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The Abbey Girls #9
Selma at the Abbey
Selma At The Abbey (The Abbey School Series)
255 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1952
About the author
Elsie J. Oxenham
114 books21 followersA celebrated English girls’ school story writer, Elsie J. Oxenham's was born Elsie Jeanette Dunkerley in 1880 in Southport, Lancashire, She was the daughter of writer John_Oxenham, born William John Dunkerley, who had chosen the pseudonym ‘John Oxenham’. And Elsie decided to adopt the same surname for her writing career.
Her father was a clear influence upon her own writing. Her brother, Roderic Dunkerley, was also an author (published under his own name), as was her sister Erica, who also used the 'Oxenham' name.
She grew up in Ealing, West London, where her family had moved when she was a baby, living there until 1922, when the family moved again, to Worthing. After the deaths of her parents, Oxenham lived with her sister Maida. She died in 1960.
Oxenham, whose interests included the Camp Fire movement, and English Folk Dance traditions, is primarily remembered as the creator of the 38-book 'Abbey Girls' series. In her lifetime she had 87 titles published, and another two have since been published by her niece, who discovered the manuscripts in the early 1990s.
She is considered a major figure among girls' school story writers of the first half of the 20th century -- one of the 'Big Three,' together with Elinor Brent-Dyer and Dorita Fairlie Bruce.
Her father was a clear influence upon her own writing. Her brother, Roderic Dunkerley, was also an author (published under his own name), as was her sister Erica, who also used the 'Oxenham' name.
She grew up in Ealing, West London, where her family had moved when she was a baby, living there until 1922, when the family moved again, to Worthing. After the deaths of her parents, Oxenham lived with her sister Maida. She died in 1960.
Oxenham, whose interests included the Camp Fire movement, and English Folk Dance traditions, is primarily remembered as the creator of the 38-book 'Abbey Girls' series. In her lifetime she had 87 titles published, and another two have since been published by her niece, who discovered the manuscripts in the early 1990s.
She is considered a major figure among girls' school story writers of the first half of the 20th century -- one of the 'Big Three,' together with Elinor Brent-Dyer and Dorita Fairlie Bruce.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 29, 2017
Lovely characters in this one, but I did feel the ending was stretching coincidence a bit much even for a children's book.
Still fun though. Right now, I'm planning to make this series regular summer reading in parallel with other, more "grown up" books.
Still fun though. Right now, I'm planning to make this series regular summer reading in parallel with other, more "grown up" books.
March 13, 2020
Selma Andersson is Scottish (with Swedish heritage - exotic!) and comes to stay at the Abbey. There are high jinks and the usual excitements with dancing, music, jewels and announcements of babies confusing named for numerous existing characters. This will be a particular joy for fans of the Chalet School who enjoy long conversations about whether someone is or is not old enough to be officially engaged. (No doctors, here, though.)
This was a hard one to rate. It delivers exactly what you're looking for if you decide to read an Abbey Girls book (though there is less dancing and Abbey in this one than some, but before the rot sets in of the 'plot' being people visiting each other's titled estates to meet new babies). But, on the other hand, though I love them, you cannot say this is a great novel.
This was a hard one to rate. It delivers exactly what you're looking for if you decide to read an Abbey Girls book (though there is less dancing and Abbey in this one than some, but before the rot sets in of the 'plot' being people visiting each other's titled estates to meet new babies). But, on the other hand, though I love them, you cannot say this is a great novel.
February 11, 2021
When Joan's step-cousin Angus asks her and Joy if his "lassie" — the sixteen-year-old girl that he hopes to marry — could possibly come stay at the Hall, at first they are a little reluctant. But eventually they agree, and ask young Jen to come stay as well. There is adventure, but in many ways this is a "coming-of-age" book, about the half-Scottish, half-Swedish heroine, Selma. Recommended.
February 18, 2024
there's a BOY who has ACTUAL LINES TO SAY. Oxenham really got soft in her old age.
This was quite lovely! Much more accepting of general differences. Selma was a dear.
So cool to see how they'd deal with Scottish Country Dancing (no pointing those toes now!)
and turns out 'slept in' is Scots?!
And having a good stage name is more important than the woman changing her name for marriage!? So he takes her name!?
(of course, the emphasis on Not Getting Married Too Early makes sense, cos marriage would have meant pregnancy.)
This was quite lovely! Much more accepting of general differences. Selma was a dear.
So cool to see how they'd deal with Scottish Country Dancing (no pointing those toes now!)
and turns out 'slept in' is Scots?!
And having a good stage name is more important than the woman changing her name for marriage!? So he takes her name!?
(of course, the emphasis on Not Getting Married Too Early makes sense, cos marriage would have meant pregnancy.)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews