On Your Marks

Originally written as a career novel for girls (now a most collectable genre) giving a wealth of information on P. E. careers, On Your Marks now stands alone as a well-written and colourful story of a girl's transition from school-leaver to a capable and confident young teacher as it follows the progress of Lesley Scott through her three years at Falcons Physical Training College and into her first teaching job. It is rich in period detail (divided skirts, radiogram in the Common Room) and social etiquette (only one person allowed to sit on the bed when entertaining company), and even, with Gladys Mitchell running true to form, has three mysteries to be solved (who drained the swimming pool?). Best known for her long canon of detective stories featuring Mrs. Beatrice Lestrange Bradley, Gladys Mitchell here shares her expertise in her own subject: she was a qualified P. E. teacher, later a headmistress, and served on Olympic committees. This edition contains an introduction by Kay Whalley, a recognised authority in the field of career novels. The cover is taken from the original dustwrapper of the 1954 first edition.


Genre: Literary Fiction