The Enid Blyton Society
Five on Kirrin Island Again
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Book Details...

First edition: 1947
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Illustrator: Eileen A. Soper
Category: Famous Five
Genre: Mystery/Adventure
Type: Novels/Novelettes

On This Page...

Reprint Covers
Artwork
Review by Terry Gustafson
Further Illustrations

Reprints
1. 1949 Hodder & Stoughton, illustrations and cover by Eileen A. Soper
2. 1951 Hodder & Stoughton, illustrations and cover by Eileen A. Soper
3. 1967 Knight, illustrations by Eileen A. Soper, cover by Betty Maxey
4. 1969 Knight, illustrations by Eileen A. Soper, cover by Betty Maxey
5. 1970 Knight, illustrations by Eileen A. Soper, cover by Betty Maxey
6. 1974 Brockhampton, illustrations and cover by Betty Maxey (*)
7. 1978 Knight, illustrations by Betty Maxey, cover from 1st TV Series
8. 1979 Hodder & Stoughton, illustrations by Jolyne Knox, cover from 1st TV Series
9. 1983 Knight, illustrations and cover by Betty Maxey
10. 1986 Hodder & Stoughton, illustrations by Jolyne Knox, cover by Betty Maxey (*)
11. 1987 Knight, illustrations by Betty Maxey, cover by Andrew Lloyd-Jones
12. 1991 Knight, not illustrated, cover uncredited
13. 1993 Award, illustrations by Jolyne Knox, cover uncredited
14. 1994 Hodder, not illustrated, cover uncredited
15. 1995 Hodder, not illustrated, cover by David Barnett
16. 1996 Hodder, not illustrated, cover from 2nd TV Series
17. 1997 Hodder, illustrations and cover by Eileen A. Soper
18. 2000 Hodder, illustrations and cover by Eileen A. Soper
19. 2001 Hodder, not illustrated, cover by Richard Jones
20. 2010 Hodder, not illustrated, cover by Adrian Chesterman
21. 2015 Hodder, not illustrated, cover by Shirley Hughes
22. 2017 Hodder, not illustrated, cover by Laura Ellen Anderson
23. 2017 Hodder, illustrations and cover by Eileen A. Soper
24. 2020 Arcturus, not illustrated, cover uncredited



Dustwrapper from the 1951 edition, illustrated by Eileen A. Soper


Endpapers from the 1st edition, illustrated by Eileen A. Soper


Frontis from the 1st edition, illustrated by Eileen A. Soper


1st German edition published by Blüchert Verlag, Stuttgart in 1955,
illustrated by Friedrich Karl Gallwey with the title Five Friends on the Rocky Island


Early German reprint published by Blüchert Verlag, Stuttgart,
illustrated by Nikolaus Plump


1st French edition published by Hachette in 1956,
illustrated by Simone Baudoin


1st Dutch edition published by Becht in 1957


1st Spanish edition published by Editorial Juventud in 1966,
illustrated by José Correas
Foreign Titles
American: Five Guard a Hidden Discovery
German: Fünf Freunde auf der Felseninsel
French: Le Club des Cinq Joue at Gagne
Dutch: De Vijf weer op Kirrin-eiland
Spanish: Los Cinco otra vez en la isla Kirrin
Portuguese: Os Cinco Salvaram o Tio
Italian: Mistero sull'isola di Kirrin
Swedish: Fem räddar en hemlighet
Danish: De fem på øen igen
Finnish: Viisikko Pelastaa Salaisuuden
Norwegian: Fem Raddar En Hemlighet
Russian: Taina sekretnoi laboratory
Slovenian: 5 Prijateljev znova na Kirrinovem otoku
Serbo-Croat: 5 Prijatelja u sluzbi znanosti
Icelandic: Fimm á fornum slóðum
Slovakian: Slavna Patka znovu na ostrove
Malaysian: 5 Ngeri di Gua Gelap
Basque: Bostak Berriro Kirrin Uhartean



Brief Summary by Poppy Hutchinson: George is infuriated when her Father proposes to 'borrow' her Island for the Easter holidays, and go and live there in a temporary 'tower' he has had built in the Castle Yard. Not even the fact that it is all due to some important Scientific work he is performing, will content her; but will the holidays prove to be more eventful than the dull days George imagines, when the option of visiting Kirrin Island is impossible? Things take a turn when Uncle Quentin suspects a trespasser on the Island, and requests Timmy's company, George becomes aware of a hair-raising mystery evolving around her Island.


Full Review (This may contain spoilers):

Terry Gustafson's Review
The story has been told many times and it centres on a tower that's built to specifications on Kirrin Island and overseen by George's father. There's a nice picture on Page #17 of the Five and Quentin's wife in the pony-trap where they all gaze at the controversial and very prominent tower. It's being used for some experimental work by Quentin who's living over there temporarily. George being George and therefore very possessive is not happy with the usurping of her precious bit of real-estate let alone the blot on the landscape.

The Five and Fanny (George's mama) visit the place. They look for Quentin and when he appears as if by magic, they have a picnic. George's father is as absent-minded as he ever was and it's a wonder he can look after himself but he seems to be manage. A Historic Moment occurs: it appears that after years and years of scrabbling in countless burrows Timmy catches a bunny-rabbit and the author displays her rather interesting and unpredictable way of reporting on unexpected circumstances. It could be that that Anne or even George on sighting such an action would give a shriek of horror "Oh my God! Timmy's caught a rabbit! Drop it! Come Here Sir!" In this case, Quentin is the one who sees it and as if he was just mentioning that someone's dropped their handkerchief, declares "My word, that dog's got a rabbit at last!" A distressed George doesn't take it so calmly and ticks Timmy off well and proper for his crime.

A man and his son descend on Kirrin Bay and when the Five meet up with the boy whose name is Martin he seems over-interested in the island and its tower. He's a little too nosy for Dick's liking but George warms to the boy and that's probably because he thinks she's Dick's brother. They meet his father as well who goes under the name of Curton. He's also curious about Kirrin Island and its tower. Dick has one or two bust-ups with George in this book because in his opinion she was giving away too much information about the island — "... just like a girl!"

A system of signalling is arranged for Quentin so that the others on shore will know he's all right. Despite this and to George's horror, he requests that Timmy comes to stay on the island with him because he feels that he's not alone. One never knows ... he might be in danger and he can't afford to have any of his secrets ferreted out. George very reluctantly hands the dog over and is as good as she can be about it.

The Five seem to get on all right with Martin — the Curton boy, later on in the tale and even spend an afternoon at his place and find that he's quite a talented lad. His father however is someone they would rather avoid because they think he's not a very nice person and he's rather nasty to his son. At one stage, Anne — yes the timid Anne who in real truth is no Tiger, says to him: "You're a very wicked man. I simply can't bear you!" Now that's telling him where to get off but would you credit that outburst to young Anne? Maybe I'm joking.

George is unhappy. She wants to see Timmy. She must see Timmy. Is he all right over there on the island? She rushes over to the local coastguard and uses his telescope to see close-up through the window of the tower. She spots a man but no Timmy. Is that person her father — she can't quite make out the features. Why isn't Timmy with him? She panics a little or perhaps that could be increased to A Lot!

She's away like a Blue Streak is our George. Sneaking out of the cottage late at night she sails to Kirrin Island. In EB language, the adventure has now Boiled Up and George uses much resourcefulness and bravery to assist her father. There are caves of course and a tunnel that reminded me of the one in The Island of Adventure. In due course the truth is revealed as to the purpose of the tower and the benefits that may come for mankind from Quentin's revolutionary ideas. However there is much evil to overcome and the island faces the greatest threat in its turbulent history before the climax arrives with all the Five involved and helped by friends from various quarters. These illustrations are hidden by default to ensure faster browsing. Loading the illustrations is recommended for high-speed internet users only.