Elizabeth of the Garret Theatre

by Gwendoline Courtney

The four Verney sisters, Alison, Elizabeth, Susan and Georgie all hated the idea of their father's second marriage, and Elizabeth particularly decided to make life as difficult as possible for her stepmopther. For Elizabeth never did anything by halves; her resentment of her father's new wife was as heartfelt as her deep love for acting and the theatre.
But Nan was not at all like the stepmothers of fairy tales, and her patience, humour, and elegance - not to mention her wonderful cooking - soon won the hearts of the girls. Indeed, it was through Nan that Nigel Gifford, the great Shakespearian actor, appeared at the Verney home and agreed to take part in one of the plays which the family were putting on in the theatre in their garret! Soon even Elizabeth agreed that all the exciting things that happened in the Verney family were due, in one way or another, to Nan.
The story of how Elizabeth finds happiness and achieves her heart's desire makes a fascinating and enjoyable book.
(dustwrapper blurb from Seagull Library edition 1961[ blurb on the undated Children's Press edition is the same])

My edition: Children's Press no date with laminated boards
Advertised in a Children's Press dustwrapper edition on the back of 'The Secret of the Loch' by Frances Cowen 1965 (and elsewhere)

My edition: Seagull dustwrapper edition 1961
Not known in a pictorial boards edition

Seagull Library dustwrapper 1961		Children's Press Pictorial boards undated		Children's Press dustwrapper undated

With thanks to Helen Barlow for the Children's Press dustwrapper scan