Regiment of Women

"Regiment of Women" by Clemence Dane is a novel published in 1917. Set in an Edwardian girls' school, it explores the intense relationship between two teachers: the charismatic, controlling Clare Hartill and young Alwynne Durand. As Hartill's dominating influence over Alwynne deepens, a student's tragic death exposes darker truths. When Alwynne's aunt intervenes, sending her niece to the countryside to recover, new possibilities emerge that challenge the bonds Hartill assumed unbreakable. This debut novel examines power, manipulation, and emotional dependence within a closed world.