Another fortnight gone by already, and so another Enid Blyton Magazine - for the dates 5 - 18 June 1957.
The cover shows an illustration from the first story in the magazine,
A Castle Of Bricks which is uncollected, and available to read by following the link. As you can see by the cover, its an unusual story for Enid Blyton - an historical one, set in the days of castles and knights. I won't give too much away, as the story is available for you to read - but I think its quite a good one, mostly because of the unusual setting. I think its quite rare that Enid wrote a story set in these times. It also has some really nice illustrations (uncredited, which is a big shame).
Funnily enough, this was one of the first stories I read in any EB Magazine - last year. I read the same magazine for this fortnight for 1956, then read the magazine for 1957. Then I hit on the idea of writing a thread for 1956, which I did, as you know - so never read any other 1957 magazines until this year.
Next we have Enid's
Editorial letter - which again is available to read by following the link. In it, Enid tells us about the new Famous Five film - which she seems to rate very highly. It's interesting to read her views, because many people have criticised it over the years. I actually think it's one of the best adaptations of any of Enid's books, but I know everyone doesn't share my view. Enid obviously did - unless she was just saying it for publicity reasons of course! She also mentions, once more, that the little girl who played George in the film is from Australia.
Enid also mentions having to take another 'look through a new story' - her latest Famous Five - which again I find interesting...as we have been led to believe she wrote them and never really checked them through afterwards. I know she did make annotations so presumably she read them through at least once, but earlier in another issue she mentions that she has 'nearly finished' writing it - several weeks after announcing she had started it...which makes me question the fact she often wrote one in under a week.
After the short story, there's part three of
The Birthday Kitten - one of the few stories Enid wrote where every chapter heading is a spoken line of dialogue. I don't know any other EB stories which use this technique as chapter titles.
Next -
The Secret Seven Mystery - almost at the end of the story now - at chapter 18 - 'Peter Goes Mad'. There's another illustration by Burgess Sharrocks that doesn't appear in the final book, of 'Tom' galloping towards the camera as he attempts to get away. I wonder why Sharrocks didn't repeat any of these illustrations for the books? They are all much better in my opinion!
Next we have
Rumble and Chuff in which the pair start their adventures, entering a wood and finding a little girl crying - what can be the matter? She is lost, and asks Rumble and Chuff if they can take her home. So they decide to give her a ride home...but one thing ENid doesn't explain...how will they find the way home if she's lost?!
Brer Rabbit Is A Simple Fellow follows next. A typical Brer Rabbit story, where the clever rabbit gets his friends to dig his garden for him. I'm sure this plot has been used in many an Enid Blyton story. It works well enough - but there really isn't much to it. Again, you can read the story by following the link - many thanks to Tony, who scans so many pages to add to The Cave each time I write a review!
The Puzzle Page follows, with a selection of puzzles for Enid's various clubs etc -
b]
Can you pair off the words below so that they make the names of three seaside places that people will be going on holiday this year?
AGE BROAD VENT STAIRS NOR SWAN
Next - the Famous Five Puzzle -
Can you find the names of a fish hidden in each of the following sentences?
a) "You know the way so lead on."
b) "Ask at every house, John."
c) "Where is the car park, please?"
Now the Busy Bees puzzle -
Fill in the missing city in the following songs -
I belong To .......
April In .....
Our Letter Page follows, with an interesting selection - particularly one boy, from Russia, who writes -
Dear Enid Blyton, The other day I read your nice magazine when I was on my holidays. I translated your interesting story 'Whatever Happened To Pong' which Moscow Radio then broadcast for Russian children, and they enjoyed it very much. I would be happy if this letter reached you. I send all British children warm greetings for a happt spring season. I hope there will be lots of sunshine in the sky - and in all their hearts. Long live peace all over the world! Very Sincerely, Igor Mikhailusenko
Interestingly, doing a Google search, Igor Mikhailusenko was a Russian poet...but I'm not sure if they are the same person!
Another letter that caught my eye was from a someone in South Africa. What made me smile was that Enid actually encourages her readers to do the same as the letter-writer, and cut up the EB Magazines to make puzzle books! Collectors would have a fit!
Dear Enid Blyton, When I was looking through a pile of old magazines yesterday, I saw a puzzle I hadn't done. I suddenly had an idea and asked my mother to help me cut out all the puzzles I hadn't done, after checking up to see what was on the other side. I then stuck them into an old exercise book and have now got as good a puzzle book as could be bought. I thought some people might like to copy this idea and, maybe, even sell some puzzle books at a bazaar. Enid replies - I think it was a very good idea of yours to make a puzzle book in this way, and I am sure some of our readers will like to do the same!
Next we have Where's Your Hat, Noddy? which I'm sure Anita will be sad to hear isn't availanble to read in The Cave, as it was published in a book of the same name. I have a feeling I've read it - maybe in Noddy's Treasury or a similar book, as I don't think I actually have the book as a 'stand-alone' story, as it was first published. Its the usual Noddy Fare, where Noddy gives Sailor Doll his hat while he gets under his car to mend it, Sailor Doll goes off wearing it, and Noddy chases all around Toyland trying to get it back.
In Our News-Sheet Enid announces that her fans abroad can order Enid Blyton's Magazine on a yearly subscription of 13s - sounds like a bargain! People who live in Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon and South Africa are all avid readers of the Magazine, but can't always buy it as it has only limited availability.
Enjoy reading the stories this issue - follow the link below -
http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/maga ... ?magid=912