DELIGHTFUL SATURDAYS WITH MY FAVORITE AUTHORS AND POETs (16)

ENID BLYTON

I grew up reading the books of Enid Blyton. She’s my most favorite author of all times. I can’t think of my childhood without the adventures of the Famous Five, The Five Find-outers and the Dog, The Secret Seven and so many magical stories featuring, talking dolls and golliwogs that would come alive at night, elves, fairies, pixies and Goblins. The truth is even at 40, I love reading her books. There’s something very special about her writing that makes me adore her. Her book, The Naughtiest Girl series, is my all time favorite.

She was born as Enid Mary Blyton on 11 August 1897, East Dulwich, London, England. She was focused on writing books for children that have emerged as world wide bestsellers more than 600 million copies sold since the 1930s.She also wrote using the pen name Mary Pollock. She published her first book ‘ Child Whispers’ which was a 24-pages collection of poems in 1922. She created history with the stupendous success of her novels Adventures of the Wishing-Chair (1937), and The Enchanted Wood (1939). In spite of her books receiving criticism for being elitist, sexist, racist, xenophobic, they have been bestsellers.

She went to St Christopher’s School in Beckenham, from 1907 to 1915. She enjoyed participating in sports and became a school tennis champion and Lacrosse Captain. After completing her formal education in 1915, she went to live with her friend Mary Attenborough before opting to stay with George and Emily Hunt at Seckford Hall, near Woodbridge, in Suffolk. She met Ida Hunt at Woodbridge Congregational church, who taught at Ipswich High School and suggested she train there as a teacher. She joined National Froebel Union teacher training course at the school in September 1916 and stopped contacting her family. Her poems were first published in Nash’s Magazine in March, 1916. By 1920, she took up a job as a nursery governess to the four sons of architect Horace Thompson and his wife Gertrude,[7] with whom Blyton spent four happy years at Southernhay, in Hook Road Surbiton.

She married Hugh Alexander Pollock in 1924 and got divorced in 1942. She married Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters in 1943 and became a widow in 1967. She had two children Gillian Baverstock, and Imogen Smallwood. She died on 28 November 1968 (aged 71), Hampstead, London, England.

She left behind a treasure trove of awesome books that’s still being enjoyed by kids all over the world. Her books are the fourth most translated ones after Agatha Christie, Jules Verne and William Shakespeare. She has written over 762 books.

Her books:

Some of them are mentioned below according to the year of publication.

1922

Child Whispers

1923

Real Fairies: PoemsResponsive Singing Games

1924

The Enid Blyton Book of FairiesSongs of Gladness Sports and GamesTen

Songs from ‘Child Whispers’, music by Sydney TwinnThe Zoo Book

1925

The Enid Blyton Book of Bunnies

1926

Book of Brownies, illustrator Ernest ArisThe Bird Book

1927

A Book of Little Plays

The Play’s the Thing, illustrator Alfred Bestall, music Alex Rowley, as Plays for Older Children and Plays for Younger Children, 1940

Silver and Gold, illustrator Ethel Everett

The Wonderful Adventure

The Animal Book

1929

The Book Around Europe

Enid Blyton’s Nature Lessons

1930

The Knights of the Round Table, John O’London’s Children’s Library

Tales from the Arabian Nights, John O’London’s Children’s Library

Tales of Ancient Greece, John O’London’s Children’s Library

Tales of Robin Hood, John O’London’s Children’s Library

Wendy Wins ThroughThe Luck of the Laytons

1933

Cheerio!

My First Reading Book

Read To Us

Let’s Read

Five-minute Tales

Letters from Bobs

News Chronicle’s Boys and Girls Annual

1934

Brer Rabbit Retold Old Thatch series

The Adventures of Odysseus Newsletter Chronicle Boys’ & Girls’ Story Book No 2

Children of Other Days, Old Thatch series

Happy Stories Treasure Trove Readers Book I

The Enid Blyton Poetry Book

The Red Pixie Book

Round the Year with Enid Blyton: Spring

Round the Year with Enid Blyton: Summer

Round the Year with Enid Blyton: Autumn

Round the Year with Enid Blyton: Winter

The Story of the Siege of Troy

The Strange Tale of Mr. Wumble, Old Thatch series

Tales of the Ancient Greeks and Persians

Tales of the Romans

Ten-Minute Tales

The Talking Teapot, Old Thatch series

1935

Birds at Home, Old Thatch series

News Chronicle Boys’ & Girls’ Story Book No 3

The Children’s Garden[2]

The Green Goblin Book, republished in abridged form in 1951 as Feefo, Tuppeny and Jinks after the characters in the book[3]

Hedgerow Tales, illustrator Vere Temple

Six Enid Blyton Plays

1936

News Chronicle Boys’ and Girls’ Story Book No. 4

The Famous Jimmy, illustrator Benjamin Rabier

Fifteen-Minute Tales

The Yellow Fairy Book

1937

Adventures of the Wishing-Chair, illustrator Hilda McGavin,

The Wishing-Chair series 1

News Chronicle Boys’ and Girls’ Story Book No. 5A

Book of Magic, Old Thatch series

More Letters from Bobs

1938

The Adventures of Binkle and Flip, illustrator Katherine Nixon

Billy-Bob Tales, illustrator May SmithHeyo,

Brer Rabbit!, illustrator Kathleen Nixon,

Mr. Galliano’s Circus, Circus Series 1

The Secret Island, illustrator E. H. Davie, Secret Series 1

1939

The Adventures of Bobs, (later illustrator Lilian Chivers), Old Thatch series

Boys’ and Girls’ Circus Book

Cameo Plays, Book 4

Children of Other Lands, Old Thatch series

The Enchanted Wood, illustrator Dorothy M. Wheeler,

Faraway Tree Series 1

Hurrah for the Circus, Circus Series 2

The Little Tree House, Josie, Click and Bun 1

Naughty Amelia Jane!, Amelia Jane 1

The Watchman with 100 Eyes, Old Thatch series

1940

Birds of Our Gardens, illustrators Ernest Aris and Roland Green

Bobs Again

The News Chronicle Boys’ and Girls’ Annual, illustrators Kay Nixon (Kathleen Irene Blundell-Nixon)[4] and

Ernest ArisBoys and Girls Story Book 6, illustrator Dorothy M. Wheeler

The Children of Cherry Tree Farm: A Tale of the Countryside, illustrator Harry Rountree

The Children of Kidillin, as Mary Pollock

Let’s Have a Story

Mister Meddle’s Mischief, illustrators Joyce Mercer and Rosalind M. Turvey

The Naughtiest Girl in the School, illustrator W. Lindsay Cable, Naughtiest Girl series 1

The Secret of Spiggy Holes, illustrator E. H. Davie, Secret series 2

Sunny Stories Annual

Tales of Betsy-May, illustrator J. Gale Thomas

The Treasure Hunters, illustrators Edith Wilson and M. Joyce Davies

Three Boys and a Circus, as Mary Pollock

Twenty-Minute Tales

1941

The Adventurous Four, illustrator E. H. Davie

Adventures of Mr. Pink-Whistle

Enid Blyton’s Book of the Year, illustrator Harry Rountree, music by Alec Rowley

Five O’Clock Tales, illustrator Dorothy M. Wheeler

The Further Adventures of Josie, Click and Bun, Josie, Click and Bun 2

The Secret Mountain, illustrator Harry Rountree, Secret Series 3.

The Twins at St. Clare’s, illustrator W. Lindsay Cable (later Jenny Chapple), St. Clare’s series 1

1942

Bed-Time Stories, illustrator Vernon Soper, Evans Little Books 2, published by Evans Brothers

Brer Rabbit, illustrator Alfred Kerr, Evans Little Books 1, published by Evans Brothers

The Children of Willow Farm, illustrator Harry Rountree^[5]

Circus Days Again, Circus series 2

Five on a Treasure Island, illustrator Eileen Soper, Famous Five series 1

The Further Adventures of Brer Rabbit, illustrator Ernest Aris

Enid Blyton’s Happy Story Book, illustrator Eileen Soper

Happy Stories, illustrator Alfred Kerr, Evans Little Books 6, published by Evans Brothers

Hello, Mr. Twiddle!, illustrator Hilda McGavin

Ho Ho and Too Smart, illustrator Alfred Kerr, Evans Little Books 4, published by Evans Brothers

I’ll Tell You a Story, illustrator Eileen Soper

John Jolly at Christmas Time

Jolly Tales, illustrator Alfred Kerr, Evans Little Books 3, published by Evans Brothers

The Land of Far-Beyond, illustrator Horace J Knowles

Mary Mouse and the Doll’s House, Mary Mouse 1

More Adventures on Willow Farm, illustrator Eileen Soper,^[6]

The Naughtiest Girl Again, illustrator W. Lindsay Cable, Naughtiest Girl series 2

The O’Sullivan Twins, illustrator W. Lindsay Cable (later Jenny Chapple), St. Clare’s Series 2

Enid Blyton Readers 3, illustrator Eileen Soper

Shadow the Sheep Dog, illustrator Lucy Gee (later illustrator G. W. Backhouse)

Six O’Clock Tales, illustrator Dorothy M. Wheeler

Tales of the Toys, illustrator Alfred Kerr, Evans Little Books 5, published by Evans Brothers

1943

The Adventures of Scamp, as Mary Pollock (1951 illustrator Olive Openshaw, 1992 illustrator Beryl Sanders)

Bimbo and Topsy, illustrator Lucy Gee

The Children’s Life of Christ, illustrator Eileen Soper

Five Go Adventuring Again, illustrator Eileen A. Soper, Famous Five series 2

The Further Adventures of Josie, Click and Bun!I’ll Tell You Another Story, illustrator Eileen Soper

John Jolly at the Circus

John Jolly by the Sea

John Jolly on the Farm

The Magic Faraway Tree, illustrator Dorothy M. Wheeler, Faraway Tree series 2

[7]Enid Blyton’s Merry Story Book, illustrator Eileen SoperMore

Adventures of Mary Mouse, illustrator Olive Openshaw, Mary Mouse 2

The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage, illustrator Joseph Abbey, The Five Find-Outers 1

Polly Piglet, illustrator Eileen Soper (later as Brockhampton Little Book 11)

The Secret of Killimooin, illustrator Eileen Soper, Secret Series 4

The Secret of Cliff Castle, writing as Mary Pollock

Seven O’Clock Tales, illustrator Dorothy M. Wheeler

Smuggler Ben, by Mary Pollock, illustrator E. H. Davie,[8

]Mischief at St. Rollo’s (as Mary Pollock)

Summer Term at St. Clare’s, illustrator W. Lindsay Cable, St. Clare’s series 3

The Toys Come to Life, illustrator Eileen Soper

1944

At Appletree Farm

Billy and Betty at the Seaside

A Book of Naughty Children, illustrator Eileen Soper

The Boy Next Door

The Boy with the Loaves and Fishes, illustrator Elsie Walker

The Christmas Book, illustrator Treyer Evans

Come to the Circus (A) (duplicated title), illustrator Eileen Soper

Daily Mail Annual for Boys & Girls 1944,

The Dog That Went To Fairyland, illustrator Eileen Soper

Eight O’Clock Tales, illustrator Dorothy M. Wheeler

Jolly Little Jumbo, illustrator Eileen Soper

Enid Blyton’s Jolly Story Book, illustrator Eileen Soper

Enid Blyton’s Nature Lover’s Book, illustrators Donia Nachshen and Noel Hopking, published by Evans Brothers

Five Run Away Together, illustrator Eileen Soper, Famous Five series 3

The Island of Adventure, illustrator Stuart Tresilian, The Adventure Series 1

Little Mary Mouse Again, illustrator Olive F. Openshaw, Mary Mouse 3

The Mystery of the Disappearing Cat, illustrator Joseph Abbey, The Five Find-Outers 2

Rainy Day Stories, illustrator Nora S. Unwin, published by Evans Brothers

The Second Form at St. Clare’s, illustrator W. Lindsay Cable, St. Clare’s series 4

Tales from the Bible, illustrator Eileen Soper

Tales of Toyland

The Three Golliwogs

Claudine at St.Clare’s, illustrator W. Lindsay Cable, St. Clare’s series 5

The Train that Lost its Way, illustrator Eileen Soper

1945

A Book of Magic, Old Thatch series

The Blue Story Book, illustrator Eileen Soper

The Brown Family.

London to the Seaside, and Building a House, illustrators E. and R.

BuhlerThe Caravan Family, illustrator William Fyffe

The Conjuring Wizard and Other StoriesThe Family at Red-Roofs, illustrator W. Spence

Fifth Formers of St. Clare’s, W. Lindsay Cable, St. Clare’s series 6

The First Christmas

Five Go to Smuggler’s Top, illustrator Eileen Soper, Famous Five series 4

Hello, Little Mary Mouse, illustrator Olive Openshaw, Mary Mouse 4

Hollow Tree House, illustrator Elizabeth Wall

The Mystery of the Secret Room, illustrator Joseph Abbey, The Five Find-Outers 3

The Naughtiest Girl is a Monitor, illustrator Kenneth Lovell, Naughtiest Girl series 3

The Nature Lover’s Book, illustrators Noel Hopking and Donia Nachshen, Evans Brothers

Round the Year Stories, Old Thatch series

The Runaway Kitten, illustrator Eileen Soper, Brockhampton

Enid Blyton Picture Book

Enid Blyton’s Sunny Story Book, illustrator Eileen Soper

The Teddy Bear’s Party, illustrator Eileen Soper, Little Book 5, 1989 reprint as The Night The Toys Had A Party, illustrator Susan Pearson

The Twins Go to Nursery-Rhyme Land, illustrator Eileen Soper, Brockhampton Enid Blyton Picture Book

1946

Amelia Jane Again, Amelia Jane 2

The Bad Little Monkey, illustrator Eileen Soper

The Castle of Adventure, illustrator Stuart Tresilian, The Adventure Series 2

The Children at Happy House, illustrator Kathleen Gel

lChimney Corner Stories

First Term at Malory Towers, illustrator Stanley Lloyd, Malory Towers 1

Five Go Off in a Caravan, illustrator Eileen Soper, Famous Five series 5

The Folk of the Faraway Tree, illustrator Dorothy M. Wheeler, Faraway Tree Series 3

Enid Blyton’s Gay Story Book, illustrator Eileen

SoperJosie, Click and Bun Again, strip book, illustrator Dorothy Wheeler, Josie Click and Bun 3

The Little White Duck and Other Stories, illustrator Eileen A. Soper

Mary Mouse and her Family, illustrator Olive Openshaw, Mary Mouse 5

The Mystery of the Spiteful Letters, illustrator Joseph Abbey, The Five Find-Outers 4

The Put-Em-Rights, illustrator Elizabeth Wallet,

The Red Story Book, illustrator Eileen Soper

The Surprising Caravan, illustrator Eileen Soper, Brockhampton Enid Blyton Picture Book

The Train that Lost its Way, illustrator Eileen Soper (later Brockhampton Little Book 10)

1947

The Adventurous Four Again!, illustrator Jessie Land

Five on Kirrin Island Again, illustrator Eileen Soper, Famous Five series 6

The Green Story Book, illustrator Eileen Soper

The Happy House Children Again, illustrator Kathleen Gell

Here Comes Mary Mouse Again, illustrator Olive Openshaw, Mary Mouse 6

The Enid Blyton Holiday Book

Second Holiday Book

The House at the Corner, illustrator Elsie Walker

The Little Green Duck and Other Stories, illustrator Eileen Soper,

Bedtime SeriesLucky Story Book, illustrator Eileen Soper

More About Josie, Click and Bun, strip book, illustrator Dorothy Wheeler, Josie Click and Bun 4

The Mystery of the Missing Necklace, illustrator Joseph Abbey, The Five Find-Outers 5

The Second Book of Naughty Children

Rambles With Uncle Nat

The Saucy Jane Family, illustrator Ruth Gervis

Second Form at Malory Towers, illustrator Stanley Lloyd, Malory Towers 2

The Smith Family 1–3

Enid Blyton’s Treasury

The Valley of Adventure, illustrator Stuart Tresilian, The Adventure Series 3

The Very Clever Rabbit, illustrator Eileen Soper,

Enid Blyton Bedtime Series

( Information: Wikipedia)

Since the list is too long, I will wind it up here. Enid Blyton has always been the best Children’s writer. Long live her books! Long live her legacy!

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