The Adventure Series!

[Courtenay]

I agree, probably not a coincidence.

[Rob Houghton]

Bill is always someone whom the children (and Mrs Mannering!) can rely on - safe, heroic, tough, masculine, stands up for what is right. I often think that this is how Enid felt about Kenneth - that maybe he 'rescued' her and maybe also for the first time she knew real love for a man which perhaps she never actually felt for Hugh. From 1944 onwards her male figures (or at least some of them) do come across as more 'heroic' - another good example is Darrell's father in Malory Towers, who is also a surgeon like Kenneth and is often described as 'saving people' when they are ill - showing the way Enid viewed her husband.

[Chrissie777]

It's interesting that in 1943 Enid married Kenneth, and then in 1944 she writes a story that contains one of her most heroic and realistic male figures ever. I know Bill was partly based on someone she had met on holiday (I think?) who asked to be included in a book and called 'Bill Smugs' - but I'm sure that her feelings for Kenneth definitely had bearing on Bill's character also.

It would be interesting to hear what became of the real Bill Smugs and his opinion on the Adventure series (assuming that he read the entire series).
Did EB ever meet him again after the first volume was published?

[Anita Bensoussane]

I don't think Enid ever got the chance to tell the man she'd put him into a series of adventure books. Viv tried to track him down a few years ago, but nothing came of it.

[Chrissie777]

I don't think Enid ever got the chance to tell the man she'd put him into a series of adventure books. Viv tried to track him down a few years ago, but nothing came of it.

Bill Smugs might have died after Enid Blyton died?
But now I'm very curious: how did Viv go about it?
Viv had no name, maybe not even a home town, if he was on vacation when EB met him.

[Courtenay]

I'm sure our mystery man would have been flattered if he ever did find out - Bill is one of Enid's best and most appealing characters.

Of course, if he was at least partly inspired by Kenneth as well (which seems more than likely), one could argue that this makes Bill the counterpart to a fellow member of the police force who some say was at least partly inspired by Enid's first husband, Hugh Pollock. I refer, of course, to PC Theophilus Goon.

[Anita Bensoussane]

I don't think Enid ever got the chance to tell the man she'd put him into a series of adventure books. Viv tried to track him down a few years ago, but nothing came of it.

Bill Smugs might have died after Enid Blyton died?
But now I'm very curious: how did Viv go about it?

I've forgotten exactly how Viv went about it. I think she may have put the story up on her Ginger Pop website, asking if anyone knew who had inspired the character of Bill Smugs. The man wouldn't necessarily have still been living, but someone might have been able to identify him and share some information about him.

[Francis]

He will live forever in fiction - I am sure we would love to be the same.

[Chrissie777]

I don't think Enid ever got the chance to tell the man she'd put him into a series of adventure books. Viv tried to track him down a few years ago, but nothing came of it.

Bill Smugs might have died after Enid Blyton died?
But now I'm very curious: how did Viv go about it?

I've forgotten exactly how Viv went about it. I think she may have put the story up on her Ginger Pop website, asking if anyone knew who had inspired the character of Bill Smugs. The man wouldn't necessarily have still been living, but someone might have been able to identify him and share some information about him.

Thank you for letting me know, Anita.
I checked out the Ginger Pop Shop website a few years ago, but didn't see Viv's post concerning Bill.
She probably deleted it in the mean-time.

[Courtenay]

He will live forever in fiction - I am sure we would love to be the same.

Only as a nice character, thank you very much!

[samonia]

I'd agree that they should really be read in order. The stories themselves are stand alone, but it's really helpful to know the background of the children, and the attitudes of the adults in the books.

Nick, I'd also recommend you try and read copies with the original illustrations in them. I feel they really add to the atmosphere of the books.

[Rob Houghton]

Nick, I'd also recommend you try and read copies with the original illustrations in them. I feel they really add to the atmosphere of the books.

Totally agree. There are some illustrations in the original versions of the Adventure books that actually help to make sense of the story, while others add atmosphere. I particularly remember the dark sinister illustrations at Quarry Cottage at the beginning of 'Circus' which really compliment Enid's narrative perfectly.

[Carlotta King]

I find Sea Of Adventure's illustrations incredibly atmospheric. There is something magical about them.
As a child, this book and these pictures really thrilled me more than any of the others!

Right at the start there is the sinister picture of the face in the hedge, and then the thrilling picture of Bill disguised at the train station as they set off on their journey.
Then there's the wild sea with the tiny boat speeding along, and the wonderful islands as they start to get right out into the unknown.
And then all the island pictures - Huffin and Puffin, the enemy arriving, the deep lagoon, the dark night-time pictures of the children going after Bill.....
So thrilling!!

[Chrissie777]

He will live forever in fiction - I am sure we would love to be the same.

Yes, that's a nice thought!

[Anita Bensoussane]

I find Sea Of Adventure's illustrations incredibly atmospheric. There is something magical about them.
As a child, this book and these pictures really thrilled me more than any of the others!

I feel the same, Cathy. Stuart Tresilian's illustrations for The Sea of Adventure are absolutely captivating, drawing me into a world of wide horizons, sea breezes and swirling, soaring sea birds. Whenever I read that book, I always stop and gaze at them.