The Enid Blyton Society Famous Five

The Famous Five

The Famous Five are among Enid Blyton's best-loved creations and countless children have gone adventuring with them since the publication of Five on a Treasure Island in 1942, the first of twenty-one full-length adventures and numerous short stories.

Famous Five

Armed with maps, torches, packets of sandwiches and a plentiful supply of ginger-beer, Julian, Dick, Anne, their tomboy cousin George (Georgina by rights) and Timmy the dog like nothing better than to spend their holidays hiking and biking, camping and exploring by themselves, invariably falling into adventure.

Famous Five

Friends like Jo the gypsy girl, young Tinker Hayling, Sooty Lenoir, and even George's scientist father (Uncle Quentin to the others), often get caught up in the strange goings-on too.

And what thrilling places they visit and discover — Kirrin Island, Smuggler's Top, Owl's Dene, the lighthouse at Demon's Rocks and farms, castles, caves and secret passages galore.

Whether they're outwitting thieves, smugglers or kidnappers, seeking hidden treasure or encountering spook trains, the Five's courage and determination always wins through!

Famous Five

Famous Five

Enid Blyton's original books were charmingly illustrated by Eileen Soper but there have been numerous interpretations and adaptations of the Famous Five over the years including continuation novels written by French author Claude Voilier, cinema films, stage plays, two television series and, more recently, a Disney cartoon series featuring the children of the Famous Five.

However, the twenty-one original books have never been out of print and remain popular with readers worldwide. Long live the Famous Five!

Famous Five Books, Stories and Games

Famous Five

There are 21 original Famous Five books by Enid Blyton written between 1942 and 1963...
First Published in 1942 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 1 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson & Matt Tompkins
First Published in 1943 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 2 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1944 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 3 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1945 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 4 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1946 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 5 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1947 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 6 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1948 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 7 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1949 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 8 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1950 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 9 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1951 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 10 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1952 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 11 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1953 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 12 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1954 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 13 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1955 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 14 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1956 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 15 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1957 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 16 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1958 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 17 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1960 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 18 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1961 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 19 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1962 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 20 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 1963 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 21 of 22 in this category
See review by Terry Gustafson
First Published in 2011 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 22 of 22 in this category

Famous Five

Over the years, a number of Famous Five short stories appeared in Enid Blyton's Magazine Annuals, Princess Gift Books and Comic, and a Weeties strip book. In 1999 a compilation book was published featuring all of the 8 short stories...

First Published in 1995 by Red Fox
Book 1 of 1 in this category

Famous Five Omnibuses

There were also four Omnibus Books, each featuring three original full length Famous Five novels...

First Published in 1959 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 1 of 4 in this category
First Published in 1964 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 2 of 4 in this category
First Published in 1973 by Brockhampton Press
Book 3 of 4 in this category
First Published in 1974 by Brockhampton Press
Book 4 of 4 in this category

Famous Five 70s TV Annuals

From 1977 to 1985 the Famous Five were all the rage and, along with the Granada TV series, a series of TV Annuals was produced...

First Published in 1977 by Purnell
Book 1 of 9 in this category
First Published in 1978 by Purnell
Book 2 of 9 in this category
First Published in 1979 by Purnell
Book 3 of 9 in this category
First Published in 1980 by Purnell
Book 4 of 9 in this category
First Published in 1981 by Purnell
Book 5 of 9 in this category
First Published in 1982 by Purnell
Book 6 of 9 in this category
First Published in 1983 by Purnell
Book 7 of 9 in this category
First Published in 1984 by Purnell
Book 8 of 9 in this category
First Published in 1985 by Purnell
Book 9 of 9 in this category

One-off Annuals

A similar TV Annual was produced based on the 1990s TV series...

Famous Five Sequels

In 1981 the bookshops began to fill up with French author Claude Voilier's Famous Five continuation novels, translated into English by Anthea Bell. Voilier began writing these in the 1970s and there are 24 books in the series, but only 18 were translated into English...

First Published in 1981 by Knight Books
Book 1 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1981 by Knight Books
Book 2 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1981 by Knight Books
Book 3 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1981 by Knight Books
Book 4 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1982 by Knight Books
Book 5 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1982 by Knight Books
Book 6 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1983 by Knight Books
Book 7 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1983 by Knight Books
Book 8 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1984 by Knight Books
Book 9 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1984 by Knight Books
Book 10 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1984 by Knight Books
Book 11 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1984 by Knight Books
Book 12 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1985 by Knight Books
Book 13 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1985 by Knight Books
Book 14 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1986 by Knight Books
Book 15 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1986 by Knight Books
Book 16 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1987 by Knight Books
Book 17 of 18 in this category
First Published in 1987 by Knight Books
Book 18 of 18 in this category

The Famous Five and You

Mary Danby wrote six Famous Five continuation books between 1987 and 1989...

First Published in 1987 by Knight Books
Book 1 of 6 in this category
First Published in 1987 by Knight Books
Book 2 of 6 in this category
First Published in 1988 by Knight Books
Book 3 of 6 in this category
First Published in 1988 by Knight Books
Book 4 of 6 in this category
First Published in 1989 by Knight Books
Book 5 of 6 in this category
First Published in 1989 by Knight Books
Book 6 of 6 in this category

Just George [Famous Five]

In 2000, Hodder Children's Books produced six "Just George" novels written by Sue Welford...

First Published in 2000 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 1 of 7 in this category
First Published in 2000 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 2 of 7 in this category
First Published in 2000 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 3 of 7 in this category
First Published in 2000 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 4 of 7 in this category
First Published in 2000 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 5 of 7 in this category
First Published in 2000 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 6 of 7 in this category
First Published in 2009 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 7 of 7 in this category

Hodder 2004 Collection Editions

In 2004, Hodder Children's Books published a set of six Collection editions. Three of these featured the Famous Five...

First Published in 2004 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 1 of 6 in this category
First Published in 2004 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 2 of 6 in this category
First Published in 2005 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 5 of 6 in this category

Miscellaneous Famous Five (by various authors)

There have been a number of miscellaneous Famous Five specials...

First Published in 1988 by Knight
Book 1 of 9 in this category
First Published in 1998 by Dorling Kindersley
Book 2 of 9 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 3 of 9 in this category
First Published in 2014 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 4 of 9 in this category
First Published in 2015 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 5 of 9 in this category
First Published in 2017 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 6 of 9 in this category
First Published in 2017 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 7 of 9 in this category
First Published in 2017 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 8 of 9 in this category
First Published in 2017 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 9 of 9 in this category

Famous Five On the Case

In 2008, Disney commissioned a series of TV cartoons featuring the children of the Famous Five. These modern characters bear little resemblance to Blyton's except that they go by the title "Famous 5" and occasionally make references to original adventures or characters...

First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 1 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 2 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 3 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 4 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 5 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 6 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 7 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 8 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 9 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 10 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 11 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 12 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 13 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 14 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 15 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2008 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 16 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2009 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 17 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2009 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 18 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2009 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 19 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2009 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 20 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2009 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 21 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2009 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 22 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2009 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 23 of 24 in this category
First Published in 2009 by Hodder Children's Books
Book 24 of 24 in this category

Famous 5 Adventure Game Books

From 1984, Stephen Thraves wrote eight Famous 5 Adventure Game Books series...

First Published in 1984 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 1 of 8 in this category
First Published in 1984 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 2 of 8 in this category
First Published in 1985 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 3 of 8 in this category
First Published in 1985 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 4 of 8 in this category
First Published in 1986 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 5 of 8 in this category
First Published in 1986 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 6 of 8 in this category
First Published in 1988 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 7 of 8 in this category
First Published in 1988 by Hodder & Stoughton
Book 8 of 8 in this category

Games and Puzzles...

There have been a number of Famous Five board games, jigsaw puzzles and card games over the years, including the jigsaw puzzles produced by BeStime as part of their numbered series throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and those by Whitman in the 1970s...

BeStime Numbered Jigsaws

First Published in 1955 by BeStime
Book 29 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1955 by BeStime
Book 30 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1955 by BeStime
Book 31 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1955 by BeStime
Book 32 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1956 by BeStime
Book 41 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1956 by BeStime
Book 42 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1956 by BeStime
Book 43 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1956 by BeStime
Book 44 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1957 by BeStime
Book 45 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1957 by BeStime
Book 46 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1957 by BeStime
Book 47 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1957 by BeStime
Book 48 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1958 by BeStime
Book 53 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1958 by BeStime
Book 54 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1958 by BeStime
Book 55 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1958 by BeStime
Book 56 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1959 by BeStime
Book 65 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1959 by BeStime
Book 66 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1959 by BeStime
Book 67 of 72 in this category
First Published in 1959 by BeStime
Book 68 of 72 in this category

Whitman Famous Five Jigsaws

First Published in 1975 by Whitman
Book 1 of 4 in this category
First Published in 1975 by Whitman
Book 2 of 4 in this category
First Published in 1975 by Whitman
Book 3 of 4 in this category
First Published in 1975 by Whitman
Book 4 of 4 in this category

Whitman Famous Five TV Jigsaws

First Published in 1978 by Whitman
Book 1 of 4 in this category
First Published in 1978 by Whitman
Book 2 of 4 in this category
First Published in 1978 by Whitman
Book 3 of 4 in this category
First Published in 1978 by Whitman
Book 4 of 4 in this category

Enid Blyton Board Games

First Published in 1978 by Whitman
Book 12 of 12 in this category

Enid Blyton Card Games

First Published in 1951 by Pepys
Book 2 of 8 in this category
First Published in 1978 by Pepys
Book 8 of 8 in this category