Mystery of the Pantomime Cat

[Moonraker]

Interesting posts, Kenneth. I remember baulking at "ugly face" when I first read it. Surely, "unusual" would have been kinder? But then, back then maybe we called a spade a spade.

Welcome to the forums.

[Daisy]

"Unusual" doesn't imply "unbeautiful" though. I read the book as a child and was struck and perhaps influenced by the way the children took to Boysie and saw the kindly simplicity and shy friendliness which lay behind his unfortunate outward appearance. It was a good message to give her readers.

[Moonraker]

I knew someone would pick me up on that! I wasn't happy with the word when I typed it, but I still feel "ugly" is a bit cruel.

[sixret]

This is a very good book! The mystery is very strong.

[sixret]

I like the fact that the mystery starts early in the book. But again, Fatty does not own up his false clues and his mischievous tricks.

There's an absurd comment made by Fatty about Boysie, "I supposed he got dropped when he was a baby."

[Anita Bensoussane]

Have you reached the end of Pantomime Cat yet, Sixret? I'd be interested to hear what you think about the solution to the mystery.

[sixret]

Not yet, Anita. I am reading halfway through the story right now.

[Courtenay]

There's an absurd comment made by Fatty about Boysie, "I supposed he got dropped when he was a baby."

There was a quite interesting discussion on that comment in another thread some time ago, I remember: http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/foru ... 20#p213618" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (it goes on into the following page)

[Rob Houghton]

There's an absurd comment made by Fatty about Boysie, "I supposed he got dropped when he was a baby."

This was quite a popular (and usually jokey!) comment that was aimed at people who were a bit slow on the uptake when I was a child. I never heard it used seriously or as an insult, just a joke. Interesting how these days it would be looked on as awful to say such a thing, when actually it was just a light-hearted comment in days gone by, usually aimed at people who were acting 'a bit thick' rather than as an insult to a person with disabilities.

[walter raleigh]

I must admit I have used that comment myself when a work colleague or a friend has done something particularly daft, but never thought of it as being something 'politically incorrect'. Although obviously I would never use it to refer to someone with genuine mental or physical difficulties either.

[sixret]

Thanks Courtenay for the links.

And thanks Robert and Walter for the explanation. I am not familiar with that saying.

[sixret]

The most proper juvenile detective book in the series so far!

My favourite so far.

[Rob Houghton]

I totally agree with you - it's always been one of my favourites in the Find Outer series.

[Irene Malory Towers]

Again I am resurrecting an old thread rather than creating a new one. This time about the Pantomime Cat by comparing 2nd edition (1949) to a current one. Most if not all my points have been covered in this interesting thread but I thought I would try and summarise the main editing changes, as there have been lots.
Firstly - the infamous incident where Goon actually hits poor Buster with the poker on his back. Now I don't like dogs at all but even I would not do that. In the new edition he nearly hits him but Fatty wrestles the poker out of Goon's hands in time.
Secondly when Fatty refers to Boysie being dropped as a baby (not on his head though) to describe why he is (in today's terms) has special needs. This has been removed
Thirdly references to smoking - reduced - Fatty says he is not going to smoke at all when he offers the matches whereas in the 2nd edition he says he is not going to start until he is 21. Also the small shop near the theatre that people are crossing the car park has been changed from a cigarette shop to a newsagent.
Fourthly the chief of the islands that Dick Whittingdon visits "in the play he's a black man, of course" - that has been omitted
Fifth - All mentions of queer have been changed to strange, peculiar etc
Sixth - lots of mentions of fat have been removed - from Fatty's fat face when he put the cheekpads in - there are some still in the new edition but not as many, to the vicar's sister being a large lady, fat policeman's ankles, etc
Seventhly - Master Frederick changed to Frederick
Eight - amounts of and denomination of money being updated
Nine - dinner gong being struck for lunch time instead of Pip and Bet's mother just calling them
Nine - removed describing Boycie's face as ugly

In conclusion many changes - from subtle to signicant.

This is such a long post I will put some thoughts on another post in a while.Also i have to dash off now.

[pete9012S]

A great overview of the changes Irene. Thank you. How current is your modern book and what date was it published?

Here's a list of all the possible editions in the cave:
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... tomime+Cat" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You've got me wondering what changes in the text if any took place in the edition I grew up with pictured below:


1973 Dragon, illustrations by Mary Gernat, cover by Paul Wright