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The first novel in the beloved Fairacre series, VILLAGE SCHOOL introduces the remarkable schoolmistress Miss Read and her lovable group of children, who, with a mixture of skinned knees and smiles, are just as likely to lose themselves as their mittens. This is the English village of Fairacre: a handful of thatch-roofed cottages, a church, the school, the promise of fair weather, friendly faces, and good cheer—at least most of the time. Here everyone knows everyone else's business, and the villagers like each other anyway (even Miss Pringle, the irascible, gloomy cleaner of Fairacre School). With a wise heart and a discerning eye, Miss Read guides us through one crisp, glistening autumn in her village and introduces us to a cast of unforgettable characters and a world of drama, romance, and humor, all within a stone's throw of the school. By the time winter comes, you'll be nestled snugly into the warmth and wit of Fairacre and won't want to leave.
The first Miss Read book, showing everyday life in an English village seen through the eyes of the insightful, kindly but shrewd schoolteacher.
<P>Five years have passed since Miss Read became the schoolmistress of the English village, Fairacre. A new school term is to begin and Miss Read looks forward to it with wonder, some trepidation, but mostly hopes for her pupils including three new students. Miss Read knows that she must help the somewhat frightened newcomers fit into the class as smoothly as possible. <P>The school year brings its usual learning, fun, and skinned knees needing special tender care. Along with Miss Reed, the dedicated but somewhat old-fashioned yet quite popular ¿uncertificated Teacher¿ Miss Clare is back and the gloom and doom custodian Mrs. Pringle is ready to keep the building clean. Finally, the awe and energy of the wide-eyed children and their village relatives offer a new year of promise and hard work. <P> The first novel in Miss Read¿s cherished Fairacre series, VILLAGE SCHOOL is a reprint of the 1955 tale that introduced the lovable teacher and her villagers to the world. Though written before Sputnik, the story line surprisingly retains a freshness and high energy level at a leisurely pace even as the remoteness of the village seems impossible in today¿s Internet world. The enjoyable offbeat cast remains fun to observe and often humorous as life in a bygone era comes fully alive in what was contemporary then but a strong historical now. This demonstrates how good a writer Miss Read is. <P>Harriet Klausner
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 31, 2010
Jan Karon is one of my wife, Karen's, favorite authors, and her "Mitford" series is one of my wife's favorite book sets. Jan Karon has recommended "The Fairacre Chronicles" saying, "If you've ever enjoyed a visit to Mitford, you'll relish a visit to Fairacre." These books are carried by Christian Book Distributors. I purchased them for Karen, and she read them all. Then I read them. Though fiction, they are based upon Mrs. Saint's experiences of living and teaching in a small English village. There are a little bad language (an occasional "d" or "h" word), some common euphemisms, a few occasions of drinking alcohol, references to the questionable parentage of a couple of the school children, and gossip about village "affairs" (I mean marital and unmarital ones).
As a result of such things, these books would not be suitable for younger children to read alone, but most of the offensive material could be edited out for family reading with some forethought and
planning. There are six books in the series. After Village School come Village Centenary (1980), Summer at Fairacre (1984), Mrs. Pringle of Fairacre (1989), Changes at Fairacre (1991), and Farewell to Fairacre (1993). Mrs. Saint has also written other books related to Fairacre that are listed--Village Diary, Storm in the Village, Miss Clare Remembers, Village Christmas, The Fairacre Festival, Emily Davis, Tyler's Row, Village Affairs, Mrs. Pringle (this might be the same as Mrs. Pringle of Fairacre-or at least most likely about the same person), and Tales from a Village School--but are not part of the Chronicles. She has also authored a similar set of "Thrush Green" books, carried by CBD as well. If you like stories about life in a quaint English village with a lot of dry British wit, you should enjoy these books.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 3, 2010
This is a charming book with a wonderful cast of characters. Miss Read teachs her pupils in the quaint village school an interesting country village of bygone days. I discovered Miss Read's book in my 30's, some 26 years ago. I just bought this book for my 10 year old granddaughter. I know she will love it as much as I do.
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Posted October 14, 2012
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Posted September 26, 2012
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Overview
The first novel in the beloved Fairacre series, VILLAGE SCHOOL introduces the remarkable schoolmistress Miss Read and her lovable group of children, who, with a mixture of skinned knees and smiles, are just as likely to lose themselves as their mittens. This is the English village of Fairacre: a handful of thatch-roofed cottages, a church, the school, the promise of fair weather, friendly faces, and good cheer—at least most of the time. Here everyone knows everyone else's business, and the villagers like each ...