Beta Mum's Blog Beta Mum on 07 May 2007 03:38 pm
The Blyton Years
What do you think of Enid Blyton?
A formulaic, racist, sexist scribbler who should remain firmly in the dustbin of history?
Or a prolific author who crafted rip roaring tales which get kids hooked on the written word?
My son enjoys Anthony Horowitz, Louis Sachar and Jeremy Strong, but he insists that Blyton is his favourite author. He’s convinced that on his ninth birthday, he’ll be off on his bike with three friends and a big hamper of food, ready to face all the crime-busting adventures Devon can throw at him.
If only.
When I was a child it was hard to find a book with a feisty female character in it, and George did it for me. These days there are plenty of contemporary writers providing positive role models for girls, so why bother with Blyton?
I blame my mother. She bought Hannah The Faraway Tree stories a couple of years ago. Ben started listening in at bedtime, then I found the books next to his bed.
He’s been a fan ever since and has worked his way through The Five Find-Outers, The Secret Seven, The Famous Five, and lots of the twee little “stories with a moral” that appear in anthologies.
I wouldn’t mind, except for the frequent references to gypsies as code for “bad ‘uns” and her propensity for giving most of her criminal characters regional accents. Her attitudes, which were outmoded even when she was writing, leave a nasty taste in the contemporary mouth.
Her audio books help the longest of car journeys pass in amicable silence, but I wince at the prejudices of the fearsomely well-spoken children, who tease characters like “Sniff” for using his sleeve as a hanky. I dread to think what they would have said about my kids.
And then there’s the simultaneous translation…
“Mum, why does Dick keep saying ‘Buck Up’ all the time?”
“Mum, what’s a gypsy?”
“Mum, how come the Famous Five are allowed to drink beer?”
“Buck up is something people used to say in the days these books were written. It means, sort of, hurry up and get on with it, cheer up, get going, all those things really.”
“A gypsy is a Romany, someone who travels around instead of living in a house.”
“It’s ginger beer, there’s no alcohol in it.”
At least they can begin to learn that “gay” wasn’t always a playground insult, and, perhaps, get an early taste for etymology.
A friend of mine who’s an editor had always been extremely rude about Blyton’s writing, until her eldest son discovered the books. Then she was relieved to be shot of Power Rangers, as she thought real children having adventures which stimulated the imagination were preferable to a group of different coloured rangers fighting their way through the galaxy.
Philip Hensher in The Independent reckons Blyton addiction is something that just has to run its course. Eventually they’ll move on to something “better”.
I read nothing buy Blyton for years, but now I can manage all sorts of grown-up books, not just the latest Chick Lit offering.
I haven’t managed to get through Ulysses yet though… perhaps that’s an after-effect?
on 07 May 2007 at 4:00 pm 1.Mutterings & Meanderings said …
I devoured the Famous Five, Secret Seven, Twins at St Claire’s and Mallory Towers.
However, my favourite children’s author is Ruby Ferguson and her Jill books. Fantastic: http://mutteringsandmeanderings.blogspot.com/2007/03/childhood-favourites.html
Ruby is 1950s un-PC too, but in the same way as Enid Blyton.
on 07 May 2007 at 5:26 pm 2.Cathy said …
I’m afraid my son didn’t like Enid Blyton at all, he found them far too dated. But he did enjoy Roald Dahl, Dick King-Smith and some of the less girly Jacqueline Wilson books, not to mention Harry Potter. Now, at 15, he won’t read a book on principle
on 07 May 2007 at 5:38 pm 3.Mutterings & Meanderings said …
Sorry, I mean Ruby is 1950s un-PC but not in the same way as Enid.
on 07 May 2007 at 6:16 pm 4.Omega Mummy said …
Having tried, and failed, to interest Leo in Harry Potter, Alex Ryder and any other book recommended for boys not interested in reading, we’ve let him follow his own heart. He now reads football manuals (for the facts) and the Beano, and ‘Horrid History’. That’s it.
on 07 May 2007 at 6:40 pm 5.debio said …
My daughter devoured The Famous Five. She actually found the dated conversation and un-PC messages amusing.
Much better fodder than the PC content of the Oxford Reading Tree series - some of which was completely baffling both to her and me.
I disagree with feeding children the ‘correct’ reading material (clearly within certain boundaries).
We should learn to read because it enhances our lives - how about road signs on the motorway, or a restaurant menu, or the blurb on a cereal box…..?
on 08 May 2007 at 9:27 am 6.Drunk Mummy said …
I am always ready to spring to the defence of Enid Blyton, which it seems I am required to do frequently. One of my kids loves her stuff, another has no interest at all. Of course the settings/politics/social comment aspects are dated, but it doesn’t stop them being well-written stories with easy vocabulary and plots that children can follow. You only have to read the dire Mr Men books to realise the worth of Blyton’s writing. Having said all that, I really can’t stand Noddy - such a sanctimonious little prig!
on 09 May 2007 at 1:08 pm 7.Lucy Diamond said …
Apparently the kids of The Faraway Tree books have been changed from Jo, Bessie and Fanny (plus Dick) to Joe, Beth, Frannie and Rick.
Sadly we’ve still got one of the old editions which saw lots of giggling. “Why is that girl called FANNY?” etc. Eldest daughter loved the stories though, once we’d got over the hilarity.
I used to love the Adventurous Four books, St Clares, Malory Towers, Wishing Chair, oh all of them, really. Do agree that in comparison the Mr Men books are bloody awful, btw. It’s the same two stories repeated over and over again!
on 10 May 2007 at 7:21 pm 8.spymum said …
I was Blyton mad, and mounted a spirited defense of her at age 10 when my teacher said that she was the most awful writer ever - I can still remember the plots and the characters. but then I found one in a second hand book shop, bought it, intending to lovingly read it to my two and found that I just couldn’t stomach it.
And I am the most un-PC person ever! It was a sad moment.
There is a blue plaque where she used to live near the East Dulwich Library, btw!
on 10 May 2007 at 9:06 pm 9.duwlichmum said …
Did you know where Enid was from? She lived in Dulwich for a very long time indeed!