I’ve been re-reading a couple of my old childhood favourites, and have been fascinated by how much life has changed since Enid Blyton’s times.
Take the “Adventurous Four”. I picked up a copy of the edition I owned as a child, from an antique shop (yeah, let’s not go there …) and devoured it within a day. But at the same time, I picked up on many things I didn’t notice all those years ago.
For example, I never realised this book was set during the Second World War. When I claim that I have always hated “war stories” or movies, I’m actually lying. Because this was indeed a war story, and I loved it. The children stumble on a secret island base of “the enemy” – a euphemism for the Nazis. Both submarines and seaplanes would stop and refuel at this island, close to the British coast. Easy to shrug our shoulders now … but back then that was pretty much the height of technology! How exciting to see both submarines and seaplanes!
Signs We’re Not In Enid Blyton Land Anymore …
But what really got me was the freedom the young characters had.
- Would any parent nowadays let a two boys of 14 and 12, and two 10 year old girls, go away by themselves for a weekend of camping? Let alone sail away to a deserted island? I Must Confess: I always thought Andy had a bit of “thing” for Jill (or was it Mary?)! Which, as a parent now myself, would have been a dead set worry!
- Quite apart from that – would the kids even want to go? After all, there’s no wifi on deserted islands!
It was a very different world back then! In Enid Blyton land:
- it never even crossed our mind that characters like Mr Pinkwhistle, Noddy and Big Ears might be gay (not that it matters);
- we didn’t care if Golliwogs were black;
- helpful adult characters – such as Tammylan – were just that, instead of immediately being suspected of being possible pedophiles;
- most problems were solved with a nice hot comforting cup of cocoa;
- when the circus came to town, it was celebrated, instead of targetted by animal rights protesters;
- and nobody raised an eyebrow at names like Dick and Fanny.
What do you miss most about the days when you first read Enid Blyton?\
Linking up with My Home Truths.
Ahh, Enid Blyton. The memories … More than anything, “Enid Blyton ” means memories of bookwormish fun. I remember the first time I spent the whole day reading a book, it was the Folk of the Faraway Tree, and I was addicted and just had to keep reading!! A few years later, my best friend introduced me to the Five Findouters, about a group of friends solving mysteries. The leader of the group ? “Fatty “, and no one was offended. Years later, my husband introduced me to his favourite Enid Blyton books – the Children of Cherry Tree Farm, and the Children of Willow Farm (or something like that ). Thanks for reminding me of good old Enid, Janet : )
The Folk of the Faraway Tree was the first non-picture book I ever read. I’ve been hooked every since 🙂 .
I loved the Faraway Tree books as a child but yeah reading it as a parent, wow. Was no-one paying attention to these kids that they were gone overnight?!!
I know! A very different world! I tried to get my kids interested by reading them as bedtime stories, but they were too slow moving for them 🙁
I miss EVERYTHING about my Enid Blyton days…the fact that parents sent their kids off to Boarding School (Malory Towers)…sending my two teens with all their friends, lovely. I miss the stories of picnics with great slabs of fruitcake (always homemade) served with a side of tea. That kids were outdoors all day, doing what kids should – exploring. Thank you for the trip down memory lane xx
LOL at sending your teens to boarding school!
Ahh memories. I might need to revisit the books myself.
Great for a bit of light reading and a walk down memory lane – might be just the pick-me-up you need xxx
Over the past few years we’ve been reading some of the Famous Five, Secret Seven and the Wishing Chair. I was struck by similar things, especially the fact the kids could just go out and caravan for days on end without their parents going along too!
I tried reading Enid Blyton to my kids and they really didn’t take to it. I’m sure they were swapped at birth!!!!
Oh what some memories you’ve brought back to me tonight! I loved Enid Blyton books and would read for hours under the bedcovers with a torch to get to the end of mymost recent famous five book. At the time I completely related to them, living the same kind of outdoorsey, gung ho, carefree existance where adventure was possible and not restricted. Gosh how things have changed, so imperceptibly at first, but then so quickly that I hardely recognise the ‘old scenery’. What do I miss the most – I think the possibility – that anything might and could happen. These days there’s so much fear.3
You know I never did read any of the Famous Five. But I did enjoy the Secret Seven!
Agreed! No one even gave it a second thought!
I lived and breathed Enid Baytown as a kid. I wanted SO much to find the Magic Faraway Tree in the Enchanted Woods and scoff my way through Pop Biscuits and Google Buns. The Land of Birthdays at the top of the tree too! Oh ,yeah goodness! The thought of being able to go to that land, wish for a pony and actually get to keep it!!! (How on earth did it get down the ladder, by the way?)
I remember reading the Adventures of Pip. To this day I know how to tell the difference between male and female sparrows because of the black big Pip painted under their chins!
So many typos!
1. Blyton
2. Oh my goodness!
3. Black BIB , not BIG!
Oops! Blyton…….stupid auto correct!
LOL auto correct can be so frustrating. Okay time for a confession – I *still* look for the Magic Faraway tree and think of it whenever I come across a beautiful big old tree – and try to work out what the trees are saying when they make that “wisha wisha wisha” noise 😉 .
I grew up with Enid Blyton – the first book I read was The Enchanted Wood – and have collected many of her books over the years (original versions only, none of the censored modern versions!) The adventures! The magic! The food!!
I agree – original or early versions are the only way to go. Now I’ve bought one I might just start collecting them too 🙂
Mr Meddle Muddles but ten if I ever met him in real life I would probably want to kill him. And of course the Adventures of the Wishing Chair. I have a chair just like it and sadly, sometimes wish it had tiny little wings.
LOL yes I know what you mean about Mr Meddle. Whenever I’m in a woodland setting, I still try to pick out which tree would be the best candidate as the Magic Faraway Tree!