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Bosom Friends: A Seaside Story
Isobel Stewart and her mother take a six-week holiday at Silversands and during their stay they meet many new friends and even unexpectedly come across a long lost relative.
253 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1910
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36 people want to read
About the author
Angela Brazil
235 books35 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Born in Preston, Lancashire in 1868, Angela Brazil (pronounced "brazzle") was the youngest child of cotton mill manager Clarence Brazil, and his wife, Angelica McKinnel. She was educated at the Turrets - a small private school in Wallasey - and then, when the Brazils were living in Manchester, at the preparatory department of the Manchester High School, and (as a boarder) at Ellerslie, an exclusive girls’ school near Victoria Park. She subsequently attended Heatherley's Art School, in London, with her sister Amy, and sketching remained a life-long interest.
With the death of Clarence Brazil in 1899, the family left the North-West of England for Llanbedr, Wales, where they took up residence in their former summer house. It is believed that, at some point during this period (1899-1911), Brazil worked as a governess, although she does not mention it in her autobiography, My Own Schooldays (1925). In 1911, she moved to Coventry, where she kept house for her doctor brother, living in that city until her death, in 1947.
Brazil's first children's novel, A Terrible Tomboy, was published in 1904, and is believed to have been autobiographical, featuring the adventures of a young Angela (Peggy), and her friend Leila Langdale (Lilian). It was only with the 1907 publication of her second novel, The Fortunes of Philippa, that she turned to the genre in which she would become so influential: the Girls' School Story.
Brazil is often described by readers as "the first author of modern girls' school stories," and her publisher Blackie once claimed, in a bit of promotional hyperbole, that she had originated the genre! While not actually true - the genre predates her by some time, and other authors of modern girls school stories, such as May Baldwin, were publishing before she was - Brazil was certainly immensely influential, in the genre's move away from a didactic, moralistic model, towards one aimed more at entertainment. Her books are told from the perspective of her girl characters themselves, and were immensely popular with young readers, both in her own lifetime, and afterward. All told, she published close to sixty children's novels, most of them girls' school stories.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Born in Preston, Lancashire in 1868, Angela Brazil (pronounced "brazzle") was the youngest child of cotton mill manager Clarence Brazil, and his wife, Angelica McKinnel. She was educated at the Turrets - a small private school in Wallasey - and then, when the Brazils were living in Manchester, at the preparatory department of the Manchester High School, and (as a boarder) at Ellerslie, an exclusive girls’ school near Victoria Park. She subsequently attended Heatherley's Art School, in London, with her sister Amy, and sketching remained a life-long interest.
With the death of Clarence Brazil in 1899, the family left the North-West of England for Llanbedr, Wales, where they took up residence in their former summer house. It is believed that, at some point during this period (1899-1911), Brazil worked as a governess, although she does not mention it in her autobiography, My Own Schooldays (1925). In 1911, she moved to Coventry, where she kept house for her doctor brother, living in that city until her death, in 1947.
Brazil's first children's novel, A Terrible Tomboy, was published in 1904, and is believed to have been autobiographical, featuring the adventures of a young Angela (Peggy), and her friend Leila Langdale (Lilian). It was only with the 1907 publication of her second novel, The Fortunes of Philippa, that she turned to the genre in which she would become so influential: the Girls' School Story.
Brazil is often described by readers as "the first author of modern girls' school stories," and her publisher Blackie once claimed, in a bit of promotional hyperbole, that she had originated the genre! While not actually true - the genre predates her by some time, and other authors of modern girls school stories, such as May Baldwin, were publishing before she was - Brazil was certainly immensely influential, in the genre's move away from a didactic, moralistic model, towards one aimed more at entertainment. Her books are told from the perspective of her girl characters themselves, and were immensely popular with young readers, both in her own lifetime, and afterward. All told, she published close to sixty children's novels, most of them girls' school stories.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 19, 2024
This was a fun story, however it contains racial language that is not acceptable today.
January 2, 2013
I know I've said in the past that I much prefer Brazil's School stories, but there is always an exception and this book is it! I knew of course, how the book would end pages in. Brazil is never shy about giving away monstrous clues to her characters and her endings. But it was fun getting to that point, and I wanted to see Isobel happy. I'm glad the book ended the way it did, and I wouldn't have it any other way. A great book, five stars!
December 14, 2024
'Bosom Friends' takes place over a six-week period during the summer school holidays as
Isobel Stewart and her mother go on holiday to the northern town of Silversands and Angela Brazil describes their interesting train journey in graphic detail with one young girl travelling in the same compartment commenting as they arrive, 'We've had the most terrible journey ... I'm so glad to have got here at last!'
And once there Angela Brazil captures the ambience of the seaside town admirably straight away, from the walk to their accommodation and continues to do so when describing the boarding house in which they stayed. Her descriptions are so good one can easily imagine the walk from the railway station, entry into the house and then sitting down for a cup of tea.
Once settled, with Silversands built on the cliffs by the sea, it is time to explore and Isobel and her mother have a look round both the old and new parts of the town. The following day a walk on the sands spells trouble for Mrs Stewart as she sprains her ankle and for a while her movements are restricted. So Isobel goes down to the sands alone and discovers there a group of boys and girls playing cricket. Isobel joins in and after the game has ended she chats with another young girl who she had become friendly with only to learn that she had a similar name to herself. To her Isobel Stewart, it transpires that the other girl is called Isabelle Stuart but was known as Belle.
The children agree to meet again the following day and they decide to form 'The United Sea Urchins' Recreation Society' for the duration of their holiday. And 'Bosom Friends' follows their adventures throughout the weeks of that holiday. They play cricket regularly, tennis occasionally, go exploring, have tea parties and even annex what they think is a deserted island and set up a camp on it. Ultimately it turns out not to be deserted as an old Colonel lives on it and owns it. Initially he is upset at their actions but once he become friendly with Isobel, he calms down and allows them to continue their activities on the island.
As time progresses, Isobel discovers that Belle is not quite the girl she thinks she is and their friendship cools for a time. But as the end of the holiday nears they become reconciled to a degree but with Isobel realising that their friendship would not last past the holiday.
When it is time to depart, a huge party is arranged for all the children and their parents and it is at this party that Isobel discovers a secret that changes her life forever. When they finally part Isobel declares, 'I shall never forget any of you, never!' She adds, 'We've had glorious fun together, and it's been the jolliest holiday I ever remember in my life.' And then they all say their goodbyes.
Angela Brazil tells just the happiest tale and it is one of the jolliest books of hers that I have read - and I do enjoy very much her school stories!
Isobel Stewart and her mother go on holiday to the northern town of Silversands and Angela Brazil describes their interesting train journey in graphic detail with one young girl travelling in the same compartment commenting as they arrive, 'We've had the most terrible journey ... I'm so glad to have got here at last!'
And once there Angela Brazil captures the ambience of the seaside town admirably straight away, from the walk to their accommodation and continues to do so when describing the boarding house in which they stayed. Her descriptions are so good one can easily imagine the walk from the railway station, entry into the house and then sitting down for a cup of tea.
Once settled, with Silversands built on the cliffs by the sea, it is time to explore and Isobel and her mother have a look round both the old and new parts of the town. The following day a walk on the sands spells trouble for Mrs Stewart as she sprains her ankle and for a while her movements are restricted. So Isobel goes down to the sands alone and discovers there a group of boys and girls playing cricket. Isobel joins in and after the game has ended she chats with another young girl who she had become friendly with only to learn that she had a similar name to herself. To her Isobel Stewart, it transpires that the other girl is called Isabelle Stuart but was known as Belle.
The children agree to meet again the following day and they decide to form 'The United Sea Urchins' Recreation Society' for the duration of their holiday. And 'Bosom Friends' follows their adventures throughout the weeks of that holiday. They play cricket regularly, tennis occasionally, go exploring, have tea parties and even annex what they think is a deserted island and set up a camp on it. Ultimately it turns out not to be deserted as an old Colonel lives on it and owns it. Initially he is upset at their actions but once he become friendly with Isobel, he calms down and allows them to continue their activities on the island.
As time progresses, Isobel discovers that Belle is not quite the girl she thinks she is and their friendship cools for a time. But as the end of the holiday nears they become reconciled to a degree but with Isobel realising that their friendship would not last past the holiday.
When it is time to depart, a huge party is arranged for all the children and their parents and it is at this party that Isobel discovers a secret that changes her life forever. When they finally part Isobel declares, 'I shall never forget any of you, never!' She adds, 'We've had glorious fun together, and it's been the jolliest holiday I ever remember in my life.' And then they all say their goodbyes.
Angela Brazil tells just the happiest tale and it is one of the jolliest books of hers that I have read - and I do enjoy very much her school stories!
December 12, 2020
It is just that I like more Brazil's boarding school stories.
The good characters are too perfect and good - both Isobel and her mother.
Also, it made me smile at that time how to get a headache was considered an ailment bad enough so that children and adults could stay in bed because of it. But the working-class characters, like the landlady, never stop working for whatever the reason.
The thing about the discovered island was lovely. They should all become architects!!!!And the interest in runes is a too-convenient coincidence for the adults.
It is a quick reading, and some of the language is completely outdated - today it is considered racist.
The good characters are too perfect and good - both Isobel and her mother.
Also, it made me smile at that time how to get a headache was considered an ailment bad enough so that children and adults could stay in bed because of it. But the working-class characters, like the landlady, never stop working for whatever the reason.
The thing about the discovered island was lovely. They should all become architects!!!!And the interest in runes is a too-convenient coincidence for the adults.
It is a quick reading, and some of the language is completely outdated - today it is considered racist.
October 1, 2019
This rating is the pure nostalgia of a convent educated girl for one of the books she first encountered at school library
February 25, 2015
Browsing amongst old books, I came upon ‘Bosom Friends’ by Angela Brazil. The cover made the book’s genre and era abundantly clear, and the author’s name seemed familiar – after a moment I recalled that Brazil was the writer of girl’s school stories of whom Philip Larkin was fond, and who inspired his own clandestine efforts in that area. After a brief snigger at the title I opened the book, and found myself in the midst of a description of a busy railway station, crowded with holiday-makers heading for the coast...
Gosh, I thought after a few paragraphs, this is actually rather good! (It also struck me that the style was instantly recognisable: it is pure J. K. Rowling, except that Brazil is a rather better writer technically.)
The story moves to a seaside village in the north-east of England. Brazil’s plots and characterisation are simplistic – this is a part of their comfort, I suppose – but she is a dab hand for detail; the life of the fishing village is well-evoked, and she knows exactly what decorations would be found on the windowsill of a cheap back-bedroom of a holiday boarding-house. She also displays a considerable knowledge of the youth of her day, and how they behave free of adult supervision – without ever transgressing the rules of propriety. And she has a knack for making her ‘nice’ characters likeable and her ‘nasty’ characters understandable.
‘Bosom Friends’ is not a school story, as were the majority of Brazil’s books. It is a holiday story, and it shares many of the qualities of a good holiday: a sense of freshness, bustling activity and colour, an escape from complexity (except the resolvable complexities of holiday fiction). I opened the book with a sense that, as a gentleman of a certain age, I was doing something slightly improper, but I found it surprisingly enjoyable, and am tempted to see if her school stories are as good...
Gosh, I thought after a few paragraphs, this is actually rather good! (It also struck me that the style was instantly recognisable: it is pure J. K. Rowling, except that Brazil is a rather better writer technically.)
The story moves to a seaside village in the north-east of England. Brazil’s plots and characterisation are simplistic – this is a part of their comfort, I suppose – but she is a dab hand for detail; the life of the fishing village is well-evoked, and she knows exactly what decorations would be found on the windowsill of a cheap back-bedroom of a holiday boarding-house. She also displays a considerable knowledge of the youth of her day, and how they behave free of adult supervision – without ever transgressing the rules of propriety. And she has a knack for making her ‘nice’ characters likeable and her ‘nasty’ characters understandable.
‘Bosom Friends’ is not a school story, as were the majority of Brazil’s books. It is a holiday story, and it shares many of the qualities of a good holiday: a sense of freshness, bustling activity and colour, an escape from complexity (except the resolvable complexities of holiday fiction). I opened the book with a sense that, as a gentleman of a certain age, I was doing something slightly improper, but I found it surprisingly enjoyable, and am tempted to see if her school stories are as good...
February 15, 2015
When Isobel Stewart meets Isabelle Stuart, she becomes fascinated by her, and is perfectly willing to be her best friend at the seaside town both are visiting. Both girls join in the fun with a group of other visiting children, though Isobel enjoys the sports and adventures more than Belle, who prefers dressing up and attending parties. As the summer progresses the differences between the namesakes become more apparent.
January 10, 2011
An enjoyable read that breaks the norm of the school stories written by Brazil.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews