Written by James Hilton
Well written, brief book that captures the heart and wisdom of "Mr. Chips," a long serving professor of Latin and history at a boy's grammar school in England.
"Brookfield will never forget his lovableness."
I'll be honest, I read this book as an assignment for my teaching job and found it more delightful than I thought I would! I'm always on the hunt for succinct books with endearing characters. While this book does not have a fast-paced, exciting plot to keep you entertained, it does charm you with the humorous anecdotes of an aging-humph-gentlemen! I smiled to myself most of the book at the Latin puns and quick wit of Mr. Chips as he interacted with his students at Brookfield. The boys are described as eager to smile at anything that might come from the lips of "Old Chips."
"They all asked him questions, as if he were some kind of prophet and encyclopedia combined-more even than that, for they liked their answer dished up as a joke."
I especially enjoyed the chapters with his wife Kathie and her influence on him and how she calmed his easily flared temper. Near the end of the book are chapters during the world war, which pull at your heart strings and may even summon a tear to your eye as Chips reads a list of boys' names that have died in the line of duty.
One of my favorite quotes of Hilton's, describes the change that comes over Brookfield and England during the time of Chips' life.
"So that he was both more and less experienced than the youngest new boy at the School might well be; and that, that paradox of age and youth, was what the world called progress."
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