For Janh: did you know this is what they are saying about the Jill books?

[Enid]

"a social critique of postwar Britain that explores concepts of girlhood, exposes the potency of gender ideology and ultimately invites redefinition of the female role"

yay! Go Jill!

NO!

Where did you find that?

I love it - but have to just mention that apart from Capt Cholly-Sawcutt (???) there are hardly any men there at all - bit like Wyndham's Consider Her Ways - so not sure about gender ideology

here

Moreover, in presenting Jill as an author who clearly disdains idealized images of the child, particularly those of her writer mother, Ferguson reappraises the role of the postwar children's author and asserts a style of literature grounded not in adult constructs of childhood, but in the experiences of the child herself.

Wow.

And of course her mother (albeit one who wrote about soppy girlies) was a pretty self-sufficient single parent. Never really considered that before.

Oooh, I loved those stories! Didn't Capt. Stupid-Name have three daughters called April, May and June?

Enid... Have you found your dd a riding school yet? Then you can start reading her the Jill books. (Are they still in print? Wonder if my mum still has my old copies? Wouldn't surprise me, as she hordes for England.)

They are out of print but you can get lots of them from amazon for quite sensible prices.

Ooh, I have a Jill somewhere, Jill enjoys her ponies iirc!

The Jill books were my favourites!

Mm there may not have been many men but the few that made an appearance were all heroic types like Captain Cholly-Sawcut and wheelchair bound Martin who taught Jill to ride at the beginning. Not sure what that says about Ruby Ferguson's views on men!

Oh good grief, how could I have forgotten about Martin? Wasn't he some kind of war hero? I haven't read Jill's Gymkhana for such a long time. (Feel a visit to amazon coming on...)

Anybody remember what happened to Mummy in the end? I have this vague idea that she got married but can't imagine who to.