Malory Towers First Term Pdf

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Gaby Zenz

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Aug 3, 2024, 3:29:05 PM8/3/24

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First Term at Malory Towers is the first Malory Towers book by Enid Blyton. The book introduces the main characters including Darrell Rivers, Sally Hope, Mary-Lou, Alicia Johns, Gwendoline Mary Lacey, and teachers as Miss Potts and Miss Grayling.

Twelve year old Darrell Rivers travels by train to the first year at her new boarding school, Malory Towers. She quickly befriends several of the girls in her dormitory, including lively Alicia and artistic but scatter-brained Irene, though she has trouble getting along with the spoilt Gwendoline and the withdrawn and unfriendly Sally Hope.

Gwendoline, in particular, tests Darrell's temper. When Gwendoline takes advantage of shy Mary-Lou's fear of swimming by holding her down in the water, Darrell rushes in to rescue Mary-Lou and for teasing her she slapped Gwen several times. She even flares up at the head girl Katherine for not punishing people like Gwendoline and making sure that they learned their lesson. Soon afterwards however, Darrell regrets her loss of temper and apologises to Katherine. Mary-Lou becomes devoted to Darrell, annoying her with her efforts to become her friend. Later, Darrell attempts to boost Mary-Lou's self-confidence by pretending to have difficulties in the water and allowing herself to be saved by Mary-Lou.

During the half-term break, Darrell asks Sally if she would like spend the day with her and her parents, but is turned down. Later, when Darrell asks Sally about her baby sister, Sally denies having one. Their conversation devolves into an argument, and Darrell pushes Sally to the ground. The next morning Sally is seriously ill, and Darrell begins to worry that she caused Sally's illness by pushing her. A doctor is called to see Sally, and it happens to be Darrell's father, Dr. Rivers, who is nearby after the half term holiday. Things are sorted out when Darrell's father explains that he came to operate on Sally and says it was not Darrell who made Sally ill. Sally admits to Darrell she does have a sister, but pretended she didn't because she was jealous of sharing her mother with the baby. Darrell and Sally become friends when Darrell shares her own experiences of being a big sister.

Gwendoline becomes increasingly envious of Darrell's growing popularity and decides to ruin her reputation. She destroys Mary-Lou's favourite pen and smears ink on Darrell's shoes to frame her. Darrell's denials are not believed by most of the other first-formers, who recall her fierce temper. Even Alicia, with whom Darrell wants to be best friends, does not believe her. Only Sally and Mary-Lou herself stand by Darrell. Determined to help Darrell, Mary-Lou collects evidence (Gwen's inky shoes) to show that Gwen broke her pen, satisfying the first-formers and proving Darrell's innocence. Term ends with Darrell turning down Alicia's friendship to be with Sally and Mary-Lou. She leaves by train with Sally, promising she'll be back at Malory Towers next term.[1][2]

Enid Blyton (1897-1968) was a prolific English author of children's books. Born in London, she began writing while still in school. Her first attempts at writing were rejected by publishers which just made her more determined to succeed. She trained as a teacher and in her spare time continued to write. Her first book, a collection of poems, was published in 1922. Her first series of books, "Old Thatch", began in 1934 and eventually encompassed 28 books. In the 1940's she began to churn out books sometimes three or four per year. By the 1950's she was publishing upwards of 50 books per year. In all, she wrote over 750 books which sold over 600 million copies. While critics called her writing unimaginative and lacking literary merit, this did not stop her adoring fans from scooping her books off the shelf. Even after her death, her endearing stories continue to draw the rapt attention of children everywhere. (Enid Blyton Society)Available Formats

Begin at the beginning, right? Although I must confess that the first Malory Towers book I read was Upper Fourth, sitting in the bedroom of my friends down the road. I was nine, and my parents, who were trying to wean me off Enid Blyton, were not too pleased when I came home with a whole new obsession.

Darrell felt excited. She was going to boarding school for the first time. Malory Towers did not take children younger than twelve, so Darrell would be one of the youngest there. She looked forward to many terms of fun and friendship, work and play.

Miss Potts introduces Darrell to classmate Alicia, who has bright, twinkling eyes and no other physical characteristics. Alicia is downright, sensible and likeable, and she and Darrell promptly bond through the mockery of another student:

Darrell looked to where Alicia nodded. She saw a girl about her own age, dressed in the same school uniform, but with her hair long and loose down her back. She was clinging to her mother and wailing.

Darrell Rivers looked at herself in the glass, is how the first line used to read. Now it reads that she looked at herself in the mirror. I look forward to reading Through the Mirror by Lewis Carroll next.

According to MeasuringWorth.com, ten shillings in 1946 would be worth between 12.32 and 48.87 depending on which variables you are calculating it on. I think 20 would probably have been a more sensible amount to update it to.

Generally anything pre 1970 is safe (the only changes then were usually corrections and changing king to queen), the 70s saw some minor updates like children wearing jeans instead of shorts etc, but the bulk of the changes began in the 90s.

But reading about privileged kids in boarding school wasnt going to offend etc, im too intelligent for that. The publishers clearly arent. I have really old paperbacks somewhere but bought hardback in 1994 for daughter, now im wondering if she grew up reading an edited version!!

I adored malory towers series as i did most Enid Blyton. Perfect escapism to feed my imagination, from living day to day in a big family where both parents worked, was disability in the family, we lived day to day. I was even kept off school at one point because we had no money for shoes. Then another time, my shoes broke on holiday in Wales so got me some from charity shop that hurt my feet! But reading about privileged kids in boarding school wasnt going to offend etc, im too intelligent for that. The publishers clearly arent. I have really old paperbacks somewhere but bought hardback in 1994 by Dean, for daughter, now im wondering if she grew up reading an edited version!!

Darrell, the main character, begins her school life 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 underwater 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 Sally Hope (becomes Darrell's best friend very quickly) 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 best friends and Mary-Lou an associate.

This and First Term are the best of the series (perhaps I just like reading about Darrell going mad and attacking people). Darrell is now head girl of her form, and the girls are working for the School Cert., a tough formal exam. Gwen is as bad as ever, and new girls once more provide a good deal of the action. In the Upper Fourth, the new girls are Clarissa Carter, and twins Connie and Ruth. Darrell's young sister Felicity joins the school for the first time, as does Alicia's cheeky young cousin June. Like Darrell in her first term with Alicia, Felicity admires the 'daredevil, cocksure' June and wants to be her Friend. Darrell, now a sensible head girl, tries to discourage the friendship. But June has other ideas...

Connie and Ruth join the school at the start of the term, and the girls quickly notice that Connie is by far the most dominant twin. Ruth in fact hardly says anything and when she tries, Connie finishes her sentences. But the girls, while thinking this is a bit unhealthy, don't try to interfere too much.

Another new girl arrives after the term has started. Alas for her, Gwendoline has spied a letter for her, addressed to 'The Honourable Clarissa Carter'. Aha, thinks Gwen, another chance to have a rich friend I can stay with in the Hols.

Clarissa arrives, and at first Gwen is disappointed. She is mousy and meek looking, and (horrors!), wears thick glasses and dental braces. But an Honourable is an Honourable, and Gwen soon muscles in. Almost as good as Clarissa's wealth, Gwen thinks, is that she has a weak heart and must be excused games and swimming. No forced dips in the freezing pool! Gwen's mind begins to tick...