Fairacre

Fairacre is a series of novels by the English writer Miss Read .

She tells stories about the people of the village of Fairacre.

title

1955 Village School
First novel. The reader gets to know the most important people. Miss Read tells in detail from the lovingly observed everyday school life.
1957 Village Diary
Second novel. Very humorous band. Miss Read records a year from her rich life. This volume contains some unforgettable events that are told in an inimitable way. Good entry-level volume in the series.
1958 Storm in the Village
Third novel. Events about the new teacher in Miss Read's school and the possible construction of a new settlement keep Fairacre and Miss Read themselves in suspense.
1962 Miss Clare remembers
Dolly Clare's life is described and old times come back to life.
1966 Village Christmas
Enchanting Christmas story in which Miss Read herself does not appear.
1972 The view of the cornfields (Tyler's Row)
fourth novel. A couple unknown to the village moves to Fairacre and enriches the village population.
1974 Miss Read's Summer Vacation (Farther Afield)
Fifth novel. Adorable band. Miss Read breaks her arm and accompanies her friend Amy on a trip to Crete.
1977 A Bad Rumor (Village Affairs)
Sixth novel. The Fairacre school is to be closed, rumors in the village say. Miss Read fears for her existence and her future and again experiences numerous big and small adventures.
1980 Village Centenary
Seventh novel. The school is celebrating its birthday. Miss Read goes through numerous complications.
1984 Summer at Fairacre
Eighth novel. The seasons and changes in nature are always a defining theme in the novels, including this one.
1991 Miss Read and the New House (Changes at Fairacre)
ninth novel. Miss Clare dies of old age, Miss Read inherits Miss Clare's house and narrowly escapes death!

Characters

Miss Read

Main character and "first-person narrator". She is the headmistress of the School of Fairacre. She lives in the teacher's house right next to the school and church, St. Patrick. Miss Read is single, but has a large circle of friends and tells very humorous and deeply warmth about her life. She knows how to depict everyday occurrences and experiences skillfully and with great humor. Miss Read loves nature and her garden. Cleaning is not one of her priorities, for which she is often punished by her cleaning lady. She drives a small, battered Austin and shares her house with Tibby, a rescued cat, Tibby.

Dolly Clare

is a character that appears in practically every novel. Miss Clare was the little ones' assistant teacher at the Fairacre School for forty years. Health problems caused by old age force them to retire. But she always steps in as a teacher. Their teaching methods are considered a bit out of date, but children love and respect them anyway. She lives in a small house in the neighboring village of Beech Green. She is single and was engaged once. However, her fiance was killed in the First World War. Dolly Clare dies peacefully in the novel "Miss Read and the New House". Miss Clare is a respected and respected person in the village who has much to say about the history of Fairacre. She is a fine, capable, and humble woman.

Mrs. Pringle

is a character who plays a bigger role in every novel. She is the sour school cleaning lady and an incorrigible gossip. She is an unpleasant character, opinionated, grouchy, sullen, but basically a woman with a good heart. Mrs. Pringle is shaped by a firm belief that she expresses in the melodious and loud singing of religious songs. Mrs. Pringle's great gift, however, is cleaning. She has achieved true mastery in this activity (the oven at school shines like Jett if you rub it enough). If something doesn't suit her, her leg starts "making stories again" and she limps. As soon as she has her way, the leg is suddenly healthy again. She is married to "Pringle", her husband. Your son John is already an adult. Her niece Minnie Pringle appears in some novels. She is neglected, single and has four children from different fathers. She is completely overwhelmed with that. She works as a cleaning lady for Miss Read every now and then. Since Minnie Pringle can't read, there are always amusing entanglements.

Mr. Willet

He also appears in every novel. Mr. Alfred George Willet is the caretaker of the school and a "man for the rough", as well as the grave digger and cemetery keeper of the village. He is an amiable, very skilled gentleman, a great gardener and an experienced weather prophet. He supports Miss Read around the house and with gardening. He met his wife at school and they have both been in love since childhood. His wife Alice Willet is only partially mentioned. Considered one of the finest housewives in Fairacre, she is an extraordinary cook and baker.

Mrs. "Amy" Garfield

Amy is Miss Read's best friend. They have known each other for years and once completed their teacher training together. Amy plays a big role in every novel. She lives in a big house in Bent, a neighboring village. She is married but has no children. Her husband James is a womanizer and has had affairs with other women again and again. In the novel "Miss Read is on vacation", James even leaves Amy for a short time. Amy Garfield is a real lady, always well dressed and a great hostess. She tries in vain to change and pair Miss Read, which also leads to extremely amusing entanglements.

Mr. and Mrs. Partridge

Mr. Gerald Partridge is the vicar of the village. He is a spiritual, kind gentleman, somewhat forgetful, but very popular in his community. His wife, Cordelia, is a busy woman, president of the Womens Institute (WI). A lady with a lot of tact, prudence and diplomacy. In winter the vicar always wears a beret, one from the old green cape and ancient leopard skin gloves that he has grown very fond of and that always and everywhere lose fluff (gift from a deceased lady).

Mr. and Mrs. Annett

Figures that rarely appear. In the novels, Mr. Annett is a young war-widowed headmaster of the Beech Green school and choirmaster. He marries a teacher at Miss Read's school who has also become a good friend: Miss Isobel Gray. Miss Read becomes the godmother of the first child, Malcolm Annett.

Miss Jackson

After Mrs. Annett has left, she is the new teacher for the little ones. She is a very young woman, fresh out of a supposedly modern education and often crosses the blades with Miss Read because of different perspectives and school methods. In the absence of accommodation in the village, she lives in Miss Read's guest room. Much to their regret.

Mr. and Mrs. Mawne

Residents of the village. He is an avid ornithologist. His wife is often absent, which also leads to complications. In "Village Diary" the villagers create a little liaison with Mr. Mawne for Miss Read because he first moves into a house alone.

Mr. and Mrs. Roberts

Farmer couple, whose yard and fields border directly on the school yard. The farm has a telephone, which has often been very helpful in emergencies. Mr. Roberts is a tall, good-natured man with hands like shovels. He and his wife make their frozen pond available for general ice skating every winter. Meanwhile, Mrs. Roberts serves tea, cake, and sausages. Mr. Roberts is a member of the school board.

Dr. Martin

Fairacre village doctor. He knows all families and their circumstances. He loves roses more than anything and does not hesitate to help himself in the gardens of his patients to decorate the buttonhole of his jacket.

Mr. Lamb

Postman of Fairacre. With him you can stick notices and requests on the window panes and learn all kinds of new things. He's the brother of Mrs. Willet. His son dies in a traffic accident at the age of 17.

Mr. Rogers

Fairacre village blacksmith. When the school stove has stopped drawing, or other metal items need maintenance or repair, Mr. Rogers is the man of the action. He is also responsible for the permanent repair of the leaky skylight (for decades) above the teacher's desk.

The Coggs family

Also residents of Fairacre. Mr. Arthur Coggs is a crook and thief who only works irregularly on construction sites and often spends his time in prison and in the pub. Joseph Coggs, his son, is Miss Read's favorite student, and his two younger twin sisters are also students at the village school. Mrs. Coggs sometimes works as a cleaner in the Beetle & Wedge pub. The family lives with five children on Tyler's Row, a shabby street made up of four connected cottages.

Web links

Fairacre in the German National Library