up to the Third Form at the start of the second book. It is implied that she was kept from going up to the Second Form in order to be Head Girl, but no more is heard from her after the first chapter of the second book. |
| Belinda Morris |
|
Forms 2-6 |
Belinda is Irene's best friend and has a talent for art. She is as scatter-brained as her best friend Irene. |
| Ellen Wilson |
|
Form 2 |
Later promoted into the form above Darrell. |
| Daphne Millicent Turner |
|
Forms 2-6 |
Although is heard from rarely since Form 5. |
| Wilhelmina 'Bill' Robinson |
Bill |
Forms 3-6 |
Willful and head-strong, Wilhelmina is a fan of horses. |
| Mavis |
|
Forms 3-5 |
Mainly dealt with in the third form. Was mentioned in the Sixth Form, but had already left after the Fifth to go to music college. Mavis has a great talent for music but was highly arrogant when she first came. An accident, that makes her lose her voice, redeems her. |
| Clarissa Carter |
|
Forms 4-6 |
Clarissa has a heart problem and also loves horses. She befriends Wilhelmina 'Bill' Robinson. |
| June Johns |
|
Forms 1-2 |
Appeared within the last three books, she is Alicia Johns' cousin. |
|
Felicity Rivers |
Felicity |
Forms 1-2 |
Appeared within the last three books. She is Darrell's younger sister. |
|
Maureen Little |
|
Forms 5-6 |
|
| Moira Linton |
|
Forms 5-6 |
She was left down in the fifth form and can be rather domineering. |
| Catherine Gray |
Saint Catherine |
Form 5 |
Also alluded as a fourth-former when Darrell is in the third form. A girl named 'Catherine' in the year above Darrell is mentioned in the book "Third Year At Malory Towers" as being in the same lacrosse team as Darrell temporarily, although it is uncertain whether or not they are the same person, as Catherine Gray is typecast as a "doormat" character who appears to have no interest in sport. Also known as "Saint Catherine". |
| Amanda Chartelow |
|
Form 6 |
Is good at sport. |
| Josephine Jones |
Jo |
Form 1 |
Mentioned in book 6 |
| Suzanne |
|
Form 6 |
A French exchange student. |
| Zerelda Brass |
|
Form 3 |
A US Exchange student, she believes she has an acting skill. |
| Pamela |
|
Form 1 |
Head girl when Darrell is in form 1. |
| Rita |
|
Form 5 |
|
| Marilyn |
|
Form 6 |
|
| Doris |
|
Form 1 |
|
| Fanny |
|
Form 1 |
|
| Georgina Thomas |
|
Form 2 |
A senior student when Darrell is in second form, and apparently known for her bad temper. |
| Winnie Toms |
|
|
|
| Connie Batten |
|
Form 4 |
Failed and repeated a year when her twin sister Ruth moved up. |
| Ruth Batten |
|
Forms 4-5 |
Connie's twin sister. |
| Molly Ronaldson |
|
|
Sixth Form when Darrell is in Form 3 - School Games Captain, a post later held by Sally Hope. |
| Susan |
|
Forms 1-2 |
Felicity's best friend. She is great at gymnastics. |
| Eileen |
|
|
Great friends with Betty Hill and Alicia Johns, she is from the west tower. |
| Winnie |
|
|
Great friends with Betty Hill and Alicia Johns, she is from the west tower. |
| Bridget Linton |
|
|
Form 4 when Darrell is in Form 5, she is Moira's younger sister. |
Background Characters
- Daffy- she is Sally's younger sister, but does not come to Malory Towers during the time Sally is there.
- Tessa
- Janet
- Penelope
- Katie
- Dora
- Gladys
- Lucy
- Harriet
- Christine
- Gwyneth
- Louella
- Rachel
- Pat & Rita
- Vera
- Miss Carton (Malory Towers history teacher)
- Miss Williams (Malory Towers fourth-form mistress)
- Miss Potts (also called by the girls in secret "Potty" - Malory Towers first-form mistress)
- Miss Grayling (Malory Towers headmistress)
- Miss Winter (Gwendoline Lacey's governess)
- Mam'zelle Dupont (French teacher, North Tower staff) Plump and kind- hearted.
- Mam'zelle Rougier (French teacher, South Tower staff)Thin as a stick and not as kind- hearted as Mam'zelle Dupont.
- Mr & Mrs Hope(Sally Hope's parents ,mentioned in the first and fourth books)
- Mr & Mrs Rivers (Darrell's parents)
- Mr & Mrs Lacey (Gwen's parents)
- Mr Young (Malory Towers music teacher)
- Miss Linnie (Malory Towers art teacher and sewing mistress)
- Miss Remmington (Malory Towers sports mistress)
- Miss Terry
- Miss Parker (Malory Towers second-form mistress)
- Miss Peters (Malory Towers third-form mistress)
- Miss Oakes (Malory Towers sixth-form mistress)
- Mr Sutton (woodworking master, not generally popular with higher forms but liked by Bill Robinson, whom he encourages)
- Mr Lemming
- Miss James (Malory Towers fifth-form mistress)
- Miss Cherry
- Miss Greening (drama elocution mistress)
- Pops (the handyman, possibly in charge of several unnamed grounds staff featured in book 2)
Similar books
Blyton wrote two other series about life at a boarding school: St. Clare's and the Naughtiest Girl series.
External links