My earliest bookish memories are inextricably linked with Enid Blyton – her books are the first I can actually remember reading, and when I was growing up any pocket-money I had was spent on buying one of her stories. I had quite a collection of Armada paperbacks, and had several favourite series of hers – Malory Towers, St. Clares, the Five Find-Outers and of course the ‘Adventure’ series. Alas, all my childhood books got lost somewhere along the way, so I was surprisingly excited when OH treated me to a lovely set of the complete Adventure series books in lovely paperbacks with vintage illustrations on the cover – the perfect Christmas present!
And oddly enough, I found myself sunk deep into the first volume, “The Island of Adventure” on Christmas afternoon when most of the rest of the family were having a post-lunch nap! I found myself drawn in after reading the first few paragraphs – I remember them *so* well, despite not having read the books for decades – and astonishingly was just gripped after a few pages.
“Island” was published in 1944, and features four children: Philip and Dinah Mannering, whose mother works to keep them while they attend boarding school and live in the holidays with their uncle and aunt; and Jack and Lucy-Ann Trent, orphans who also live with an aged uncle. Philip, Jack and Lucy-Ann meet at a summer school, where both boys are cramming under an unwilling tutor, Mr. Roy. Come the time for Philip to go back home, the Trents run away rather than stay with Mr. Roy – particularly as the latter has taken a strong dislike to Kiki, Jack’s talking parrot – and go to Philip’s house in the hope that his aunt will take them in for the summer. Fortunately she will, and the four children embark on a series of adventures around the old, crumbling house the Mannerings live in, called Craggy Tops. The befriend a man called Bill Smugs, staying locally, go swimming and picnicking, learn to sail, discover criminals, abandoned mines and secret passages – in fact, the perfect adventure story!
Scarily enough, I found myself as captivated today by the book as I did back in my childhood. The children are allowed to do dangerous things and have real adventures – ‘borrowing’ a boat and sailing it on their own; climbing down quite dangerous shafts and tunnels; encountering aggressive armed men and coming into real peril. There is often the sense that the children are in real physical danger, with threats of beatings from Joe, the crooked handyman, or the men in the mines. The book was actually very gripping and exciting, and although I knew what happened (the stories obviously made a huge impact on me as a child) I couldn’t put it down.
So is it wrong that a woman of my age (let’s just say – over 50!) can be captivated by a book for children which is nearly 70 years old? I don’t think so at all! I know that Blyton has come under all sorts of criticism for her attitudes – middle class children, stereotypical gender roles etc – but I didn’t see a problem here. The children were surprisingly mature, dealing with issues like the Mannerings’ mother having to work for a living, Aunt Polly’s being overworked and short of money for bills, and they were quite aware that cash would have to be provided in return for the Trents staying with the Mannerings for the summer. Both girls and boys are expected to do chores (although there is some differentiation between the sexes), and although Lucy-Ann is somewhat clingy and dependent, Dinah is described as being “as strong as any boy” (and I’m reminded of course of George in the Famous Five who is equally resistant to stereotyping). All in all, I thought this book was as wonderful as when I first read it – which is no mean feat for a book this old being re-read by an adult.
I don’t actually know a lot about Blyton (although I think I’ve heard that as a person she might have left a bit to be desired), but as an author I think she’s remarkable – and the fact that her books are still available now and loved by new generations of readers must be some kind of tribute to her skill. She’s a national treasure, and I loved being reintroduced to some of my childhood favourites this Christmas – I shall have to ration the rest out over the year!
gaskella
Jan 04, 2014 @ 08:04:01
What a nostalgia trip! Lovely present. I too devoured Blytons including the Noddy books when very little. These and The Famous Five were my favourites. I didn’t like the school ones so much (I strongly identified with George being a bit of a tomboy as a child).
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 04, 2014 @ 08:53:49
Yes, George was always such fun. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this, bearing in mind my age and how long ago it was I last picked up a Blyton!
lindylit
Jan 04, 2014 @ 09:12:30
What a lovely present! I loved Enid Blyton as a child (and still do), I have vivid memories of my mum’s childhood copies of some of her books on our bookcase and always longing to read them but having to be extra careful as they were very special. I think you can enjoy Blyton at any age; my Great Aunty and I often buy one another a Famous Five book as a present. I hope you enjoy reading them all and that they bring back lots of great memories.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 04, 2014 @ 09:20:53
The old copies are very special, aren’t they? OH still has some very battered hardbacks he had as a child of the Adventure series, but I would relax at all if I tried to read them!
heavenali
Jan 04, 2014 @ 09:23:26
What a delightful gift – I too loved Enid Blyton as a child. I especially loved the famous five, Mallory towers and St Clare books but I know I read secret seven too. I think those vintage style covers are really lovely too. I saw a film about Enid Blyton – I had already heard she was not very nice so it didn’t come as a big shock. My mum watched it too – and speaking to me later she was devastated to discover what she had been like. Not sure how accurate the film was but she was revealed to be truly awful.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 04, 2014 @ 09:25:19
Gosh, really? Well, I think I’m glad I haven’t seen that film then! Though I think I heard she didn’t have a lot to do with her poor daughter. Nevertheless, the books are lovely and I can’t wait to read the second one, actually!
Melusine
Jun 11, 2014 @ 04:32:05
“Enid” with Helena Bonham Carter … which is why I watched it … and an interesting viewing it was too.
In the past few years I have taken to reading one or two of my old Enid Blyton’s whenever I stay at my parent’s house and have enjoyed rereading them. I have to add that I was in my late 20s or 30s I think when I discovered the Faraway Tree books, which I enjoyed reading.
Given that I read books from all sorts of periods in history I usually have no problem coping with attitudes and so on that were acceptable at that time, whether I agree with them or not, because that was just when the book was written. I dislike it when publishers decide to update earliest authors work … e.g. changing 7 foot tall giant to one measured in metres … that is like changing history. One can modify one’s view of history as you gain more information but you can’t change it.
Whether or not I would have liked Enid Blyton as a person doesn’t change the fact that her books, or at least the ones I have read, have given me much pleasure over the years.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 11, 2014 @ 08:37:52
Me too – they defined my childhood in many ways and my constant argument is that we don’t update Dickens or The Railway Children etc, so why should we update Blyton? I do hate it when publishers treat readers as if they have no brains!
winstonsdad
Jan 04, 2014 @ 10:23:44
I loved the five and seven series as a kid by her
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 04, 2014 @ 10:32:40
I preferred the Famous Five of the two – but really I tended to read anything by her!
SilverSeason
Jan 04, 2014 @ 11:31:34
I had never heard of Enid Blyton so I went to Bookmooch to see if I could get a copy of one of her books. Interesting. Lots of copies (including translated into other languages), but none in the United States. She is in the U.K., Singapore, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 04, 2014 @ 16:17:22
Gosh! I was a bit surprised to here that at first, but when I thought about it not so surprised. I think she is a *very* British author, and in the same way that I found it hard to find other books by L.M. Montgomery in this country, she might not be so available in North America. Might it be worth trying a local library?
SilverSeason
Jan 04, 2014 @ 16:24:29
Oh I’m sure I can find copies to buy, but I always try the free list first. :=)
Some British authors do very well in the U.S. I grew up with Frances Hodgson Burnett and Edith Nesbit has also been very popular her.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 04, 2014 @ 16:25:45
🙂 Good point – I always pop onto ReadItSwapIt over here before I head to A****n for a 1p copy!
Claire Thinking
Jan 04, 2014 @ 11:38:36
These were my absolute favourites of all Blyton’s books when growing up. I’ve donated many of my childhood books to the charity bag but could never bear to part with these and still have all eight! Hadn’t thought of rereading them until your post though, but I might have to now!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 04, 2014 @ 16:17:55
Yes, I think of all the Blytons these are my favourite too. And very easy to read, but not in an irritating way!
skiourophile (@skiourophile)
Jan 04, 2014 @ 13:24:21
I don’t think you’re ever too old to enjoy good writing — this is a great series. I really feel like digging out my Blytons now and have a little binge.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 04, 2014 @ 16:20:41
Good point – her writing *is* excellent, and I like the fact she lets the children get into dangerous situations. It was surprisingly exciting – I think I might have a binge too!
Alex
Jan 04, 2014 @ 17:18:28
I didn’t read this particular series as a child although I had Blyton from my very earliest days. Mom and day would always by me the latest adventure of Little Mary Mouse whenever we went on the long train journey to see my Grandparents. My own favourites were the books that belonged to the Rockingdown Series. I would love to get hold of copies of those.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 04, 2014 @ 18:24:32
I think I probably read that series but can remember very llittle – I know I had and read stacks of Blyton in my youth. Every home should have them!
Helen
Jan 04, 2014 @ 20:26:41
I used to love Enid Blyton when I was a child and I think the Adventure series and the Five Find-Outers were my favourites of all her books. I decided to re-read both The Valley of Adventure and The Mystery of the Invisible Thief a couple of years ago and was pleased to find I could still enjoy them as an adult!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 04, 2014 @ 20:29:22
Oh, now I’m going to have to rediscover the Five Find-Outers!!
Fleur in her World
Jan 04, 2014 @ 20:34:23
I loved The Faraway Tree, St Clare’s and Mallory Towers, but I grew up before I got to the Famous Five, but my copies came from the library and so I’ve never gone back. I could be tempted, after seeing that these books worked for a grown-up reader.
The volume and range of Enid Blyton’s writing maybe made it inevitable that she wouldn’t be a model wife and mother, but even if the stories are true I’m not sure it’s for me to judge.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 04, 2014 @ 20:37:49
I owned a lot of my Blytons but I parted company with them years ago. So having a set of my favourites was a treat.
She produced so many books I guess she was kind of driven. Authors are not necessarily going to be nice people and I suppose I don’t know why we expect them to be ordinary human beings! But I *am* enjoying my revisit!
luvviealex
Jan 04, 2014 @ 21:47:57
Just like you I used to spend my pocket money on Enid Blyton’s – I remember that they cost 45 cents in my youth. The Secret Island and the Secret of Spiggy Holes used to be my favourites. I remember the librarian in primary school threatening to burn all the Enid Blytons. She thought they were rubbish. Thankfully she didn’t. I still have all my old Enid Blytons. I am delighted to report that they are well and truly borrowed in the public library where I work – much to my satisfaction.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 04, 2014 @ 21:50:31
Fabulous – I am *so* glad she’s still popular! Secret Island and Secret of Spiggy Holes were two of my favourites too – I can still remember the end of SI even after all these years!! (And a hidden cow, if I recall correctly!) Amazing how what we read with young, fresh minds stays with us!
michelle
Jan 06, 2014 @ 08:42:58
Enid Blyton was my favourite and is definitely the author whose works I have read most in my life! Her stories were probably what started the love of reading for me while growing up. I love the Five Find Outers (especially reading about all the different disguises Fatty got himself into), the Magic Faraway Tree series (Moonface and gang), St Clares, Mallory Towers, and the Adventure series which you are now treating yourself to. 🙂 Have fun!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 06, 2014 @ 08:52:30
Thank you! And that’s an interesting thought, about which author you’ve read most of. I would guess for me it’s a toss up between Blyton and Agatha Christie – I’ve read *everything* by the latter!!
Erica
Jan 07, 2014 @ 10:23:28
What a lovely present! When I started reading your post I thought you were going to say how she didn’t stand up to adult reading – but I’m glad she did. It can be rather upsetting to have the magic of your childhood books broken by a critical adult reading.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 07, 2014 @ 10:36:42
I think I probably suspended my inner adult while reading this! But even so, I think it stands up remarkably well after all these years, and I can’t wait to read the rest. Of course, it *could* be that I’m entering my second childhood…. 😉
Erica
Jan 07, 2014 @ 11:11:44
:-)!