Disgraceful!

Happy Blue Monday! This week I will be sharing a vintage book with a little story behind it! A Disgrace to the Fourth by Christine Chaundler is part of a type of book known as the Girls School Stories, written in the 1920s-30s.In researching this book and author, I learned that School Story books for both boys and girls are highly collectible right now in both the UK and Australia. People are buying them more for the stories than as untouchable collector's pieces, which I think is interesting. I have read this book many times since I first discovered it on the shelf of my school library in the fourth grade. I think that's why I picked it up, the title was fourth, I was in the fourth grade, and at the time I was into reading books written in the past like Little Women.I enjoyed the story of life in a boarding school, and the way the book was published with small illustrations throughout the text. I loved the drawings of the clothes and hairstyles.At some point this book belonged to Gay, which was a popular name in the 30s. This message is written with a fountain pen and looks like a younger person's handwriting.The book itself is from England, according to the publishing information, but no date is given. How did Gay's book get to the Seymour School library? Maybe Gay grew up and passed it on. Maybe some bookseller got it in a box of stuff and didn't want it and sold it for 10 cents. Who knows, but somehow it found its way to the US and to me!The book was put into circulation in my school's library in 1972, according to its card. I checked it out twice, May 1977 and November 1977. The last person to check it out was Fiona Micheli in 1978, the only person I knew who read as much as me!The book sat on the shelf for almost another 20 years not being read by anyone. I kind of feel like it was the Velveteen Rabbit of the school library, shoved away and forgotten. About 15 years ago they were finally discarding books and came across my name on the card twice. The librarian brought the book to my mom, thinking I might like to see it and my name on the card. Remember, I grew up in a teeny-tiny town, so this wouldn't be unusual. And that's how it ended up with me! Kind of neat, huh? BTW, I have read it twice since becoming its owner, and might read it again soon!
Be sure to visit Sally and the other Blue Monday participants for other blue items and stories!