Published: January 2007
Jen of the Abbey School was published in 1927 but goes back in time to fill in the gaps in Jen's story.
As Stella Waring and Sheila Ray point out in Island to Abbey it 'presents a bibliographical problem of some magnitude'. They conclude that various parts of the story appeared before this date, and then nine chapters added to form Jen of the Abbey School.
We had hoped to have this ready for publication at the end of November 2006, but we have had to take the decision to postpone it until early in the New Year.
The reason for this is that the publishing history has proved so fascinating, and thus very complicated to write! Did you know that parts of Jen had previously appeared in annuals, with slightly different text, and extra illustrations? Did you know that after its publication in book form it was then split into three and republished, with some additional text?
The GGBP edition of Jen will include:
- An introduction by Betula O'Neill explaining exactly how the book fits into the Abbey series, and how it connects with other titles (with plot summaries of those which are not easily found)
- An article on the location by Ann Mackie-Hunter, with a map and fascinating historical details
- The publishing history by Clarissa Cridland with some fascinating pictures of early annuals
- A colour frontispiece taken from an early annual which has much more in the picture than the variation reproduced in the original book
- Five sepia plates, three of which were never produced in the original book but which were in early annuals
- Numerous additional line drawings
- The extra text, taken from one of the Rocklands books and included here in its proper place
Reviews
- I have just finished reading "Jen" it had been quite a while since I last read my old blue Seagull copy and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you for all the fascinating background information. I love the illustrations, especially the sepia plates. You really wet my appetite for more!
- Linda Gormley
- I am very glad I bought Jen - as you promised, the introductory material alone makes it worth buying, so many thanks to all involved, and most especially to Betula.
- Janet Portman