Charlotte is an unusually young headmistress of an English girls’ school, a job she’s proud of yet finds very lonely. The story revolves around Charlotte’s job, and also her interactions with a new pupil, Tessa MacRynne, who comes from a remote Scottish island.

I found this portrayal of being a young woman in a position of authority very interesting, particularly noting the ways in which schools and teaching haven’t changed since the 1950s -- and the ways in which they have. (For one thing, today, a board employing a former student as their headmistress would have a better idea of how old she is -- modern technology means it would be quick and easy to check the school’s records to see when she had attended, and her CV would include the year she graduated from university. For another, a headmistress today would have more opportunities to have a personal life outside of work -- but it would be far less appropriate for her to accept an invitation to stay with a student’s family.) ( )

Fans of D.E. Stevenson's gentle fiction will be ecstatic to get their hands on the new editions of eleven of her novels, reprinted by Dean Street Press in January 2022. Some of the reprints, like this particular gem, Charlotte Fairlie, have been incredibly difficult to find in recent years. And since Charlotte Fairlie is one of my absolute favorites, I was thrilled to be able to read this new edition, complete with an autobiographical sketch from DE Stevenson herself.

Charlotte Fairlie is a lovable, wistful character. There are shades of Jane Eyre about her. She is alone, and she is lonely, but she gets on with life and has found what she imagines is her proper place in the world: headmistress of the very school she used to attend. Charlotte adroitly navigates the headaches of institutional life: the dissatisfied parents, the jealous colleague, and the expectations of the Board. But what she tries not to dwell on is the loneliness. A neighboring schoolmaster befriends her, and he's a very nice sort of chap, prompting Charlotte to consider whether she could ever accept a marriage of convenience.

The second half of the book takes an entirely different turn when her pupil Tessa MacRynne invites Charlotte to visit Targ, an island off the west coast of Scotland. There Charlotte meets Tessa's father, the companionable and steadfast Rory MacRynne. The time on the island is a literal and figurative breath of fresh air, opening up confusing new possibilities to Charlotte.

The writing is beautiful, especially descriptions of land and sea around Scotland. The characters are vivid and real and relatable, which is a large part of DE Stevenson's charm. The pages fly by, even though they're lovely enough to be savored.

The theme of finding a home is central to this book. At times it can be sad, as Charlotte and some of her pupils have troubled histories with a parent. But in her gentle, hopeful way, D.E. Stevenson makes a path forward from even the hardest of situations. This is a story that touches the heart.


Trigger warning: discussion of attempted suicide by one of the characters

Many thanks to Dean Street Press for this digital review copy! ( )

Wow, this was my favorite D.E. Stevenson so far.
Charlotte thinks that her greatest dream has come true when she is appointed headmistress of the school she attended as a girl. The first half of the book is how she deals with students, teachers, directors, etc. Among her pupils is Tessa, who raves about the island where she lives with her father. During the semester, Tessa's mother leaves her father to marry someone else. Charlotte comforts Tessa and befriends her. During the summer holiday Tessa invites Charlotte and 3 young friends to visit her on the island where she lives with her father. Charlotte loves the life they lead there. Near the end of the book something awful happens to one of the children. Truly awful. No one dies, and things are looking up for the kid by the end of the book, but it is still awful that it had to happen that way. In spite of that I still rate this book highly. It really pulled me in.
I listened to the Audible version of this book, and the narrator was really good. She utilized a couple of different accents but didn't strain herself too much to come up with different voices. I preferred it that way. For me it is distracting when a reader tries to distinguish between the different voices, unless it can be done in an extremely believable way, which is rare. This narrator read more naturally, and it was enjoyable. ( )

One thing I enjoy about D.E. Stevenson's writing is that she not only makes her characters REAL, but she lets her stories progress at their own pace, without need for melodramatic additions or artificial stimulations. The Enchanted Isle is described as a romance, but it's more about people: their problems, and their faults. From the vindictive, petty spinster who is never happy unless she's making others miserable, to the self-centered professor who emotionally abuses his children without being aware of it, even to the lonely headmistress who mistakenly thought she had everything she's ever wanted, we see a slice of small town that could be much like our own.

As I read I never felt as if the author was manipulating me emotionally as happens with other novels, but that she was sharing the ups and downs of people much like those around me. I liked the clean, fresh manner of Charlotte Fairlie's world, and wouldn't mind returning if it were possible. ( )