Website Additions

What would you like to see? All feedback and suggestions appreciated!
User avatar
Lucky Star
Posts: 11484
Joined: 28 May 2006, 12:59
Favourite book/series: The Valley of Adventure
Favourite character: Mr Goon
Location: Surrey, UK

Re: Website Additions

Post by Lucky Star »

The black guy seldom was the villain. Something the PC brigade tend to overlook. But why let a fact get in the way of a good rant. :roll:

They are lovely pictures indeed. Thanks for putting them up Tony.
"What a lot of trouble one avoids if one refuses to have anything to do with the common herd. To have no job, to devote ones life to literature, is the most wonderful thing in the world. - Cicero

Society Member
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

Re: Website Additions

Post by Courtenay »

I suspect Nigel was being facetious, but then, you never really know... :wink:
Society Member

It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
User avatar
Poppy
Posts: 5725
Joined: 24 Apr 2012, 16:06
Favourite book/series: Famous Five/ Adventure Series/ Malory Towers
Favourite character: George Kirrin, Andy, Jack Trent & Diana.
Location: UK

Re: Website Additions

Post by Poppy »

Great to see these illustrations: thanks for all your work, Tony! I really like these pictures: they express the characters and scenes wonderfully and really bring the stories alive. I particularly like the chapter headings - a wonderful, enticing introduction to the stories.
"Beware of young men with long hair - that's what dad says, isn't it?"
Pat, Holiday House


Poppy's Best of Books

Society Member
Tony Summerfield
Posts: 6386
Joined: 26 Dec 2004, 12:20

Re: Website Additions

Post by Tony Summerfield »

I have now finished Naughty Amelia Jane! and made a start with The Adventures of Mr. Pink-Whistle which now has a nice bright redone cover image.
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

Re: Website Additions

Post by Courtenay »

Oh, lovely! I grew up with Rene Cloke's illustrations and have always been fond of them, but Dorothy M. Wheeler's - which I'd never seen before - are beautiful, elegant, full-of-character line drawings.

My only objection is that she makes Sooty look very odd - sort of bloated and rather unwell - at least in this first picture. But I think she's got Mr P-W just perfect! :D

Image

Looking forward to seeing the rest as they come - and thank you once again, Tony, for all the care and effort you put into this. It really is greatly appreciated, and I know I'm not the only one who thinks so!
Society Member

It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26768
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: Website Additions

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I've enjoyed looking at the rest of Sylvia Venus's illustrations for the first Amelia Jane book and I look forward to seeing all the Pink-Whistle ones by Dorothy Wheeler. My own copies of the Amelia Jane and Pink-Whistle (and Meddle) books have illustrations by Rene Cloke, and I love them. However, I also love the drawings by Sylvia Venus and Dorothy Wheeler (I'm quite familiar with their work from reading the Journal, etc.) Dorothy Wheeler's portrayal of Mr. Pink-Whistle certainly is striking.

Edit: I meant to say that the illustration above the chapter title 'The Little Secret Man' (The Adventures of Mr. Pink-Whistle) is wonderful, like an elaborate tapestry!
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
sixret
Posts: 4130
Joined: 16 Aug 2006, 14:25
Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers,Mr.Twiddle,Barney R
Favourite character: Mr.Twiddle,Fatty,Saucepan,Snubby

Re: Website Additions

Post by sixret »

Thank you so much, Tony. :D

Illustrations drawn by Cloke, Wheeler, McGavin, Van Der Beek and Brook are my favourite. I love their illustrations because they look cute. I love all the cute things. :lol:
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
User avatar
Moonraker
Posts: 22387
Joined: 31 Jan 2005, 19:15
Location: Wiltshire, England
Contact:

Re: Website Additions

Post by Moonraker »

Courtenay wrote:I suspect Nigel was being facetious, but then, you never really know... :wink:
I wouldn't say facetious, but it was a tongue-in-cheek ironic comment! I was making the point that John confirmed!
Society Member
Tony Summerfield
Posts: 6386
Joined: 26 Dec 2004, 12:20

Re: Website Additions

Post by Tony Summerfield »

I have completed The Adventures of Mr Pink-Whistle

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book ... nk-Whistle" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and Mister Meddle's Mischief is under way

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book ... s+Mischief" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have also completely redone both cover illustrations which are now vastly improved.
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26768
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: Website Additions

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Thanks, Tony. The Pink-Whistle illustrations are an absolute delight but the Meddle ones are rather wacky!
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
Lenoir
Posts: 1893
Joined: 18 Jun 2005, 20:40
Favourite book/series: FFO/FF. Five run away together, Most FFO books.
Favourite character: Fatty
Location: Cape Town,South Africa

Re: Website Additions

Post by Lenoir »

They have come out very well. Nice to see them and the title page and front.
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

Re: Website Additions

Post by Courtenay »

Yes, those Meddle ones are a very unusual artistic style, to say the least! :shock: Not unattractive, but certainly not what one would expect in a children's book of the 1940s.

The Pink-Whistle illustrations are gorgeous! Tony, will you be adding the original illustrations for the other two Mr Pink-Whistle books eventually? I'd love to see them too. :D
Society Member

It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
Tony Summerfield
Posts: 6386
Joined: 26 Dec 2004, 12:20

Re: Website Additions

Post by Tony Summerfield »

Courtenay wrote:The Pink-Whistle illustrations are gorgeous! Tony, will you be adding the original illustrations for the other two Mr Pink-Whistle books eventually? I'd love to see them too. :D
Yes, is the answer to that, Courtenay. When I finish the Meddle book I am moving onto the first Twiddle book and then I will go back to the second book in each series. I intend to do all twelve books, but haven't set too rigid a timetable on it.
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

Re: Website Additions

Post by Courtenay »

Well, that's a LOT of work, so I think we'll all understand if you can't get it all finished by the weekend!! :lol: But it is a marvellous job you're doing, and it's such a delight to have this treasure-trove of original illustrations from so many Blyton classics - it really enhances the whole website. Thanks again for all the effort you put in!
Society Member

It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
User avatar
walter raleigh
Posts: 1236
Joined: 09 May 2014, 04:35
Favourite book/series: 5 Fall Into Adventure/R Mysteries/Adventure Series
Favourite character: George Kirrin
Location: On Kirrin Island Again

Re: Website Additions

Post by walter raleigh »

I echo everybody else's sentiments here. It's great to see these wonderful illustrations from early editions that many of us are unable to afford or otherwise locate. Much apprecciated Tony. (even if I prefer the Rene Cloke pictures from my beloved Dean & Sons editions...)
"Stuck in a state of permanent pre-pubescence like poor Julian in the Famous Five!"

Society Member
Post Reply