The Enid Blyton Society

In my copy of Five Get Into a Fix, The Famous Five Special is listed in the "other books" list. I've looked on Amazon, but it gives no description. I've also looked on this site, but can find no info on it. Does anyone know anything about it? It seems it was published by Hodeer in 1959.

Enid wrote one Fives book per year every year from 1942 to 1963 EXCEPT 1959

the Special contains Five go off to camp - Five Go off in a caravan - Five have a wonderful time

furthermore the Famous Five Big Book was published in 1964 and contains Five on a Treasure Island - Five Go Adventuring Again - Five Run Away Together

hope this helps

georgie

The Famous Five Special was published in 1959. It contains 'Five go off to camp','five go off in a caravan' and 'five have a wonderful time'. On the 'foreward' page, it says that these three stories are the ones the majority of readers wanted in the one volume. The dustwrapper has various illustrations from the three books on it. Are you looking to buy a first edition? http://www.abe.com have 35 for sale at various prices.

Thanks, both.

Query:


The foreword about which books were chosen/most popular in the 1959 1st edition seems to differ from what was printed in The Enid Blyton Magazine June 3rd 1959???





Yet in Enid's letter in her magazine we read the following about The Famous Five Special:







Enid's comments on the contents of the next future Big Book (1964) containing The Kirrin adventures were accurate:



I wonder what those who received a prize for guessing the contents of The Famous Five Special correctly thought when they got hold of the book and found it contained three different stories???

Any thoughts anyone or have I read the details incorrectly? Wouldn't be the first time!!!

How curious. Well spotted, Pete!

As Johnny Nash sang, There are more questions than answers...

I imagine the publishers said 'but Enid, those are the best-selling books with the most editions' lol

Interesting, Pete! Well spotted! I must admit, I prefer the three books that were eventually chosen - Caravan, Camp, and Wonderful Time - they are all similar, and all involve holidays with tents or caravans. Three of my favourite Fives books, certainly.

I'm really surprised Five On A Secret Trail was mentioned so often! One of the weakest Fives, in my opinion!

The Big Book would have benefitted from having three stories all set n Kirrin Island, in my view. I would have personally chosen Five on a Treasure Island, Five Run Away Together and Five On Kirrin Island Again.

I'm surprised that Secret Trail was mentioned as well but as it had only been published a couple of years earlier, maybe the book was still fresh in children's minds and that influenced the vote.

Well-spotted, Pete!

I think Secret Trail was not chosen to be included in Famous Five Special because it had just been published recently and the the stocks were many.

And I agree with John, Secret Trail was mentioned because it was still fresh in children's mind.