BansheeTowers - 1961 - 1st Edition

[pete9012S]

Thanks Katharine and Eddie - I can now understand why Fiona was so cock-a-hoop when she finally tracked down her copy.

Yes Katharine, I am definitely still in the first throes of being smitten with the thrill of owning this elusive title.
I think I will bring myself to read it when we go on holiday for our 30th wedding anniversary in five weeks time!

[Lucky Star]

Excellent news and a lovely looking book Pete. Now I hope you bring it in and put it on a shelf. It'll get ruined outdoors if it rains. Does that complete your FFO collection?

[pete9012S]

It does John - thank you. Do you have them all?

I've also got the full set of Dragon paperback versions like the one below:


1969 Dragon, illustrations by Treyer Evans, cover by Mary Gernat
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... Ho+Cottage" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What I'm struggling to find next is the hardbacked 1970's Methuen versions like the one below with wrappers:


1970 Methuen, illustrations by Treyer Evans, cover by Mary Gernat


They seem somewhat harder to find than some of the original 1940's & 50's hardbacks.
Although I do have Banshee Towers in its 1973 hardbacked edition!!


1973 Methuen, illustrations by Jenny Chapple, cover by Mary Gernat

[pete9012S]

Our very own Rob has a beautiful copy of the 1973 hardbacked edition of Banshee Towers shown in the above post.
I don't know if anybody here collects those versions?

Enid Blyton - The MYSTERY of BANSHEE TOWERS - hardback with v.v.good dj - 1973
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Enid-Blyton- ... Sw2fRdDO8K" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[IceMaiden]

Congrats Pete on finding a copy of Banshee Towers at a reasonable price! Isn't it an amazing feeling when you finally get hold of a much searched for title? You've more patience than me though, I couldn't have waited years like that, I'd have caved and got the lowest of the high priced ones I could find!

[Fiona1986]

I can now understand why Fiona was so cock-a-hoop when she finally tracked down her copy.

Welcome to the club, Pete

[Courtenay]

Ah, well done, Pete! Glad you found it at last!

[Lucky Star]

It does John - thank you. Do you have them all?

I've also got the full set of Dragon paperback versions like the one below:


1969 Dragon, illustrations by Treyer Evans, cover by Mary Gernat
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... Ho+Cottage" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

No Pete. Very few of them in fact. I have the full set of Dragon paperbacks and about 9 or 10of the earlier Armada covers which are lovely.

[pete9012S]

I like the earlier paperbacks too John. I just wish they held together as long as hardbacks which seem designed to last so much longer!

[John Pickup]

Well done, Pete. It's not as bad as some people say it is. The cover is by Lilian Buchanan too, I like her illustrations.

[IceMaiden]

I don't think Banshee Towers is bad at all, I've never understood why it's so unpopular. It might not pack quite the same punch as some of the others but it's still a neat little mystery with an atmospheric and intriguing location.

[Courtenay]

Totally agree, IceMaiden. I read Banshee Towers along with many of the others in the series, in no particular order, when I was little and I enjoyed it and never saw anything wrong with it — it wasn't the strongest in the series, but a number of the others likewise have relatively weak plots compared to the most outstanding ones, and yet they're still good to read. I haven't ever read the whole series in order in quick succession, so if I did I might notice more of a drop-off in quality with the last one, but overall I don't think it's a bad book. The plot twist that solves the mystery — a detail missing from the counterfeit painting — is a bit far-fetched, but no worse than some in other Enid Blyton books. I'm pretty sure that as a young reader, even though it did cross my mind that no serious forger would make a mistake like that, I didn't really mind, as I was just enjoying the story, especially the scenes with Ern and Bingo. I wish Enid could have written more books with them in — Ern is one of my favourite characters in the series and it's even more fun with him and Fatty both having dogs!

[IceMaiden]

Agree completely with that Courtenay. I've read all the books both in and out of order several times and honestly can't see a dip in quality for the last book. Personally I would say the 'weakest' ( and I use that term loosely as I don't believe Enid ever wrote a weak book) Find Outer book is Vanished Prince. It's not bad but it's not as compelling as the others are.