Classic audio review: The Demon Headmaster

The Demon Headmaster is something of a phenomenon. The original novel, printed in 1982 has spawned several sequels, adaptations and the books continue to be re-released and enjoyed by new readers. The Demon Headmaster is the first, and arguably the best, in the series.

It all starts when Dinah Glass is adopted by the Hunter family. Lloyd Hunter and his timid younger brother, Harvey, don’t take to Dinah at first. Especially as she’s likely to be one of “them”.

The dreaded “them” are the other children of the school, strangely unlike any children Dinah has ever met before. So well-behaved, so organised, so ordered. And they all love the Headmaster.

It is easy to see why this story is such a classic. Gillian Cross creates such a palpable feeling of unease. Dinah’s first encounter with the bat-like Headmaster, with his heavy teacher’s gown, pale white skin and deep sea-green eyes, is thoroughly goosebump-inducing.

Doing the Headmaster’s dirty work are the school prefects, who are quite a sadistic bunch to be found in a children’s story. Whether some of their actions, such as pushing poor, frail Harvey face down into a mound of snow, may have been omitted from later versions of the book, I don’t know but it sets up a memorable act of betrayal from Dinah.

‘The Snow Day’ is my favourite chapter from the story. None of the children, the Brains as Harvey and Lloyd call them, would dare mess about on the way to school, such is the influence of the Headmaster. Except Dinah. By this point she knows the Headmaster is hypnotising the pupils of the school and feels a tiny bit cross with herself for being just as susceptible as the other children.

There’s a little arrogance here, because Harvey, Lloyd and their friends Ian, Mandy and Ingrid are the only ones immune and they have formed a little clique to help them deal with the state of things. But Dinah is clever “really, really clever”, she says at one point. So how come her high-brain is so easily conquered and their ‘lesser’ brains are not. Thankfully we have militant Lloyd to thank for tearing down such high and mighty smoothness.

I think Lloyd is the stand out character for me. He’s very reactive and quick to become irritated but he’s also quite level headed, and really is that friend a lot of us have; the kind of friend who speaks his mind and refuses to be silenced.

Of course it isn’t long before the Headmaster realises he has a genius in his midst (Dinah) and begins to unroll his plan. So, when the children learn Eddie Hare and his zany Friday afternoon quiz show will be visiting the school, they are mostly forbidden from being excited. Dinah wonders why the Headmaster, with his unquenchable zeal for order, should invite madcap Eddie Hare and the entire television circus to his school.

Then Dinah remembers what happens at the end of the quiz each week. After the brightest minds of two opposing schools have battled it out, the Headmaster of the school that wins gets a few minutes to talk to the camera. Usually headmasters might congratulate their quiz-winning pupils, share a moral or two or just thank Eddie and the team for making it a memorable day. Dinah knows a few minutes talking to the camera is all it will take for every child watching to fall under the influence of the Headmaster.

I won’t reveal how but Dinah, with the help of S.P.L.A.T. foil the Headmaster’s plan and he is forced to leave the school. Except we know he will return to try to take over the children of the nation.

Parents who are sensitive about such things may wish to know that there are no outdated stereotypes in Gillian Cross’ story. Lloyd may come off a little spikier than he appeared to audiences of the 1980’s but he’s good value and bears much of the story’s moral compass.

This is a story aimed at children, so nothing is unsuitable in the slightest. The aforementioned section where Harvey is pushed in the snow isn’t really all that shocking, and it’s only because Harvey is such a sweet softie that makes the moment feel so tough.

This audio book is the full, unabridged story, clocking in at just under three hours.

Three hours is a long time to be in the company of one narrator but we’re in safe hands with Judy Bennett. She was once a regular reader of audiobooks and does a fine job here. If anything her voices for the children are a little too good.

I first heard this audiobook years ago, when I was in school. I used to get it from the school library, but it was such a popular audio, you had to book it weeks in advance and could have it for one week – maximum. So it wasn’t until this was recently uploaded to You Tube that I was able to hear the story again, which was a wonderful experience that brought back a lot of memories, mostly of me in my room being eternally sad with my bookish interests. But gosh, they were happy times and this audiobook brings it all back.

This audiobook is available from Audible.

Subscribe to receive more reviews of interesting audiobooks, audio drama and audio comedy.

Thank you for reading and I hope you will continue to enjoy receiving every new Awesome Audio Review direct to your inbox!

YOUR Subscriber Benefits

Paid subscribers to Awesome Audio Reviews receive exclusive benefits

TWO brand new audio book reviews every month
Access to the full Awesome Audio review archive (containing reviews of over 20 different titles)
Plus, free Awesome Audios monthly digest direct to your inbox

My Book

“…have you ever heard of an anti-gravity generator?”

When celebrity activist, ‘The Taff’ is murdered, Jim and his friends must protect the inventor known as Fitz and stop his incredible creation from falling into the hands of murderers, foreign agents, and the biggest enemy of all.

Was innocent music fan Andy really tortured to death? Is there really such a thing as an anti gravity generator? And can Jim deal with an agonising revelation about the love of his life?

Morrison’s Ghost is an offbeat eco-thriller and coming-of-age story with a hint of romance

PAPERBACK (opens Ebay)

PAPERBACK EDITION KINDLE EDITION

FREE AUDIO SAMPLE – (Opens YouTube)

Pictures related to main article for illustrative purposes only. No copyright is claimed.

Awesome Audios Banner image is ‘Oak Tree Landscape’ by Karen Arnold

Editorial policy: This and all content within Awesome Audios was 100% written by a human being. No AI was employed in the writing of this feature. This work is all my own and nobody or nothing has permission to re-use it.