Book excerpt: “The School by the Sea” is a classic school girls' novel by master of the genre, Angela Brazil. Set in a small school of only twenty pupils situated on a secluded peninsula in Cornwall, England, the story revolves around the intriguing mystery of the new girl, Gerda. Charming and entertaining, it is highly recommended for young girls and those with an interest in early schoolgirls' fiction. Angela Brazil (1868 – 1947) was an English author most famous for being one of the first writers of "modern schoolgirls' stories". Her stories were presented from the characters' point of view and were written primarily as entertainment rather than moral instruction. During the first half of the 20th century, Brazil published nearly 50 such books, with the vast majority being set in English boarding schools. Brazil's work had a significant influence on changing the nature of fiction for girls. Her charters were chiefly young females, active, independent, and aware. Brazil's books were often considered to be immoral and deviant, leading to their being burned or banned by many Headteachers in girls schools across Britain. Other notable works by this author include: “The School in the Forest” (1944), “Three Terms at Uplands” (1945), “The School on the Loch” (1946). Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.