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July 8, 2008 11:43 AM

HELEN'S HEROINES: Pauline Fossil

Pauline Fossil is sister to Petrova and Posy Fossil in the gorgeous children's story Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild. Each of the sisters were brought to the house in London by GUM or Great Uncle Matthew, where his niece Sylvia lives. Sylvia becomes the children's guardian and starts to bring them up along with her childhood nanny.

GUM provides for the family for five years, then the money runs out and Sylvia is forced into taking boarders. This turns out to be the best thing that could have happened to the children. Two of the boarders, Dr's Jake and Smith start to tutor them as the school fees are too expensive and another boarder suggests the children attend the dance and stage school where she teaches, as eventually they will be able to earn money from being on stage.

Pauline is the most talented actress out of the three of them. She takes to the stage easily and her looks also ensure she gets plenty of work. Except for the one time when she becomes too big for her boots, she keeps her feet firmly planted on the ground. After all she has the other two sisters to squash her if she doesn't.

Each of the sisters make a vow on their birthdays to get their names into the history books as their name Fossil was unique to them and they had no parents or grandparents to explain any gifts or talents.

When Pauline gets offered a film test then subsequently a film career, which she hates doing, she comes into her own. Instead of sticking to the stage which she loves, when Posy comes racing home with some exciting news Pauline signs up to the more hateful but more lucrative film industry in order for Posy to follow her dreams.

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Posted by Helen Redfern on July 8, 2008 in Classic Novels, Helen's Heroines | Permalink

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