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Episodes look at individual Chalet School books, Elinor M Brent-Dyer's life and other works, and wider themes, with occasional interviews. There will be spoilers, because the books have been in print for over 50 years. There will be mispronunciations, because it's too late now to put right the ones I invented as a 9 year old. And we do not ignore the bonkersness that makes EBD so beloved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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A non-Chalet EBD book this week, although it includes a Chalet character (not that you'd recognise her) and reference to a Swiss sanatorium. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/05/13/s2e18-high-heels-and-a-hand-grenade/ You can contact Tophole via Facebook or at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/…
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Wendy and I discuss some of the top bonkers moments and situations in the Chalet School Series. There are plenty to choose from, so if your particular favourite isn't here, please do get in touch. You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at [email protected]. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/04/29/s2e17-…
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Back in wartime Armishire for a review of Lavender Laughs at the Chalet School. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/04/15/s2e16-i-need-nine-frocks/ You can contact Tophole via Facebook or at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
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It's that time of year when we finish varnishing our scrapbooks and stuffing our toy animals, and encourage our friends and family to get out their purses and spend, spend, spend at THE SALE! Are we organising the stalls by forms, groups, or houses? Do we need a Sale Committee or shall we skip it for this year? Readers participate in 13 sales of wo…
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Let's spend a year or so in Guernsey, catching up with friends. Or, if you've never read any of the La Rochelle books, let's get hugely confused by dozens of characters. Either way, settle down for an authentic portrait of the first year of married life. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/03/18/s2e14-a-romance-for-old…
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Second half of our discussion of Armada paperbacks - second style covers from 1972 to 1985. You can see most (although not all) of the covers we discuss at https://uk.pinterest.com/deborahlofas/chalet-school/2nd-style-pb/ Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/03/04/s2e13-paperback-writer-2/ You can find Tophole on Facebo…
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It's a Wendy week (woo-hoo!) and we're discussing Armada books, and particularly their covers. You can see most of these on the boards at https://uk.pinterest.com/deborahlofas/chalet-school/. Obviously this took us hours so part 2 of our conversation will come next time. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/02/18/s2e12-…
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Delayed for technical reasons (for which apologies) - in this episode I consider Prunella Davidson's arrival at the School, and refrain from wondering what exactly 'It' is. I also don't talk much about the arrival of Bruno because we covered that last time. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/02/04/s2-e11-this-one-star…
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The long-promised episode where Wendy and I discuss dogs in EBD's books, and what we learn about training and caring for them. We talk about Rufus and Bruno in the Chalet School books, as well as They Both Liked Dogs, The Lost Staircase, and Kennelmaid Nan - and there are, of course, spoilers, but it is absolutely still worth reading Kennelmaid Nan…
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It's that time of year, so there's really only one Chalet book to talk about! Brittany can be found here You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us on [email protected] (and I promise I will get to the emails this week). Episode transcript available here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
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Third time lucky for recording this particular episode, which is about backs and back problems (a) at the Chalet School (b) elsewhere in children's literature and (c) across the whole of recorded time. We are nothing if not ambitious. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/s2e8-oof/ You can find Tophole on Facebook …
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An overview both of Girlguiding, and the Chalet School's experience of it. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/12/03/s2e7-on-my-honour/ You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us on [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
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The final book set at Plas Howell (which I keep accidentally calling Plas Gwyn, but I think Kit has managed to edit out all the incidents). Full transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/11/19/s2e6-the-series-re-boot/ Tophole has its own Facebook page, or you can email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri…
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Loads of spoilers in this discussion, and also the shock of a man's voice, as Kit joins us to discuss The Lost Staircase. He's made clear he won't be doing it again. You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/11/05/s2e5-the-kitten-did-it/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy…
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We conclude our conversation about The Chalet Girls in Camp, and our own experiences of guide camp, with reference to camp fires, latrines, rest hour, and much more. Full transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/10/22/s1e4-campfires-burning/ Tophole has a Facebook page, and you can email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acas…
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It's a Wendy week, and what could be better for two former Guide leaders than a Chalet School book devoted to Guide camp? We compare our experiences to those described by EBD (who, I think it's safe to say, never tried incinerating disposable nappies at a girlguiding campsite). You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at [email protected]…
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I'm joined today by Caroline Crampton (Shedunnit, A Body Made of Glass) to discuss health, and health anxiety, at the Chalet School. Transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/09/24/s2e2-slipping-something-into-the-coffee/ You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo…
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A look at the start of the Chalet School's final year. You can find Tophole on Facebook and email us at [email protected]. Full transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/09/10/ive-as-much-right-to-the-book-as-moira/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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End of term so Wendy does the interviewing in this one! Transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/07/09/s1e23-deborah-visits-the-chalet-school/ and you can find us on Facebook or email [email protected]. Podcasts recommended for your summer break: The Kindred Spirits Book Club The Children's Literature Podcast Backlisted Shedun…
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It's the centenary of the Chalet School's conception this summer, so today I'm taking a look at the holiday which inspired it all. I made considerable use of Behind the Chalet School by Helen McClelland in preparing this week's episode - more than usual, I mean - but also went down lots of lovely rabbit holes about fashion, ski-ing, and station dep…
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Obviously the entire Chalet School never made it to Yorkshire. But Jo, Frieda, Simone and Marie did, and EBD wrote a book about it. Get into the holiday mood early with a look at Jo to the Rescue. Episode transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/?p=79 Find us on Facebook or email us at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. S…
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Today's episode is an interview with Clarissa Cridland, of Girls Gone By Publishers and Friends of the Chalet School. You can find Girls Gone By (and order your copy of Millies of the Chalet School) at www.ggbp.co.uk Friends of the Chalet School can be found at www.chaletschool.org.uk Episode transcript at www.topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/05/2…
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Unpacking - tennis - and an unsuitable novel
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This week I'm talking about the only Chalet School book my husband attempted to engage with. Apologies for both the lateness, and the sniffs (the two are connected). Full transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/05/14/s1e19-unpacking-tennis-and-an-unsuitable-novel/ You can find us on Facebook or email at [email protected]. Hos…
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Daisy May Johnson is the author of How to be Brave, How to be True, and How to be Free - modern boarding school stories which you should definitely seek out. Daisy is also one of us, a fan of the Chalet School, so we talk about EBD's books as well as her own. The discussion doesn't quite need a content warning, but you may never think of Gottfried,…
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A look at the book in which the Chalet School travels to England - retitled "The Chalet School at War" by Armada. Transcript available at topholepodcast.wordpress.com. You can find us on Facebook, or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Josette, Maeve, Rosamund and Len, plus some statistical analysis. A slightly longer episode which entirely makes up for the fact that it's a day late. Transcript available at www.topholepodcast.wordpress.com. You can find us on Facebook and email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
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We've finally arrived in Switzerland, so this week we're talking about Julie, Betsy, Elinor and Mary-Lou, trying to decide on their finest moment (and, in the case of Elinor, work out who she is). Full transcript available at topholepodcast.wordpress.com. You can find us on Facebook, or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See aca…
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A short episode this week while we finish editing the last two Primus Inter Pares episodes! Back to the Tirol for Grizel's final two terms at the Chalet School. Transcript available at topholepodcast.wordpress.com. You can email us at [email protected] or find us on Facebook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
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Tophole! - the podcast about Elinor M Brent-Dyer, the Chalet School, and anything vaguely connected. More Chalet School head girls in this episode - this time we're discussing from Jesanne to Bride. Full transcript on topholepodcast.wordpress.com. Contact us at [email protected] or find us on Facebook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy …
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Wendy and I discuss head-girls, their challenges and their triumphs, from Louise Redfield/Redmond to Elizabeth Arnett. Also a short side-rant about sleeping bags. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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We thought we'd complete this discussion in a single episode. We were wrong. This one takes us from Gisela to Joey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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A book crammed with events which are referenced in later books - and one of the very best stories from the Tyrol. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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We can't pronounce it, but we know quite a bit about it, even though attempting to draw up floor plans defeated us - and not only because EBD contradicts herself almost as soon as she takes us through the front door for the first time. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2023/12/26/s1e9-the-house-that-shall-not-be-named/ Yo…
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How on earth did Jack and Joey afford their huge house, 11 children, and multiple wards and adoptees? Let's find out... Transcript available at topholepodcast.wordpress.com You can email us at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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If you remember the fanzines of the pre-digital age, you might remember Folly, the best of them all. Today I'm talking to Folly's editor, Sue Sims. Links mentioned in the episode follymagazine.co.uk (you may need to go to follymagazine.co.uk/articles rather than the homepage) sevenstories.org.uk Episode transcript at topholepodcast.wordpress.com Co…
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EBD didn't just write school stories, and today we're looking at her historical novel for adults, Elizabeth the Gallant. Apologies for the earlier audio mix-up - we've now corrected this. Transcript available at www.topholepodcast.wordpress.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
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It's a Wendy week (woo!) and today we're considering the Chalet School's consumption of caffeine and nicotine. Probably best not to listen if you're doing Stoptober or have recently switched to green tea. If you have hardback or GGBP editions of the second half of the series, you have the advantage over us, so please do let us know if we left out a…
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"Miss Dene was on the stairs and she was a cannibal" is the unfortunate summary of this term whiich we later get, but it doesn't put off Miss Ferrars. Hopefully the staff fill her in on all the other things that happen during this eventful term on St Briavels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
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It's a Wendy week and we're talking about hair - washing it, cutting it, styling it - at the Chalet School. Also some top beauty (and gardening) tips along the way as we relate our own hair experiences. The YouTube video we refer to is "I tried 500 years of Haircuts" by Morgan Donner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
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Gwyn Jones is the only artist to have created a book cover for every single Chalet School book (and a few extra ones, as Armada divided some of the original hardbacks when publishing them in paperback). In this interview, she explains how she became a professional illustrator, and provides a fascinating insight into how she created the Chalet Schoo…
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We start with a review of Elinor M Brent-Dyer's The Chalet School and Barbara - bears, shoe lockers, and how long is prep exactly? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Enjoy the Chalet School books? This is the podcast for you! We are launching on 5 September, so here are the provisos regarding pronunciation, spoilers, and affectionate disrespect, which will apply throughout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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