ENID BLYTON, WORD MAGICIAN

She made my childhood magic.

 

She gave me a lifelong love of reading, writing, Cornwall, mysteries. Her books were loved over thirty years later by my own daughter who wanted stories (not to be lectured to on worthy topics). So bored with all the Cancel puritans judging artists from a previous time on current thinking and mores. My own Poet’s Cottage book was inspired by Enid Blyton’s two daughters having varying accounts of their childhood.

I recently began re-reading Five On A Treasure Island and was instantly transported back to Kirrin Island, shipwrecks, secret maps and castle ruins. Thrilling stuff!

 

4 Responses

  1. Elise McCune June 25, 2021 / 9:39 pm

    My favourite Enid Blyton books were definitely books about the famous five!
    I haven’t got any copies on my bookshelf but your post makes me want to read them again. I also loved ‘The Story Girl’ by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I once found a stash of 1920 girls adventure and other story books in a tin trunk on my grandmother’s verandah. Although the books have been left behind somewhere and I have no idea who they once belonged to I’ll always remember some of the stories, often dramatic ones about school girl rebels!

    • josephinetalepeddler June 26, 2021 / 5:39 am

      Yes, Famous Five forever. I did enjoy The Secret Seven (although not as much). I was mad for her boarding school stories and longed to be at St Clare’s or Malory Towers having potted shrimp, anchovy paste, peppermints mints and playing lacrosse. The 1920s Girls annuals sound wonderful. I have quite a few annuals here, Misty, Jinty, Girl’s Own etc. I loved Christmas growing up when I would always get an Annual. I haven’t read The Story Girl but I shall look out for it! Happy writing!

  2. Barb June 26, 2021 / 7:28 am

    I loved them too. My set was from the 70s with the TV tie-in covers and I was so excited to find the three or four that were missing from my collection in a second hand bookstore one day. My favourite was Smugglers Top. It was fun to get the DVD and watch them again with my son (who also read them all), and to hear a radio show from the UK where they interviewed the actors who played Anne, Julian and Dick. So many memories!

    • josephinetalepeddler June 26, 2021 / 11:14 am

      I have that 70’s box set here! I bought them for my daughter, who wouldn’t watch them as she wasn’t a big Famous Five fan (but adored the boarding school stories and the Magic Faraway tree) I’m going to have to dig the DVDs and watch it all again. How fabulous to have the books. I can’t think what they look like now, so I shall google and find them. I have the red hardcovers with the lovely jackets and I love the paperbacks of the boarding series from the 1960s. It’s always a great moment when you find some treasure in a second hand bookstore. I’ll have to re-read Smugglers Top (don’t you just love the title?) Beautiful memories and a great comfort read in these challenging times!

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