An old classics teacher looks back over his long career, remembering pupils and colleagues, and above all the idyllic courtship and marriage that transformed his life.
In his eighty-third year, Charles Edward Chipping - fondly referred to as Chips - recalls the fifty-eight years he has been at Brookfield, one of the oldest and most respected boys schools in England. Although revered by his charges and his colleagues alike, his years at Brookfield were not always so harmonious. As this was his first ever teaching job, his first students exploited his inexperience, which in turn led him to being a strict disciplinarian. Although he got out of his students what was required academically, they and his colleagues felt him to be stuffy, overly regimented and not a naturally good teacher.
The latter was evidenced when he was passed over for a seniority based position. It wasn't until about twenty years after his teaching start that that failure to be promoted plus meeting the beautiful and gregarious Katherine Ellis while on an international vacation - his first ever - changed his life.
Kathy, who was much younger than him and who would eventually become Mrs. Chips, opened his eyes to the fun in life, and saw his potential that he himself couldn't see.
She also provided his students and colleagues a different perspective on him. Over the next forty years as he and the school saw the passing of many monumental world events, Chips would experience many personal triumphs plus a few personal tragedies. But the one constant was the admiration and love from those around him. Chipping arrives in the traditional Brookfield Boarding School to give history classes in the lower school.
He has a rough first day with the indiscipline of the class, and the Headmaster Wetherby advises him that he needs ability to exercise his authority, otherwise he would be fired. He gives a severe punishment to the class achieving the respect of the students. When Wetherby dies in , the old-fashion senior Mr. While on a hike up a rocky hill, a young woman is waving in his direction. He thinks she is in peril and starts to rush to her aid.
However, he gets his foot stuck between the rocks and the woman winds up coming to his aid. The woman is year-old Katherine Bridges who helps Chips hobble back to his room. She checks in on him during his recovery and soon the two fall in love and marry before the next semester at Brookfield begins.
Katherine is the antipathy of Chips' ideal woman. She is strong, opinionated and politically liberal. Katherine's effervescent personality and spirit awakens the real Mr. Chips who was there all along.
She teaches him to think independently, speak his mind, love and share joy and most of all to have fun and laugh and laugh. Tragically, Katherine dies in childbirth the year after they marry.
The child she was attempting to deliver died that same day as well. Chips is in the throes of depression over his loss, but by tapping Katherine's spirit and outlook he is able to carry on. Chips begins to relax and enjoy himself and ultimately discovers he has another true love—that is the one for his students.
Mr Chips, a shy, reserved teacher finds love in middle age and as a result becomes much loved by his students and colleagues. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. He has a rough first day with the indiscipline of the class, and the Headmaster Wetherby advises him that he needs ability to exercise his authority, otherwise he would be fired. In his later years, he develops an arch sense of humour that pleases everyone. This short novel is filled with humor, wise anecdotes, and pathos. View a FREE sample. We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles.
Chips is inspired by Katherine's spirit, often relegating the curriculum to a lesser importance than exploring the humor of a situation or person. Chips becomes the most popular teacher at Brookfield. After he retires, he moves in across the street so he can stay in close contact with the students—making a special effort to meet the newly-arriving students each year.
He is asked to come back and help at school because the staff has been depleted by the demands of World War I. When the young headmaster tells Chips that Chips belongs at Brookfield and is needed to hold them all together, he is overcome with emotion. Chips faces further tragedy with the loss of many of his students who are killed in the war. In his final years, he spends much time reflecting about his life and career. On his deathbed, he hears a comment from one of his gathered colleagues that it was a pity he never had children.