Errors in the books
- pete9012S
- Posts: 17649
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
- Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
- Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
- Location: UK
Re: Errors in books
Good point Betsy's Bear!
We get almost the full picture in this 1991 illustration:
But the first edition has the lot!
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
Society Member
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
Society Member
-
- Posts: 21
- Joined: 25 Nov 2019, 21:32
Re: Errors in books
Thanks for posting the illustration Pete. Yes the older illustrations are much more accurate. They are one of the things that are so magical about Enid Blyton books.
- Daisy
- Posts: 16632
- Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
- Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
- Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England
Re: Errors in books
I'm reading the Secret Mountain at the moment and came across what I think must be a "Blyton blooper" - not noticed before in spite of reading it countless times since I was 10. In chapter 12 the children are separated when Jack and Mafumu are left outside the mountain while the others, with Ranni and Pilescu, are inside and eventually captured. Taken to a room where they are fed, Ranni says they should get some rest and "he covered up the THREE children with the rugs". Three? Which one did Enid forget? We have Peggy, Mike and Nora there but Paul as well. The illustration on that page of "everyone made a meal" shows the correct number though. Later on it says ""In spite of the tremendous excitement of the previous day the three children were soon asleep..."
I wonder if this was ever corrected in later editions?
I wonder if this was ever corrected in later editions?
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
Society Member
Society Member
- Fiona1986
- Posts: 10546
- Joined: 01 Dec 2007, 15:35
- Favourite book/series: Five Go to Smuggler's Top
- Favourite character: Julian Kirrin
- Location: Dundee, Scotland
- Contact:
Re: Errors in books
I'm sure I've never noticed that one before, Daisy!
I'm currently wondering when George changed her boat. I'm reading Five Fall Into Adventure and Julian, Dick and Jo take George's boat along the coast to find Red Tower's place. Suddenly her boat has a sail and tiller instead of just oars!
I'm currently wondering when George changed her boat. I'm reading Five Fall Into Adventure and Julian, Dick and Jo take George's boat along the coast to find Red Tower's place. Suddenly her boat has a sail and tiller instead of just oars!
"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
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
- Boatbuilder
- Posts: 8126
- Joined: 29 May 2018, 20:06
- Favourite book/series: Adventure, Famous 5, Secret Seven, Five Findouters
- Location: Carlton Colville, Suffolk.
- Contact:
Re: Errors in books
You can have 'rowing boats' that have removable masts and sails, etc., Fiona.
"You can't change history as that won't change the future"
John's Pictures of Suffolk - https://suffolk-world.com/
Society Member
John's Pictures of Suffolk - https://suffolk-world.com/
Society Member
- pete9012S
- Posts: 17649
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
- Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
- Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
- Location: UK
Re: Errors in books
Fiona, I think it was the same boat throughout the series.
You probably know, but 'the tiller' was mentioned again five years later in Five Have Plenty Of Fun..
Yet, book 21 shows the boat without the tiller!!!
You probably know, but 'the tiller' was mentioned again five years later in Five Have Plenty Of Fun..
Rocks guarded the island, and the sea ran strongly over them, sending up spray and foam.
‘However are we going to get safely to the shore of the island?’ said Berta, rather alarmed at the array of fierce-looking rocks that guarded it.
‘There’s a little cove we always use,’ said George. She was at the tiller, and she steered the boat cleverly in and out of the rocks.
Yet, book 21 shows the boat without the tiller!!!
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
Society Member
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
Society Member
- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 26895
- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
- Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
- Location: UK
Re: Errors in books
Interesting about the "three children" mistake in The Secret Mountain, Daisy. I just checked my 1978 Armada paperback copy and the error is still there! I hadn't spotted it despite reading the book at least ten times!
"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
- Fiona1986
- Posts: 10546
- Joined: 01 Dec 2007, 15:35
- Favourite book/series: Five Go to Smuggler's Top
- Favourite character: Julian Kirrin
- Location: Dundee, Scotland
- Contact:
Re: Errors in books
It's just odd that it's never mentioned in other books. In FOATI George says it's too far to row to the other side of the island to see the wreck and back, if the boat could have a sail at that point surely she would have used it?
I hadn't remembered that other mention of the tiller, Pete. That makes even less sense. George normally rows through the rocks and has to go very slowly and carefully to avoid scraping the bottom of the boat in places.
I've just realised it's nearly 11.30 - past my bed time. I'll come back to this puzzle tomorrow!
I hadn't remembered that other mention of the tiller, Pete. That makes even less sense. George normally rows through the rocks and has to go very slowly and carefully to avoid scraping the bottom of the boat in places.
I've just realised it's nearly 11.30 - past my bed time. I'll come back to this puzzle tomorrow!
"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
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
- Daisy
- Posts: 16632
- Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
- Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
- Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England
Re: Errors in books
In looking for another reference about Secret Mountain on the forum I find that the "mistake" about the three children when there should be four, was mentioned in the Secret Mountain readathon by Sunskriti just about 4 years ago in January 2016. I commented then. Slap on my wrist for not remembering!
I was actually looking for some reference to why the book has been banished .. as I noticed a phrase which I think would certainly be objected to these days... When Paul was chosen to be the sacrifice, he "stood proudly and looked the chief straight in the face." The others felt proud of him ... "The Baronian boy was behaving like an English one. Good!" I can imagine the reaction to that "imperialism" which is now rightly frowned upon, and guess that was dropped in later editions before the whole book was deemed unacceptable.
I was actually looking for some reference to why the book has been banished .. as I noticed a phrase which I think would certainly be objected to these days... When Paul was chosen to be the sacrifice, he "stood proudly and looked the chief straight in the face." The others felt proud of him ... "The Baronian boy was behaving like an English one. Good!" I can imagine the reaction to that "imperialism" which is now rightly frowned upon, and guess that was dropped in later editions before the whole book was deemed unacceptable.
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
Society Member
Society Member
- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 26895
- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
- Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
- Location: UK
Re: Errors in books
Ah yes - Sunskriti was reading a 2009 Award edition and the "three children" mistake still hadn't been corrected.
"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
- IceMaiden
- Posts: 2300
- Joined: 07 Jan 2016, 18:49
- Favourite book/series: Too many to mention! All of them!
- Favourite character: George
- Location: North Wales
Re: Errors in books
I'm not sure if this is an error or not. In Hurrah For the Circus, on page 54, Fric is admiring Lucky's tricks and asks Jimmy how did he teach him to count and did he have him from a puppy, to which ?Jimmy responds 'he's not much more than a puppy now, I taught him everything he knows and he's naturally clever'. Now Fric is understandable saying 'he' as he doesn't know the dog, but surely Jimmy would put him right? Or is it intentional, Jimmy doesn't correct Fric as it doesn't matter?
- Courtenay
- Posts: 19320
- 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: Errors in books
I remember noticing in Hurrah for the Circus! when I first read it years ago — in a Dean edition — that there are two or three places where Lucky gets referred to as "he" despite being female. There's also a place where Lotta's horse Black Beauty is referred to as "she", despite being male! I now have an older (Newnes) edition and the same, er, mis-genderings are in there as well, so they must have been errors that were never corrected.
That said, Sooty in the Mr Pink-Whistle stories is sometimes a she and sometimes a he — not to mention the fact that, as we discovered a few years ago in reading Enid's Teacher's World letters of the 1930s, Enid's dog Sandy was referred to consistently as "he" until suddenly "she" had puppies!!! Then after those were out of the picture "she" reverted to a "he" again, so that was all rather confusing...
That said, Sooty in the Mr Pink-Whistle stories is sometimes a she and sometimes a he — not to mention the fact that, as we discovered a few years ago in reading Enid's Teacher's World letters of the 1930s, Enid's dog Sandy was referred to consistently as "he" until suddenly "she" had puppies!!! Then after those were out of the picture "she" reverted to a "he" again, so that was all rather confusing...
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)
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)
- GloomyGraham
- Posts: 353
- Joined: 08 May 2017, 04:33
Sardine or Snoek? Enid's mistakes
Merged with an existing topic.
All Blyton readers will have noticed errprs or unlikely repeats in some of her most-loved series:
FF - Alf or James, Kirrrin or Barnard & Joan/Joanna. How did Fanny Kirrin (nee ???) inherit Kirrin properties? (I like to think Fanny was a distant cousin of Quentin).
FFO - Bets asking what an 'anonymous letter was' when it had been clearly explained to her in an earlier story all about anonymous letters
ADV - Aunt Polly & Uncle retiring to a cottage they b ought with no money and Craggy Tops being unsellable
SS - The Seven only ever seemed to get fireworks from grateful police
RATIONING - no mention of it or its' effects on Britons from 1940 through to the mid-50s
Feel free to add more errors or unlikely trivia from any book. Probably most could have been fixed prior to first publication via a knowledgeable editor or assistant who Enid listened to.
But today I am wondering about the cat from the Barney mysteries where Sardine transitioned into Snoek. Tinned goods were a staple of Enid's stories from the early 1940s and sardines (which I hate lol) would have been a staple I guess.
After WWII ended, the British government imported tinned Snoek (a South African fish I think) into the UK to bolster shortages in meats and other fish types, but from what I have read it was hugely unpopular.
I wonder if when Enid was writing she thought 'what was their cat's name again? Oh that horrible tinned fish - snoek'.
I am not a big seafood fan - love my fish & chips but am allergic to shellfish. I think I was put off most other forms of fish from primary school lunches in England which featured 'boiled fish'. I can almost smelll the horrible aroma from the dinner hall half a century later.
All Blyton readers will have noticed errprs or unlikely repeats in some of her most-loved series:
FF - Alf or James, Kirrrin or Barnard & Joan/Joanna. How did Fanny Kirrin (nee ???) inherit Kirrin properties? (I like to think Fanny was a distant cousin of Quentin).
FFO - Bets asking what an 'anonymous letter was' when it had been clearly explained to her in an earlier story all about anonymous letters
ADV - Aunt Polly & Uncle retiring to a cottage they b ought with no money and Craggy Tops being unsellable
SS - The Seven only ever seemed to get fireworks from grateful police
RATIONING - no mention of it or its' effects on Britons from 1940 through to the mid-50s
Feel free to add more errors or unlikely trivia from any book. Probably most could have been fixed prior to first publication via a knowledgeable editor or assistant who Enid listened to.
But today I am wondering about the cat from the Barney mysteries where Sardine transitioned into Snoek. Tinned goods were a staple of Enid's stories from the early 1940s and sardines (which I hate lol) would have been a staple I guess.
After WWII ended, the British government imported tinned Snoek (a South African fish I think) into the UK to bolster shortages in meats and other fish types, but from what I have read it was hugely unpopular.
I wonder if when Enid was writing she thought 'what was their cat's name again? Oh that horrible tinned fish - snoek'.
I am not a big seafood fan - love my fish & chips but am allergic to shellfish. I think I was put off most other forms of fish from primary school lunches in England which featured 'boiled fish'. I can almost smelll the horrible aroma from the dinner hall half a century later.
Last edited by GloomyGraham on 27 Dec 2022, 10:56, edited 1 time in total.
-
- Posts: 3080
- Joined: 01 Nov 2020, 13:08
- Favourite book/series: Find-Outers Series and Adventure Series.
- Favourite character: Fatty
- Location: Surrey
Re: Sardine or Snoek? Enid's mistakes
Fatty, on one occasion says to Larry, “I’m older than you, and wiser.”
He was wiser, but not older.
He was wiser, but not older.
- GloomyGraham
- Posts: 353
- Joined: 08 May 2017, 04:33