Names changing? in Famous Five Series

[Jeffery Greyling]

Last time I read the Famous Five series, I noticed that the fisher-boy who minded Timmy in the first book, (if I remember correctly) was called Alf. Then in the later books, he seemed to be called James. I just want to know if Enid just got the names mixed up, as with the cook (Joan or Joanna?) or if the publishers changed it because Alf is now an old-fashioned name and kids may not know what it means? (it's so stupid the way they change harmless things like that)

[Moonraker]

I'm sure this was Enid's memory, coupled with sloppy proof-reading!

[Aurélien]

Could it be, Moonraker, that - like the Lord High Executioner in G&S's 'Mikado' - certain publishers editors

• have their little list

of changes to make whenever they are in the mood?

Perish the thought!

‘Aurélien Arkadiusz’

[Wayne Pyer]

I'm sure this was Enid's memory, coupled with sloppy proof-reading!

Or could it be that there was more than one fisherboy in the village. (that sounds much more camp than i intended)

[Moonraker]

I'm sure this was Enid's memory, coupled with sloppy proof-reading!

Or could it be that there was more than one fisherboy in the village. (that sounds much more camp than i intended)

There probably were, but only one fisher-boy who had looked after old Tim!

[Wayne Pyer]

I'm sure this was Enid's memory, coupled with sloppy proof-reading!

Or could it be that there was more than one fisherboy in the village. (that sounds much more camp than i intended)

There probably were, but only one fisher-boy who had looked after old Tim!

Fair point.

[Stephen]

Was Timmy referred to as "Timothy" in any book after 'Treasure Island'? From what I could remember, he was introduced as Timothy, but the children quickly started called him Tim or Timmy. Then in subsequent books, Timmy seems to be his "official" name.

Compare that with George whose proper name is referenced at the start of every story!

[Seymour Glass]

Was Timmy referred to as "Timothy" in any book after 'Treasure Island'? From what I could remember, he was introduced as Timothy, but the children quickly started called him Tim or Timmy. Then in subsequent books, Timmy seems to be his "official" name.

Compare that with George whose proper name is referenced at the start of every story!

I think he was mostly called Tim in Treasure Island but after that, Timmy.

[RainbowJude]

I noticed that the fisher-boy who minded Timmy in the first book, (if I remember correctly) was called Alf. Then in the later books, he seemed to be called James. I just want to know if Enid just got the names mixed up, as with the cook (Joan or Joanna?)...

Or could it be that there was more than one fisherboy in the village?

By that reasoning, couldn't there just have been different cooks at different times? I haven't read this series in ages. How often to these respective sets of names change back and forth?

[Lenoir]

I think she must have got the names mixed up because it says in the sixth book that James used to look after Timmy and George never forgot his kindness, but it was actually Alf (as we know from the first book and confirmed in the third book).
I’m not sure about Joan and Joanna but I like to think of them as two cooks. I think Joan is in the later books.
It seems she didn't have a good memory for names!

[Maggie Knows]

My recollection is that there were occasional references to "Timothy" in the 2nd and 3rd books too

[Moonraker]

He is certainly referred to as Timothy in book 6.

Not only is the change of Alf's name sloppy on Enid's part, it is extremely sloppy on the part of the publisher/proofreader too. It is a glaring error, which for me, spoils the integrity of the story. How can Enid have forgotten the name so quickly? Why wasn't it pointed out to her or the publisher? Surely letters must have been sent in from children reading the book. pointing out the error.

I am convinced that Joan/Joanna was a further example of Enid's carelessness. It is far too coincidental for Fanny to have two cooks with such similar names, and that no-one commented on the fact.

[Julie2owlsdene]

I too think that the Kirrins had the one cook, Joan, or Joanna as she was first mentioned. As the Kirrins got to know her better they must have shortened her name to Joan, as anyone would. No puzzle here at all for me. As for Alf and James, Enid just forget. Let's face it, from the first Famous Five book that she wrote, there were many others inbetween, as well as more Famous Five. Anyone can make a mistake. She was human afterall!

[Ming]

Having just checked my editions of the Famous Five, all the books refer to the cook as Joanna. One text update I appreciate!

[Anita Bensoussane]

Having just checked my editions of the Famous Five, all the books refer to the cook as Joanna. One text update I appreciate!

It is good to have consistency, but the name Joan fits my mental image of her more than Joanna!