Five Go Off To Camp - Cover Comparison

[pete9012S]

I'm sure we all have covers we favour and covers we could live without....

..
1948 Soper v 1951 Soper

..
1970 Maxey v 1978 TV Tie-In

..
1983 Maxey v 1991 Graham Reynolds

..
2015 David Tazzyman v 2017 Laura Ellen Anderson

Not an exhaustive list of all the covers, but I did feel exhausted after viewing some of them - I have my own top and bottom three, as I'm sure you no doubt also have yourself!

ps.
Going near a smutty tunnel in 1951 whilst camping in the wild? Don't forget to wear a smart suit, crisp white shirt & tie..
Going off to camp around 2017? Don't forget to take a garish cream and brown spotted tent..

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... ff+to+Camp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lucky Star]

I grew up with the orange dominated Green Knight cover featuring George and Timmy. I still find it very atmospheric. The second edition with the Five recoiling as the train exits the tunnel is also very good. I have a copy of that too. The original first edition stays true to the book's title but it is a bit anodyne in my view giving no hint of the mystery and suspense that lies within the book.

[pete9012S]

Yes, I too like the second, third and fourth cover shown above John.

ps hope any interviews you have had so far have gone well - or go well if they are in the near future.

Best Wishes

Pete

[Lucky Star]

Thanks Pete. I've had two so far and am waiting to hear from them.

Yes those covers would be my favourites too. The 1983 Maxey is nice too.

[Katharine]

I too owned (and still do) the 1970s Knight version, which fortunately had the original illustrations inside.

I really like the cover of the 1st edition, but think the second edition has more atmosphere. I quite like the TV cover too, partly because I grew up watching the series, but also it has a photo of a steam train in it - always a plus in my eyes.

Although a bit too modern for my taste, I think the 1983 version is good as it really captures the feel of the deserted yard and Sam. The 1991 pictures reminds me of the (in my opinion) very annoying clip in the 2nd Harry Potter film where the car comes out of the clouds to find the train behind it. As far as I'm aware, running/flying away from a train didn't happen in either book!

I think the 2015 cover is hideous - why do they have triangular faces, and why does Julian have such long pointed feet? And is it my eyesight or do they all look really angry, if so, why? If I was an adult, looking for a book as a gift and I was unfamiliar with the FF books, I'd put that version straight back on the shelves as I feel it looks very 'thuggy' and would think it was about an aggressive gang of people.

Although I'm not keen on cartoon covers, I don't mind the 2017 version. Personally I've never come across an orange spotty tent, but I like the warm, cosy atmosphere the colours produce. It has a very restful, happy look to it, although I suppose it doesn't conjure up the thrilling story inside.

[Fiona1986]

I had the 1991 edition with them fleeing from the train. I think the best has to be the second one, as above it's much more exciting than a camp site.

[pete9012S]

Yes, that's a good one.
I did not realise the 1951's spine slightly mimics the front cover of the first edition..

[Daisy]

I have the second cover and think it's the best of them all. I really do not understand the thinking behind the artwork of the modern covers. The last two are just awful.

[Anita Bensoussane]

It's fun to compare the covers. My favourites are the 1970 Maxey and the 1951 Soper as they convey the tension and the eerie atmosphere.

[pete9012S]

Yes, I agree Anita. If I had to pick just two, these would be my choice also.

[pete9012S]

Julian certainly got his wear out of that blue suit - but by 1963, even he had ditched the tie!

[John Pickup]

My copy is the original one although I don't have a first edition. My favourite is the second one although I have never been convinced that the funnel of the train would have cleared the roof of the tunnel. The last two covers are awful in my opinion but it's not my age bracket the publishers are aiming for.

[Fiona1986]

It's a spook train, John. It goes through the bricks .

Good spot, though. It does look a bit high!

[Jack400]

Well spotted, John and well explained, Fiona.

[Rob Houghton]

My favourites are the second edition cover with the train, and the Maxey cover, which are both very atmospheric, as others have said. Of course, I'm no fan of the last two editions pictured. The Famous Five are real people - not fantasy creatures from a land at the top of the Faraway Tree!

The first edition is bland, in my opinion. I like all the others between Maxey and the two modern covers, better than Eileen Soper's first attempt.