Enid Blyton

Enid Mary Blyton (11 of August 1897 – 28 November 1968) was an English writer. She was born in Dulwich, South London, England. She was one of the world's most famous children's writers. She  wrote a great number of books. Her most famous stories are the Famous Five stories, about a group of four children (Dick, Julian, Anne, and Georgina, who wanted to be called George) and their dog (Timmy) who have many adventures, and her Noddy books for small children.

Her parents wanted her to become a pianist, but Enid wanted to be a teacher. Her parents agreed to let her train as a teacher. She began teaching in 1919 in Kent, not far from where she grew up in Beckenham.

As a child and teenager her main interest had been writing poems, stories and other items. She had sent many of them to magazines but had never had any published. As she worked as a teacher she began to publish her articles in a magazine called  Teachers' World. Her first book, called Child Whispers came out in 1922. It was a book of her poems with illustrations (drawings).

She was married soon after. She left teaching and began to have more success with her books. She wrote in and was the editor of magazine for children called Sunny Stories. The magazine came out every two weeks. Some of Enid's most famous books were first printed in this magazine in parts.

Enid Blyton is in The Guinness Book of Records as one of the world's biggest selling writers. She is also included because she wrote more books than almost any other writer (about 700). Her books were published in many different languages. She said that she found writing them easy. Her books still sell in large numbers, and used to be owned by her family. A few years ago her family sold them, and now her works belong to a private company.

Enid Blyton did a lot of work for charity and had a club for children which helped them to give money to charity. She was married twice and had two daughters. She died of Alzheimer's disease in Hampstead, London.

Blyton, Enid 1952. The Story of my Life. Grafton. ISBN 978-0-246-12795-2
Stoney, Barbara 2006. Enid Blyton: the biography. (Kindle ed.) History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-6957-7

 Other websites 

The Enid Blyton Society
EnidBlyton.net
Heather's Blyton Pages 
Enid Blyton Collectors' and Enthusiasts' Guide to First Editions

Category:1897 births
Category:1968 deaths
Category:English children's writers
Category:Writers from London