brown paper parcels ~ my vintage bookshelf
on April 28th * 2005 - this is what I wrote about Enid Blyton & the Famous Five:
I always wanted to be Ann in the famous 5 series and wanted to play house when out camping and wished I could buy some fresh produce right from the farm * the home made fruit cake from the farmer's wife * the fresh milk and cheese * all wrapped in a red gingham cloth ~ how I was so scared when they were in the tunnel with the 'ghost train' and the castle that they camped in ....what childhood adventures should be made of. My children were drip fed Enid Blyton from the time they were big enough to sit still and listen !
I just love ALL things Enid Blyton ! the Magic Faraway Tree and the Wishing Chair. Mrs Washalot (hmmm sounds like a name for me!)~ saucepan man and moon-face and the land at the top of the treePicking up vintage Enid Blyton books is a must for me on my trips to op shops or when treasure hunting. ...oh I cant sing her praises enough !Do something from your childhood ~ grab your favourite Enid Blyton book, a cup of tea, get cosy and read ~ does one's soul good to escape sometime
I always wanted to be Ann in the famous 5 series and wanted to play house when out camping and wished I could buy some fresh produce right from the farm * the home made fruit cake from the farmer's wife * the fresh milk and cheese * all wrapped in a red gingham cloth ~ how I was so scared when they were in the tunnel with the 'ghost train' and the castle that they camped in ....what childhood adventures should be made of. My children were drip fed Enid Blyton from the time they were big enough to sit still and listen !
I just love ALL things Enid Blyton ! the Magic Faraway Tree and the Wishing Chair. Mrs Washalot (hmmm sounds like a name for me!)~ saucepan man and moon-face and the land at the top of the treePicking up vintage Enid Blyton books is a must for me on my trips to op shops or when treasure hunting. ...oh I cant sing her praises enough !Do something from your childhood ~ grab your favourite Enid Blyton book, a cup of tea, get cosy and read ~ does one's soul good to escape sometime
posted by Miss Robyn | 9:39 am
9 Comments:
I think I'll have to do myself a favour and read some Enid Blyton. I never have read any of her work - I can hear you gasping! I did read Grimms fairy tales and those of Hans Christian Anderson though. I also read the Anne of Green Gables series about 3 times through. But I was never introduced to Enid, so when I'm next in a second hand bookstore I'll seek her out.
Ah yes, what a pity adults are so quick to impose their own views on children's literature, thereby denying many children the joys of Enid Blyton (and others). Like you, Robyn, I became involved in all the adventures of the Famous Five, the Magic Faraway Tree (and many more) through imagination. The Anne books by L.M.Montgomery were another MUST READ. For a slice of Australian country life of a bygone era it's hard to go past the Billabong books by Mary Grant Bruce. Did you read those, Robyn? I also loved the Biggles books by W.E.Johns (another 'banned' author).
Alice, I didn't know that those authors were 'banned'...why on earth would they be banned? quite sad if you ask me
I grew up with Enid Blyton books. My favourite was the secret seven, famous five and amelia jane books. I loved them. Mustn't forget noddy though.
Perhaps 'banned' is too strong a word but their books were certainly removed from school libraries as they were deemed to be, among other things, politically incorrect. 'Noddy' books certainly were banned for being racist - you know, there was a black toy in there called a Golliwog. I think it was the Noddy books that first fell from favour and then Enid Blyton books in general were taboo. I think they were still available in shops if you really looked for them. It's all so long ago now that I can't remember all the misguided reasoning behind it all - lost in the mists of time, I guess. I'll have to ask my husband about them and I'll keep you posted.
Update on Enid Blyton - I asked Richard (my husband, who is a retired teacher) about these books. He confirmed that they were indeed banned. Removed from all school and public libraries and destroyed. As I said earlier, they were deemed to be 'politically incorrect', (don't you just hate that phrase and all it conveys?) The same fate was meted out to Biggles books - stories about 4 English Airmen who were always getting into battles with various German Nazis. Adults believed that children would automatically think that all Germans were Nazis!
He couldn't remember exactly when this 'literature cleansing' took place but it was certainly in effect during 1980s - 1990s.
Yes, ME, I believe EB did write the Mallory Towers books, also The Naughtiest Girl in School series. There were many other single books too, but I can't remember their names except for Shadow the Sheepdog.
Waving my hand here as a fan of Enid Blyton too. Grew up on her books and have managed to encourage eldest daughter that they are fun to read as well. (For some reason she prefers horse books). Why do we have to judge these books on their political correctness? Surely as forward thinking, rational adults we can accept that they were written in an age that thought differently to us, and respect that time as it was without trying to change it.
I read this post a week ago, but didn't have time to comment. Promised myself I would be back, though! Great to see there are still so many of us around who loved Enid B's books. You have named most of my favourites, and ME, I still have all six of the Mallory Towers books, and still sit on the floor and read them! I just adored Elizabeth - the Naughtiest Girl in the School, but was never quite game enough to emulate her! Now the only book that hasn't been mentioned is my very favourite - 'Bimbo and Topsy'. Surely some of you know this one? It is the cutest animal book I have ever read, and I insisted on naming our cat Topsy after the book, even though Topsy in the book was actually the dog. But Ken wouldn't hear of his new kitten being called a 'bimbo' - LMAO!
Post a Comment
<< Home