The Enid Blyton Society

Wolfgang wrote:

Chrissie777 wrote:Thanks, Nigel. Then I'll keep searching for the original.

Well, I suppose something like this: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Secret-of-the-Ol ... 4ad5ab3a92

Yes, something like this, but for one fifth of the price.

Chrissie, just remembering the problem you described earlier - have you ever tried the simple magnifying reading glasses you can buy in chemist's shops (I think you call them drugstores in the US) and similar places? If you can normally read without glasses but find a lot of print too small, these glasses should make it appear larger without straining your eyes. They're very inexpensive and you can try ones with different levels of magnification to see which is the most comfortable for you - you don't need to have them specially made for you or to get a prescription for them.

Like others here have said, if you find reading normal print is too much of a strain, then regardless of what the eye doctor says, it would surely be better to use reading glasses, or at least to try them and see if they help at all. It'd be cheaper than getting that original hardcover book on eBay, that's for certain!

Hi Courtnenay, that doesn't work as I have twice as many dioptries on my right eye than I have on my left eye. I can read without reading glasses as long as the font is a decent size and not small. My eye doc in Germany told me the same as my American eye doc: I can read without reading glasses as long as the object is close enough to my eyes. I have special computer glasses for typing on the computer, but they don't work for reading books. Three different pairs of glasses are enough for me. I don't want a 4th pair (and I really don't like bi-focals).

Darrell71 wrote:Hi guys, I'd like a copy of The Secret Of The Old Mill, new or old edition doesn't matter, and paperback preferable,
but I wouldn't mind a hard back either. Thanks!!!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Enid-Blyton- ... ctupt=true" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hi I’m new to this site. A few years out of date also but I have a original copy of this. 1948 hardback.

I ordered the book in hardcover in 2008 from amazon.co.uk with Harry Pettit's beautiful illustrations.
Especially the floor plan of the mill is very well done.

Are you thinking of Treasure at the Mill by Malcolm Saville, Chrissie?

I was indeed, Anita. Mea culpa...

I never found an affordable old copy of "The Secret of the Old Mill". Isn't that the Secret Seven prequel?

Yes, it is. I've only got that story in The Secret Seven Short Story Collection which lacks Eileen Soper's charming illustrations.

I have a German translation, part of several short stories.

Chrissie777 wrote: ↑08 Jul 2021, 19:51 I never found an affordable old copy of "The Secret of the Old Mill". Isn't that the Secret Seven prequel?

Chrissie, at the eBay link in this thread there's a copy of The Secret of the Old Mill up for auction, starting at a very reasonable price. Maybe you could make an offer, or else watch it and see if you want to bid?

Courtenay, thank you. 20 £ is my upper limit for old used books. My experience with eBay is that I usually end up paying a lot more than I intend to (that's why I stick with amazon.co.uk).

Chrissie777 wrote: ↑08 Jul 2021, 20:14 I have a German translation, part of several short stories.

Which German book contains that story, Chrissie?

Hannah, it's part of this book:

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Enid-Blyton/ ... oks&sr=1-1

Published in 1998 by Bertelsmann.
It contains 3 stories, one about the Secret Seven, one about Lissy (whoever that might be?) and one about the Adventurous Four.

You'll find "The Secret of the Old Mill" on pages 121 - 161.
Of course as it's the German translation, I can't tell how genuine it is. Often they changed the text in German or skip whole sentences or paragraphs. I always intended to compare it chapter by chapter with the Cave of Books, but still haven't gotten around to it.