Dorita Fairlie Bruce (1885-1970) is one of the leading authors of school stories for girls during the great period between the two World Wars, mostly remembered for her nine 'Dimsie' books, often paired with her near contemporaries Elinor Brent-Dyer and Elsie J. Oxenham

               

Dorothy Morris Fairlie Bruce, as was her original name, was born in Palos in Spain on May 20, 1885, as the daughter of Alexander Fairlie Bruce, a civil engineer of Scottish birth, and Katherine (Kate) Elizabeth Fairbairn. But much of her early childhood was spent in Scotland, in Blanefield among the Campsie Hills, Stirling, an area that was to feature in many of her early stories. She also had a younger brother, Alan. In about 1895 the family moved to Ealing, NW London, where Dorita was to live until 1949. At about the same time she went to boarding school at Clarence House in Roehampton, the model for Dimsie's school, the 'Jane Willard Foundation'. Many of her holidays were spent with relations in Scotland, particularly the Firth of Clyde area around Ayrshire, which was later to became her particular literary landscape.

Books by Dorita Fairlie Bruce in Alphabetical Order:

The Bartle Bequest. London: Oxford University Press, 1955
The Bees on Drumwhinnie. London: Oxford University Press, 1952
The Best Bat In the School. London: Oxford University Press, 1931
The Best House in the School. London: Oxford University Press, 1930
Captain Anne. London: Oxford University Press, 1939
Captain of Springdale. London: Oxford University Press, 1932
The Debatable Mound. London: Oxford University Press, 1953
Dimsie Among the Prefects. London: Oxford University Press, 1923
Dimsie Carries On. London: Oxford University Press, 1941
Dimsie Goes Back. London: Oxford University Press, 1927
Dimsie Grows Up. London: Oxford University Press, 1924
Dimsie Head Girl. London: Oxford University Press, 1925
Dimsie Intervenes. London: Oxford University Press, 1937
Dimsie Moves Up. London: Oxford University Press, 1921
Dimsie Moves Up Again. London: Oxford University Press, 1922
Dimsie Takes Charge and Other Stories. Wendover: John Goodchild, 1985
The Girls of St. Bride's. London: Oxford University Press, 1923
The King's Curate. London: Murray, 1930
A Laverock Lilting. London: Oxford University Press, 1945
Mistress Mariner. London: Murray, 1932
Nancy at St. Bride's. London: Oxford University Press, 1933
Nancy Calls the Tune. London: Oxford University Press, 1944
Nancy in the Sixth. London: Oxford University Press, 1935
Nancy Returns to St. Bride's. London: Oxford University Press, 1938
Nancy to the Rescue. London: Oxford University Press, 1927
The New Girl and Nancy. London: Oxford University Press, 1926
The New House at Springdale. London: Oxford University Press, 1934
The New House-Captain. London: Oxford University Press, 1928
Prefects at Springdale. London: Oxford University Press, 1936
Sally Again. London: Blackie, 1959
Sally Scatterbrain. London: Blackie, 1956
Sally's Summer Term. London: Blackie, 1961
The School in the Woods. London: Oxford University Press, 1940
The School on the Moor. London: Oxford University Press, 1931
The Senior Prefect. London: Oxford University Press, 1921 (Dimsie Goes to School, 1925)
The Serendipity Shop. London: Oxford University Press, 1947
That Boarding School Girl. London: Oxford University Press, 1925
Toby at Tibbs Cross. London: Oxford University Press, 1942
Triffeny. London: Oxford University Press, 1950
Wild Goose Quest. London: Oxford University Press, 1945

Updated editions published by John Goodchild:

Dimsie Among the Prefects. 1983
Dimsie Carries On. 1984
Dimsie Goes Back. 1984
Dimsie Goes to School. 1983
Dimsie Grows Up. 1984
Dimsie Head-Girl. 1984
Dimsie Intervenes. 1984
Dimsie Moves Up. 1983
Dimsie Moves Up Again. 1983

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