The Rubadub Mystery
- Anita Bensoussane
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!
My 1978 Armada paperback has "Queen's English" and "I bet the Queen says 'smashing' sometimes." It would be interesting to know exactly when the text was altered.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
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"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
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- shadow
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!
1960 Collins with red boards says Kings English
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!
My 1969 paperback version says 'Queen's English' - so the change must have been somewhere between 1960 and 1969!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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- Wolfgang
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!
Well I checked my German versions, and they're using "king", but only in the context, the statement in German doesn't make much sense. Mr Lynton complains about the awful expressions, and Snubby responds that even the king might use them...
In the French edition I have this scene is completely missing.
In the French edition I have this scene is completely missing.
Last edited by Wolfgang on 11 Nov 2017, 09:25, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Rubadub Mystery
I have two editions of The Rubadub Mystery:
Collins 1965 hardback with yellow boards. Mr Lynton says to Snubby: “Can’t you talk Queen’s English?”
Award 2007 paperback. The sentences with “smashing” and “Queen’s English” have been omitted.
Collins 1965 hardback with yellow boards. Mr Lynton says to Snubby: “Can’t you talk Queen’s English?”
Award 2007 paperback. The sentences with “smashing” and “Queen’s English” have been omitted.
'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.
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: The Rubadub Mystery
Typical that in 2007 such references have been taken out altogether! Depressing! Is it now considered 'xenophobic' to speak 'the Queen's English' perhaps?
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
Re: The Rubadub Mystery
I know I first brought this book up a few weeks ago, but after distraction after distraction, I've finally managed to finish The Rubadub Mystery! My goodness, this was a good book. It's very eye opening to read something like this as an adult. There were quite a few things that passed me by as a child. Not least that the baddie is a traitor and a spy, meaning to do a great deal of harm to people for some undisclosed political persuasion. I'm used to Blyton's villains being more interested in gold ingots or pearl necklaces. This on is a completely different level, and the hint of Mr Marvel's deserved fate is as chilling as it is subtle...
As I said before, I have the 1983 edition. This is one of the relatively few Enid Blyton books I got brand new at the time. As well as pictures of the four children slouching around wearing very modern clothes, the back cover description has references to "Matthew Marvels" and "Dunny". I presume the editor was having an off day?
Also, the way he exploited Barney was incredibly cruel for a Blyton villain. The first time I read it as a child, I thought the ending where he finally does meet his father was a bit rushed, seeing as it was resolved in one single chapter after four books, but I suppose there are subtle hints throughout this book that would lead to the happy ending. There's also an appearance of a jukebox and chewing gum - two things I wouldn't readily associate with Enid Blyton!Nobody saw Mr Marvel again. That plausible, wily, traitorous rogue was dealt with in a way that made it quite impossible for him to do any damage to anything or anyone again.
As I said before, I have the 1983 edition. This is one of the relatively few Enid Blyton books I got brand new at the time. As well as pictures of the four children slouching around wearing very modern clothes, the back cover description has references to "Matthew Marvels" and "Dunny". I presume the editor was having an off day?
- Courtenay
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Re: The Rubadub Mystery
Oh dear... "Dunny" is Australian slang for a toilet. Particularly an old-fashioned outdoor one.Stephen wrote:the back cover description has references to "Matthew Marvels" and "Dunny".
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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)
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)
- Daisy
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Re: The Rubadub Mystery
"Dummy" was changed to "Dumpy" so where "Dunny" comes from I don't know, unless a second change has occurred.
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: The Rubadub Mystery
I wouldn't put it past them!Courtenay wrote:Oh dear... "Dunny" is Australian slang for a toilet. Particularly an old-fashioned outdoor one.Stephen wrote:the back cover description has references to "Matthew Marvels" and "Dunny".
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
- Anita Bensoussane
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Re: The Rubadub Mystery
Dunny?!
Even in the text, Mr. Marvel is called Mr. Marvels once or twice.
** SPOILER WARNING **
Even in the text, Mr. Marvel is called Mr. Marvels once or twice.
** SPOILER WARNING **
When I first read The Rubadub Mystery I assumed towards the end that Barney had failed in his quest to find his father - for the time being at least. I was amazed when Enid Blyton managed to turn things around in just a few pages. The heartwarming resolution has all the more impact for coming swiftly and unexpectedly.Stephen wrote:The first time I read it as a child, I thought the ending where he finally does meet his father was a bit rushed, seeing as it was resolved in one single chapter after four books, but I suppose there are subtle hints throughout this book that would lead to the happy ending.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
Re: The Rubadub Mystery
He's Dummy in the book. Just Dunny on the back cover!Daisy wrote:"Dummy" was changed to "Dumpy" so where "Dunny" comes from I don't know, unless a second change has occurred.
Re: The Rubadub Mystery
As an encore, I've started to read The Rat-a-Tat Mystery which I see has been mentioned a lot in this thread. Like Rubadub, I last read it over thirty years ago. Unlike Rubadub, I can remember next to nothing about it. I can vaguely recall there was snow, and that was about it!
- Rob Houghton
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Re: The Rubadub Mystery
I love the atmosphere of Rat-a-Tat but the plot sort of fizzles out, and Enid seems keen to make the threatening parts of the plot seem comical rather than truly scary!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
- IceMaiden
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Re: The Rubadub Mystery
Rat-a-Tat reminds me of a programme that used to be on tv. People would tell of strange or spooky experiences/encounters they'd had which were spine-tingling and seemingly inexplicable at the time but then turned out to have a rational explanation that kind of spoilt it all by instantly taking away the suspense Nevertheless I do love RAT.