The Enid Blyton Society

Eileen Soper's Junior



Betty Maxey's Junior - Timmy almost bites his @$$

I must be one of the few people who likes Junior. Of course, I don't like him in the conventional sense - I like him because he's a pest, he's obnoxious, and he gets his comeuppance. He's a character a lot like Prudence in The Family at Red Roofs, or Curious Connie in the Folk of the Faraway Tree etc - or Susie in The secret Seven - a character we love to hate.

Of the two depictions, I have to admit wholeheartedly that I prefer the Soper version - that is exactly how I picture Junior - with cropped 'crew-cut' hairstyle just like most American boys in the 1960's.

You are not alone Rob. I like both Junior and Mr Hemming. Neither are "badies" in the traditional sense. In fact ater re-reading FF it has occurred to me that it actually features three of my favourite one off characters. The Hemmings and Great-Grandad. Their clashes are one of the reasons why I have enjoyed this re-read so much.

John Pickup wrote:I don't know what Julian is doing with the sword but I hope he's preparing to run Junior through with it. One of the most obnoxious characters Enid ever created.

I'm not a great fan of Julian, John, but I can't agree with you there.

Nick wrote:You are not alone Rob. I like both Junior and Mr Hemming. Neither are "badies" in the traditional sense. In fact ater re-reading FF it has occurred to me that it actually features three of my favourite one off characters. The Hemmings and Great-Grandad. Their clashes are one of the reasons why I have enjoyed this re-read so much.

yes - Great Grandad is another fantastic character. I think that maybe people who dislike Finniston Farm are perhaps disappointed that there isn't much of a mystery, but if we read it as a more simple story about family and farm life and ancestry, and filled with interesting characters, I think its pretty rewarding.

I think I mentioned some time before that there was an edition of this book for German pupils. I haven't read this edition yet, it also includes an excerpt of Five go off to camp. It also includes some kind of diary by Junior, and we're supposed to feel sympathy for Junior. I also have the teachers' comments for this book, how to deal the pupils with it.

Eileen Soper's Junior is by far the best depiction. But, what do you expect from the master?

Moonraker wrote: I'm not a great fan of Julian, John, but I can't agree with you there.

Yes, Nigel, I should have made my comment less ambiguous. It's Junior that I can't stand.

John Pickup wrote:Eileen Soper's Junior is by far the best depiction. But, what do you expect from the master?

pete9012S wrote:---

Covers from 1995 and 2017 for comparison.

If Julian was wearing that stripey jumper he'd look like Wally .

I can't stand Junior, who comes across as the typical spoilt sulky american brat you get in films until they have the complete Disneyesque transformation at the end. Except thankfully dear Junior gets his just desserts instead . Mr Hemming just seems plain driven by money and sees nothing but pound signs in things but he doesn't seem an inherently bad man. I imagine him to be like Sheriff Pepper in James Bond, a really loud, subtle as a sledgehammer, brash in your face sort who throws his weight around because he's got money.

I don't suspect Enid worried about character back stories but that doesn't stop us from having a little bit of fun and speculating.

Just what were the Hennings doing on Finniston Farm and how long had they been there? Junior remarks that he knows the macaroons from the Village Shop well and has about 30 a week, implying that they have been on Finniston Farm for sometime. Did Mr Henning use it as a base of operations whilst he went round neighbouring districts, plundering English heritage for his home in the USA or was he specifically looking for the castle? He does after all say that he has asked Mr Finniston about the castle before and can't get anything out of him.

I have just finished reading the book after a gap of some time and really quite enjoyed it. The Hennings are certainly a pair of unpleasant characters and it looks as if they have been at the farm for some time as Mrs Philpott seems worn out with waiting on them as she did. Anne comments that she knows some very nice Americans but these are not!
I wonder if Mr Durleston told Mr Henning about Finniston Castle. Had they met up before the Hennings got rooms at the farm? There are often unanswered questions when we delve more deeply into some of the stories.

Good research Daisy - I love uncovering and discussing all these interesting background elements.
When I first got the books I simply whizzed through them at lightning speed in my youthful excitement.

It seemed to be a personal challenge to read the books as fast as possible - even if that meant reading them under the bedcovers by torchlight after lights out!

I did a lot of torchlight reading too, Pete!

pete9012S wrote:
It seemed to be a personal challenge to read the books as fast as possible -

I often feel a little bit of a 'fraud' as I never whizzed through any book 'as fast as possible' and I sometimes wonder if this means I'm less of an Enid Blyton fan...or indeed, less of a reader...than others are.

My goal, even as a child, was to read and enjoy the journey - to make up accents as I read, and almost act it out in my head - to savour it. I could read very fast - at 10 I had the reading age of a 15 year-old -- but I chose to read slowly. While others were barely taking books in and reading one a week at school etc, I took my time.

I never read by torchlight under the covers, either!

I seriously think I missed out!