Tony Summerfield wrote:Rob Houghton wrote:It was interesting to read the Letter from Enid Blyton in this latest Journal, and also to read about Tony's 'research' into finding the discrepancy between text and illustration - something only an owner of a first edition of Hurrah For Little Noddy could do! Unfortunately mine isn't a first but I found the illustration.
That was one of the nicest letters from Enid I've read, I thought - and imagine how proud that boy would have been, that his observations caused the second edition to be altered!
Chris is still proud at the age of 70, but like me he readily admitted that he certainly wouldn't now be able to spot what he had managed to do at the age of 4. As the original was the only copy he owned (long since lost) he never saw the change that Enid made, but when he recently found the letter he wondered if the book ever was altered which is why he approached me. As this was 66 years ago he couldn't remember what it was that he had found, but thought it had something to do with colour.
I very much enjoyed seeing the letter too, and hearing the story behind it. Items of this nature help us build up a picture of Enid Blyton and the relationship she had with her readers (and with readers' parents where relevant!), as well as giving us an insight into the society of the time.
I agree with everyone who has said what a brilliant Journal this is. What a delightfully summery cover - and gorgeous illustrations throughout. Tony's quotation from the George Gershwin song - 'Summertime, and the livin' is easy' - put me in exactly the right mood for a relaxing read (though as Tony said, the slowness of his computer meant that putting the Journal together was anything
but easy for him!)
Thanks for the comments on Part 1 of my article about
The Mystery That Never Was. I too rather like the Eric Parker illustrations for the serialisation of this book, Kate. They're bold and eye-catching. I notice that the red band on the cover of the paperback pictured in the Journal says, 'A Thrilling Adventure Story'. My paperback has the same cover but the red band reads, 'New in Paperback'. It's not often that my edition of something is earlier than Tony's! Of course, I appreciate that he also possesses the Collins hardback which I don't have! Interesting that your childhood experience of
The Mystery That Never Was was similar to mine, Rob. In answer to Nigel, I can barely remember what I put in Part 2 but it's a similar length to Part 1! We'll both have to wait and see! I'm glad Part 1 has inspired some people to buy or re-read the book.
'One Winter Afternoon' was a cooling, refreshing read on a sweltering summer's day! The illustrations are great, especially the one captioned 'The ice parted'. An absorbing cautionary tale, as is 'Prince Furious and the Spanking Slippers' which benefits from super illustrations by Lunt Roberts. As a child I loved those kinds of tales and would shiver at Enid's warning that the slippers (or whatever object) might come looking for me if I wasn't careful!
Julie's analysis of Susie was most interesting. I must say that although Susie is bright, I find her rather mean-hearted and crafty in her cleverness. As for the rivalry between the Seven and Susie, it adds to the drama in the earlier books but later in the series it takes over and the constant squabbling becomes wearisome to read about.
John Pickup's overview of Miss Pepper was also very thorough and I particularly liked the description of her as 'enigmatic, sensitive and wise'. I'd completely forgotten that she beat Diana in a swimming race! I think you're right, John, that there are aspects of Enid herself in the character of Miss Pepper.
I loved Rob's 'cookery book' idea. My own 'Magic Pud' would have to include
The Enid Blyton Book of Brownies as it's a gripping story, extremely funny in places but also unexpectedly moving. The illustrations that adorn Rob's article are sumptuous. As a child I hadn't heard of
The Yellow Fairy Book (or
The Queer Adventure) and as an adult I've only got the Red Fox paperback, but I was delighted when I learnt (from Tony's Bibliographies and the Cave) that H. R. Millar had illustrated an Enid Blyton book. I've always admired the work he did for E. Nesbit. I agree that the playroom in the Wishing-Chair books sounds like a cosy and exciting 'haven from grown-ups'. It's a special place belonging to the children, where they can arrange their things as they want and get on with their activities without interruption. The studies in the St. Clare's books sound similarly appealing, though more 'teenagerish' of course. And yes, the second Wishing-Chair book is the stronger of the two (I realise there's a third title but that was cobbled together much later, bringing together discarded chapters and uncollected material from various sources).
What a glorious array of book covers to accompany John Lester's article about his favourites. I agree with many of his choices but would add
The Sea of Adventure,
Five Get Into Trouble,
The Rilloby Fair Mystery and
Those Dreadful Children. If I were compiling my own list, some 1970s paperbacks and Dean books might well creep in too!
Sheila Ray mentions the National Library for the Handicapped Child, founded by the Enid Blyton Trust for Children, and says that it 'seemed a bit pointless' to her. I've read about it before but I've forgotten the details now. Does anyone know anything about it?
Like Courtenay, I found Enid's 'From My Window' a joy to read. Sitting in a buttercup field on a summer's evening, watching the sun sink lower and lower, beats playing tennis any day!
A lovely centre spread showing a selection of
Five on a Treasure Island covers. My three favourites are the two by Eileen Soper and the one by Betty Maxey, though I also like the ones from 1983 and 1993. The back cover of the Journal is another feast for the eyes, with some truly delightful illustrations from Enid Blyton's Bedtime Series. Eileen Soper at her inimitable best!
Nick Hopkins' articles are always chock-full of information and I enjoyed learning about the making of the Cloud 9 Secret Series. I too feel that the Cloud 9 series is uneven and, although I take Raymond Thompson's point that every screen adaptation is 'kind of an interpretation of that story', it can't be denied that some of the episodes (particularly
The Secret of Killimooin, as noted in the article) stray incredibly far from the books upon which they were based. As others have said, Harry Duffin is being unfair when he talks of the original stories as conveying the message that 'black and foreign equals bad'. African boy Mafumu (changed to a different character in the Cloud 9 adaptation) is loved and admired by the main protagonists, while Prince Paul from Baronia becomes one of the gang. I agree that the hilarious 'shattering glass' scene in
Killimooin and the 'elixir of life' theme in
Moon Castle betray the screenwriter's history of writing for animation!
I'd always wondered why Mike (Tom Pizey) barely appeared in a couple of the episodes, so it was interesting to read that the gruelling hours which child actors were allowed to work in New Zealand were just too much for him. Oh, and I hadn't noticed that Jack had mistakenly been given the surname 'Trent' which belongs to Jack of the Adventure Series!
John Pickup and others have said what a powerful piece of writing Anne Kirrin's Diary is, written by Ilsa,and I have to agree. Engaging, emotional and very convincing.
As IceMaiden said, there's a great deal of reading in the Journal and it pays to savour it slowly. It's impossible to gulp it down the way Timmy devours an ice-cream. It needs to be sipped at leisure, like a glass of home-made lemonade. I've enjoyed this issue as always (thanks, Tony - and contributors!) and I can't wait for the next!