Stephen Isabirye

Which other authors do you enjoy? Discuss them here.
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: The Famous Five: A Personal Anecdotage

Post by Lucky Star »

pete9012S wrote: A new voluptuous cover that united these two giants of Enid Blyton Famous Five illustrations throughout the decades might sway the hoards of Betty Maxey followers to check out your book???

Nigel is already beating a path to the door, chequebook in hand. :lol:
"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
Eddie Muir
Posts: 14566
Joined: 13 Oct 2007, 22:28
Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers and Dog
Favourite character: Fatty
Location: Brighton

Re: Stephen Isabirye

Post by Eddie Muir »

Lucky Star wrote:
Nigel is already beating a path to the door, chequebook in hand. :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
'Go down to the side-shows by the river this afternoon. I'll meet you somewhere in disguise. Bet you won't know me!' wrote Fatty.

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: The Famous Five: A Personal Anecdotage

Post by Courtenay »

Lucky Star wrote:
pete9012S wrote: A new voluptuous cover that united these two giants of Enid Blyton Famous Five illustrations throughout the decades might sway the hoards of Betty Maxey followers to check out your book???

Nigel is already beating a path to the door, chequebook in hand. :lol:
... to pay you anything - anything you want, Pete - NOT to do it. :mrgreen:
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
Enikyoga
Posts: 675
Joined: 10 Mar 2008, 11:06

Re: Stephen Isabirye

Post by Enikyoga »

pete9012S wrote:
Enikyoga wrote:
Image

Very true Stephen.
It was a flash of genius perhaps even akin to Uncle Quentin's marvellous Sko Wheel.
I don't know what your stance on Betty Maxey is,but I do know you are fair and impartial on most things.

A new voluptuous cover that united these two giants of Enid Blyton Famous Five illustrations throughout the decades might sway the hoards of Betty Maxey followers to check out your book???

.

Pete, I still think the Eileen Soper illustration is better. The way George and Timmy jump out in the Eileen Soper illustration is very dramatic in contra-distinction with Betty Maxey's that has no action of any sort. In addition, putting the two illustrations, side-by-side would put off many readers or a potential of them...As you may recall, in his book, The Famous Five: Everything you Ever Wanted to Know, Norman Wright also used Eileen Soper's illustrations as opposed to those of Maxey. It would seem that there is something both classy and classic about Soper's illustrations as being deemed to be the authentic and official pictorial depictions of The Famous Five. This is not to say that Betty Maxey did not have good illustrations i.e. such as those depicting Timmy in Five Go To Demon's Rocks as well as Maggie and her partner in Five On A Hike Together (the two looked hip for the 1970s era in this book; maybe that is one of the reasons why Maxey's illustrations replaced those of Soper).
Stephen I.
Last edited by Enikyoga on 14 Nov 2014, 05:37, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17568
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: Stephen Isabirye

Post by pete9012S »

Image
Enikyoga wrote:This is not to say that Betty Maxey did not have good illustrations i.e. such as..... Maggie and her partner in Five On A Hike Together (the two looked hip for the 1970s era in this book..).
Stephen I.
Thanks for appreciating Betty's work Stephen.It does put you in the minority with me though! :wink:
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Moonraker
Posts: 22387
Joined: 31 Jan 2005, 19:15
Location: Wiltshire, England
Contact:

Re: Stephen Isabirye

Post by Moonraker »

Don't worry, Pete; our friend Stephen is quite at home being in a minority. :wink:
Society Member
User avatar
Fiona1986
Posts: 10527
Joined: 01 Dec 2007, 15:35
Favourite book/series: Five Go to Smuggler's Top
Favourite character: Julian Kirrin
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Contact:

Re: Stephen Isabirye

Post by Fiona1986 »

For once I actually agree with Stephen on something, I think. Soper's illustration of the five meeting has much more movement and action while In Maxeys everyone looks half asleep! I find that about most of her pictures - even when George is meant to be storming about in a huff and yet Maxey draws her as if she's just wandering in a daze.
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.


World of Blyton Blog

Society Member
User avatar
Moonraker
Posts: 22387
Joined: 31 Jan 2005, 19:15
Location: Wiltshire, England
Contact:

Re: Stephen Isabirye

Post by Moonraker »

But Stephen said he preferred Maxey's.... :?
Pete, still I think the Betty Maxey illustration is better
Last edited by Moonraker on 13 Nov 2014, 17:49, edited 1 time in total.
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: Stephen Isabirye

Post by sixret »

That's what I thought. :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
Fiona1986
Posts: 10527
Joined: 01 Dec 2007, 15:35
Favourite book/series: Five Go to Smuggler's Top
Favourite character: Julian Kirrin
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Contact:

Re: Stephen Isabirye

Post by Fiona1986 »

That's why I said "I think" at the end. Stephen does say he likes Maxey's better but then goes on to talk about how hers lacks action while George and Timmy are more dramatic in Soper's.
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.


World of Blyton Blog

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: Stephen Isabirye

Post by Courtenay »

In the words of a couple of Australian comedians whom I remember singing this on the radio once:

"Well, I might contradict myself, but at least I don't contradict myself..."

:roll:
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
Fiona1986
Posts: 10527
Joined: 01 Dec 2007, 15:35
Favourite book/series: Five Go to Smuggler's Top
Favourite character: Julian Kirrin
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Contact:

Re: Stephen Isabirye

Post by Fiona1986 »

How very apt!
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.


World of Blyton Blog

Society Member
User avatar
Enikyoga
Posts: 675
Joined: 10 Mar 2008, 11:06

Re: Stephen Isabirye

Post by Enikyoga »

Enikyoga wrote:
pete9012S wrote:
Enikyoga wrote: Image

Very true Stephen.
It was a flash of genius perhaps even akin to Uncle Quentin's marvellous Sko Wheel.
I don't know what your stance on Betty Maxey is,but I do know you are fair and impartial on most things.

A new voluptuous cover that united these two giants of Enid Blyton Famous Five illustrations throughout the decades might sway the hoards of Betty Maxey followers to check out your book???

.
Pete, I still think the Eileen Soper illustration is better. The way George and Timmy jump out in the Eileen Soper illustration is very dramatic in contra-distinction with Betty Maxey's that has no action of any sort. In addition, putting the two illustrations, side-by-side would put off many readers or a potential of them...As you may recall, in his book, The Famous Five: Everything you Ever Wanted to Know, Norman Wright also used Eileen Soper's illustrations as opposed to those of Maxey. It would seem that there is something both classy and classic about Soper's illustrations as being deemed to be the authentic and official pictorial depictions of The Famous Five. This is not to say that Betty Maxey did not have good illustrations i.e. such as those depicting Timmy in Five Go To Demon's Rocks as well as Maggie and her partner in Five On A Hike Together (the two looked hip for the 1970s era in this book; maybe that is one of the reasons why Maxey's illustrations replaced those of Soper).
Stephen I.
My apologies, I meant to say, "Pete, I still think the Eileen Soper illustration is better." Maybe this is the effect of some health ailments I have recently suffered from. I have since corrected this error.The advice of proofreading one's stuff thoroughly is well taken in this aspect. Once again, my apologies!!!
Moonraker wrote:But Stephen said he preferred Maxey's.... :?
Pete, I still think the Eileen Soper illustration is better
.
Moonraker, etal, I have since corrected the above error. Regardless, preferring Eileen Soper illustrations does not suggest that at times the Betty Maxey illustrations could be better at times as I have already pointed out.
Stephen I.
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: Stephen Isabirye

Post by Lucky Star »

Sorry to hear you have been unwell Stephen. I hope you are fully recovered now.
"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
pete9012S
Posts: 17568
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: Stephen Isabirye

Post by pete9012S »

Hope you're feeling better Stephen.
Please don't give up on Betty Maxey.
I admit she's not to everyone's taste,but she does grow on you if you persevere. :D :D

Image
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
Post Reply