Enid Blyton - The Famous Five Meet the characters Article by Keith Robinson (March 15, 2006) The Famous Five are four decidedly upper-class children with a mongrel dog who solve mysteries and get tangled up with smugglers and other criminals. They want nothing more than to have a great time strolling about the countryside and having picnics, but these adventures just keep coming along and getting in the way. Unlike the Secret Seven and the Five Find-Outers, the Famous Five get about a bit—usually to the moors, the countryside, Cornish villages and the like. The most remarkable thing about them is possibly that they're allowed to go all the country on their own despite being aged between eleven and thirteen! The eldest of the gang is Julian, with George and Dick next, and then Anne. Julian's twelve in Five on a Treasure Island, the first in the series, and when talking about George he says, "So she's eleven—a year younger than I am—same age as you, Dick—and a year older than you, Anne." Nice of him to point that out so clearly.

In the third book, Five Run Away Together, it's noted that they're all a year older since their last adventure on Kirrin Island, a year before. Beyond that, as far as I am aware their ages are inexplicably frozen in time—otherwise they'd be well into their twenties before the end of the series. Julian is a strange character, someone that young readers seem to aspire to, and one that older readers think is a pompous ass. There are is a strong element of a 1940s-style chivalry in his character, which today is seen simply as condescending. For example, in Five on a Hike Together they're all arguing about where to sleep for the night. George insists she'll be fine in a barn with the boys, but Julian won't have it. "You know quite well," he says, "that if you ever go against the orders of the chief—that's me, my girl, in case you didn't know it—you won't come out with us again. You may look like a boy and behave like a boy, but you're a girl all the same.

And like it or not, girls have got to be taken care of." He frequently tells the girls they can't do something simply on the basis that they're girls. Of course, Anne accepts his orders readily, being the sort of girl that Julian believes all girls should be like! And that's Julian all over—demanding, domineering, always in charge... True, he is the eldest of the group, but only by a year. Yet he acts as though he's at least three or four years older than the rest, and certainly older than the young age of thirteen as he's supposed to be throughout the series. Indeed, he acts so stern and grown-up that nasty adult characters are frequently struck speechless. The Stick Family in Five Run Away Together are a prime example of this; Julian's clever tongue leaves Ma and Pa Stick bewildered and a little afraid of the tall boy with the determined face... Dick was actually my favorite character when I was younger, perhaps because he seemed more my age at the time.

(Julian seemed years older, despite being only a year older than Dick.) In the first book, Dick pretty much takes a back seat for the most part, letting the more interesting characters of Julian and George develop, and Anne—the weedy one—to be teased. But in later books Dick takes a more active role, constantly jumping in and backing up Julian like any good younger brother should! He shows himself to be unafraid of anything that comes along, no matter how scary the situation. I particularly remember Five on a Hike Together when he sleeps in a barn overnight, alone, with a storm lashing the windows. Then a hard-looking face appears at the window and whispers an urgent message. I remember being creeped out by the whole situation and admired Dick for holding it together so well. He's also the character most likely to joke around and tease the others—particuarly George over her being a boy. George, or Georgina, is arguably the most interesting character of the four, and certainly the most popular as far as fans are concerned.

She's feisty, obstinate, brave, strong-willed as well as strong physically, an excellent swimmer and impressive in a small rowing boat, loyal as can be, and quite foolish at times. She's also head-over-heels in love with her dog, Timmy, and this sometimes causes her to make the most ridiculous decisions in the face of danger, such as jumping between her beloved pet and a pack of other dogs when they threaten to tear Timmy apart. Brave—but oh so foolish! Also, most of George's tempers are sparked off by situations concerning Timmy; she often refuses to like people simply because they don't care for dogs in general. Yes, her loyalty to Timmy is endearing, but sometimes she loses sight of reality. What with people being rude to Timmy, and others waltzing about her island without permission, it's a wonder she doesn't blow a gasket. But the really annoying thing about George is her constant battle to prove she's "as good as any boy," to the point that she dresses as one, cuts her hair short, and calls herself George rather than Georgina.

To all intents and purposes she is a boy, at least at first glance, and it pleases her no end when strangers mistake her for one. And the flipside of that, of course, is that she takes an instant dislike to anyone who calls her Georgina and tells her she's just like a girl. All these character traits, good and bad, make her one of the most consistently interesting personalities in Enid Blyton's career—so it's not surprising to learn that Blyton supposedly based George's character on herself! Anne is a wimp. She's domesticated, loves setting up home (while camping out in caves and on the moors), likes to do all the cooking and washing up, and generally lives to serve others. She's a regular Susie Homemaker, everything a man in the forties and fifties wanted in a woman, and everything that women sneer at today! But more than that, Anne hates adventures. She quakes with fear whenever there's a sniff of anything ominous, and absolutely can't understand how George can be so brave, so like a boy when in fact she's just a girl.

There are many characters, in many other series, that are like Anne, but Anne is perhaps the crï¿½me de la crï¿½me of Helpless Pathetic Girls, the one who other like-minded girls look to as a model of wimpiness. But Anne thankfully does have a few redeeming features. She's sweet and loyal, can be quite brave sometimes, and even has moments where she rears up like a tiger and puts little boys in their place (Five Have a Mystery to Solve). When all said and done, and despite earlier comments about her being a wimp, she's really a very nice girl and the sort of person you'd hope your own daughter to turn out like one day (unlike George, who would get on my last nerve). Timmy is just a dog, and a mongrel at that—but what a dog! Lassie eat your heart out.

Whereas Lassie would go and fetch help to rescue the imprisoned children, Timmy would go several steps farther and make the villains tie each other up and lock themselves in a room, and then recover the stolen plans, find a lost cave full of treasure, and finally go off to the police station to ask for CID rather than bother with the useless bobby on the front desk. Timmy is described as a brown mongrel with an unusually long tail and loving brown eyes, although in the 1970s TV series he mysteriously transmogrified into a Welsh collie, or border collie as they're called in the USA. He stuck in this guise for a long time afterwards, his distinctive black and white fur instantly recognizable from afar. I grew up with this image of Timmy, and assumed the original Eileen Soper artwork was wrong, but now I've come to terms with the fact that Timmy really is quite a funny looking thing. Loyal and strong, big and powerful, but still funny looking.

Copyright © 2004-2017 EnidBlyton.net Enid Blyton (England, 1897-1968) Enid Blyton (England, 1897-1968) Figure 1.--Most of Enid Blyton's stories were set in England, but a few were also set in Scotland. Notice the patterns on the top of the boys kneesocks, a style that was last seen in the 1940s. This story was set during World War II. he illustrator was C. Holland. Enid Blyton is probably the most successful children's author of all time--although not the most famous. She published an amazing number of children's or juvenile books, 600 by one account. She certainly was the most prolific author of all time, and with over 700 books and 10,000 short stories to her name, she is likely to remain so for years to come. Her importance is that she wrote books that children loved to read and attracted them to books--much like J.D. Rowlings. Blyton's most famous series was The Famous Five.

Blyton's works painted an idyllic vision of rural England and hearty Englishness and in recent years she has been criticized for this. It is interesting that Rowlings who also attracts children to books has been criticized for just the opposite--a dangerous forbidding world of wizardry. Family Enid's father, Thomas Blyton, was a very talented man. He painted in water colors, wrote poetry, and dabbled with photography. After working as a salesman he joined his two older brothers in the family "mantle warehousing" business of Fisher and Nephew. She and her father were very close and was devastated when her mother and fathers relationship deteriorated and he left for another women. This happened when she was thirteen and highly sensitive. She felt her father rejected her as well (he continued to pay for her music lessons and private school education at St. Christopher's). Enid's mother, Theresa Mary Hamilton, did not share many of her husband's interests. As a result, when Enid was quite young, her parents decided to separate. Childhood Enid Blyton was born in London during 1897. After separating from her husband, Theresa moved with the children to the suburb of Beckenham.

It was here Enid spent her childhood. Education Enid's father set up a successful wholesale clothing business in the City of London. He was thus able to support his family and Enid received a traditional English private school education. She had an outstanding career at school. From her earliest childhood, Blyton had been schooled in the belief that she would eventually be a musician. She indeed was an accomplished young pianist. Enid when she was 14 years old, however, won a children's poetry competition and encouraged by this success began to submit articles, stories and poems to various magazine. Her first published poem, entitled Have You-? appeared in Nash's Magazine in 1917. Her first book, Child Whispers, a collection of verse, appeared in 1922. This twenty-four-page work was followed by Real Fairies: Poems (1923), Responsive Singing Games (1923), The Enid Blyton Book of Fairies (1924), Songs of Gladness (1924), The Zoo Book (1924), and other books published by J. Saville and Newnes.

Blyton decided to train as a teacher so that she could support herself while she continued writing in her spare time. She studied to be a kindergarten teacher at Ipswich High School. She did Froebel teacher's training. Teaching Blyton taught school for 5 years in teaching. Even which still in school, she had both poems and articles for adults accepted by various magazines. She experienced more and more success with her writing. She also opened her own infants' school. Writing Career Begins Blyton greatly enjoying her work with children and decided to become a children's writer. When the literary commitments increased, Blyton devoted herself entirely to writing. In 1926 Blyton took on the editing a new magazine for children, Sunny Stories. Her stories, plays, and songs for Teachers' World gained popularity among teachers, who used them for their lessons. She also compiled a children's encyclopedia, but it was not until in the 1930s, when her stories started to attract a wider audience. Personal Life Blyton in 1924 married Hugh Pollock, an editor of the book department of George Newnes.

They moved soon to Elfin Cottage, a newly built house in Shortlands Road, Beckenhame, which Blyton eventually called her first 'real home'. In 1929 they moved to 'Old Thatch', a large 16th-century cottage, close to the River Thames at Bourne End in Buckinghamshire. The house, that was to be associated with Blyton for the rest of her life, was Green Hedges, built of red brick with black and white half-timbered gables, in Beaconsfield, a small town about 25 miles from London. Blyton in the mid-1930s Blyton experienced a spiritual crisis, but she decided not to convert to Roman Catholicism because she had felt it was "too constricting". Although she rarely attended church services, she saw that her two daughters were baptized into the Anglican faith and went to the local Sunday School. Full-Length Adventure Stories Blyton published her first FullLength children's adventure story for older children, The Secret Island, in 1934. The idea of a fast-moving story, woven around familiar characters, proved to be so successful.

Over the next six years, almost all of her major series were begun. The most popular became The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, the Adventure series, The Mystery Series, and the Barney' Mystery books. It was during this period that her career as a top children's author was established. They soon became childhood favorites amongst children nationwide. The times as Britain moved toward World War II seemed ideally suited for her shift in focus. During World War II, when publishing was restricted, Blyton managed to get her works printed and ruled then in the field of juvenile literature. In 1940 eleven books were published under her name, including "The Secret of Spiggy Holes", which had appeared earlier in serial form in Sunny Stories, Twenty-Minute Tales and Tales of Betsy May, both collections of short stories, The Children of Cherry Tree Farm, and a story book annual for the News Chronicle. The remainder were brought out by George Newnes, who continued as Blyton's main publishers. Under the pseudonym Mary Pollock she wrote Three Boys and a Circus and Children of Kidillin. New Marriage Blyton's marriage ended in 1942 and next year she married Kenneth Darrell Waters, a middle-aged surgeon.

An exploding shell at the Battle of Jutland during World War I had permanently impaired his hearing, but helped with his hearing aid he could pick up her speech. He was also genially interested in her work and they shared many interests in common, including gardening. Enid Blyton Magazine Blyton in 1945 decided to end her column for Teachers' World. She withdrew from Sunny Stories in 1952 and conceived of her own magazine. She published the first edition of Enid Blyton Magazine in 1953. Regular news was given for sponsored clubs. The Famous Five Club originated through a series of book about the Famous Five. The first story was published in 1942 and was followed by a new title each year. The main object of the magazine was to help the young spastic children and the special center in London. Noddy Blyton in 1949 published perhaps her most controversial book, Little Noddy Goes to Toyland. It was a seemingly innocuous story of a little toy man who always ends up in trouble and had to seek help from his Toyland friends. Its sales exceeded expectations.

Other Noddy books of various sizes and types followed in rapid succession. The stories were illustrated by Van Der Beek who died suddenly in Holland in 1953. The series also produced a play and a film. "Noddy" enchanted younger children and became a household name in England. As a result it became the subject of music hall jokes and sketches. Figure 2.-- 'Playtime' was originally titled 'Sports and Games' before it's title changed. It seems to be published around 1932. The boy is wearing white strapshoes. This seems to be unusual for boyswear (whilst playing sport - in full school uniform) but it could just be artistic license of the illustrator. It also appears that Enid Blyton also liked the colours red and blue, here the red school blazers and blue pants. New Readers Enid Blyton books ar of course for primary school children. Many were suitable for older primary school children, but some were especially written for new readers in the early primary school years. Here both the vocabulary and gentle storu lines were tailored or these children. Unfortunately these children are so young, that it is hard to collect useful testimonials as to how effectibe these books were.

The Blyton boks were not the highly imaginative books that might imprent on young minds. Still they may have been enjoyavle reads that were useful to young readrs. Critics Critics began to attack Blyton in the 1950s and more so the 1960s. Librarians in Britain imposed sanctions on her writings owing to the books' limited vocabulary. The main target for anti-Blytons was Noddy, "the most egocentric, joyless, sniveling and pious anti-hero in the history of British fiction". Rumors were spread that she did not write all her stories. The "banning", which probably has been exaggerated, did not last long. The books continued to be stocked in book stores and sold well despite their increasing age. In recent years Blyton's ability to encourage children to read has been recognized generally. At the end of the 1990s, well over 300 Blyton titles were still in print--an amazing statistic. This included editions of the Famous Five stories linked to the popular television serialization (1995) and modern adventure games, also based on the Famous Five series.

Later Years Blyton after reaching 60 decided in 1959 to cease publishing her Enid Blyton Magazine, primarily to reduce her work load. In the early 60s, she found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on writing. Her husband passed away in 1967. During the months that followed, her own illness grew progressively worse. Blyton passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 28, 1968, at a Hampsted nursing home. The Books Enid Blyton books are about children in jeopardy, children empowered, children winning through. Enid Blyton is still the world's greatest storyteller for children. Adventure Stories I'm not sure just what was included in this series. One of the charming stories was the The Children of Kidillin set in Scotland during World War II. Another story was Mischief at St. Rollo's where a brother and sister are sent to a coed boarding school. Famous Five Another famous English literary character was really a group of five--four children and a dog. The central characters are Julian, Dick, Anne, George, and the dog Timmy.

This was a children's series created by famed children's writer Enid Blyton, one of Britain's best-loved children's authors. It was one of the most popular series of children's books in England and America. The series began in 1942 and were translated into many languages. The boys were commonly costumed in period clothes, jumpers, short trousers, and sandals. Blyton published 21 volumes in the series. The first was published in 1942. I'm not sure when the last one was published. Secret Seven The Secret Seven is another group of English children created by Enid Blyton. The books are about a secret club with official meetings and everything. The club members were Peter, Jack, Barbara, George, Pam, Colin, Janet and of course Scamper (the dog). These books are not great literature, in fact, English teachers one discouraged children from reading them. HBC has, however, included them because of the huge number of children who read them and Blyton's enormous ability to interest children in books and reading. Other Books Blyton was amazingly prolific. There were many other charming books incliding some short series.

Tanmayee Bhatwadekar mentions books from The Magic Faraway Tree " series. She has The Enchanted Wood which is a 1979 Dean edition, having beautiful illustrations. Tanmayee was 12 "when I first read 'The Enchanted Wood, which had the most enchanting illustrations by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone." Figure 3.--Many Enid Blyton editions do not list the illustrator. This illustration is from "Mischief at St. Rollo's". These children are being taken to the store to buy uniforms for their new boarding school. The edition I have is 1976, but it was first printed much earlier. Illustrators Enid Blyton wrote so many stories and books over so long a period that it would have been virtually impossible for one person to have illustrated all of her works. There were in fact several illustrators that worked with her. It is probable that she worked with more illustrators than any other single writer. One wonders why there were so many. Did she not get on with illustrators or did they not like working on her books. Many of her books, unfortunately do not even credit the illustrator.

HBC is uncertain as to the extent, if any, that the illustrations were updated for modern readers or if they were redone for specific countries like America. Most of the illustrators used were not very well known as we have not yet succeeded in finding much information about them. Some illustrators did large numbers of books for Blyton while others had only a minor association with her. Book Reviews: Michael Edwards Enid Blyton enthusiast Michael Edwards has prepared some interesting reviews of her books. Readers interested in Enid Blyton might want to have a look at his reviews. It will give you a good idea of what some of her books were like. There are review of the Famous Five and Secret Seven series as well as other books. Children's Reactions Generations of children in Britain, America, and many other countries have grown reading Enid Blyton books. Primary school children of different ages loved them because they were fun and allowed them to practice and perfect their new reading slills. With the growing importance of the English language, some teachers have found that the Blyton books with the limited vocabulary are a wonderful vehicle for teaching English as a foreign language to younger children.

HBC is used by hundreds of universities and schools in America and Britain as well as in many non-English speaking countries. It is interesting to see how someof these children view Enid Blyton. Sources Stoney, Barbara. Enid Blyton: The Biography (Hodder & Stoughton, 1992). Includes photos of Blyton and her family, and a very detailed listing of the books to which she has written and contributed.

William Ferguson The Famous Five by Enid Blyton First Published in 1977 by Purnell Book 1 of 9 in this category First Published in 1978 by Purnell Book 2 of 9 in this category First Published in 1979 by Purnell Book 3 of 9 in this category First Published in 1980 by Purnell Book 4 of 9 in this category First Published in 1981 by Purnell Book 5 of 9 in this category First Published in 1982 by Purnell Book 6 of 9 in this category First Published in 1983 by Purnell Book 7 of 9 in this category First Published in 1984 by Purnell Book 8 of 9 in this category First Published in 1981 by Knight Books Book 1 of 18 in this category First Published in 1981 by Knight Books Book 2 of 18 in this category First Published in 1981 by Knight Books Book 3 of 18 in this category First Published in 1981 by Knight Books Book 4

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 Book 67 of 72 in this category Enid Blyton - The Famous Five The Famous Five Buy all the Famous Five books with free worldwide shipping The Famous Five are a group of children who have the sort of adventures most kids dream about, in a world where ginger beer flows and ham rolls are a staple diet.

Julian, Dick and Anne get together with their cousin George in the first adventure, Five On A Treasure Island. George is actually a girl who wants so desperately to be a boy she crops her hair and struts about doing boy things. She hates it when people call her by her correct name, Georgina. She has a dog called Timmyï¿½oh yes, and an island. Most kids just have a dog, but George's parents own Kirrin Island and let her run around on it as if it were her play-thing. Her parents are known to Julian, Dick and Anne as Uncle Quentin and Aunt Fanny. 1. Five On a Treasure Island (1942) The very first Famous Five adventure featuring Julian, Dick, Anne, and tomboy George along with her beloved dog, Timmy. There's a shipwreck off Kirrin Island, but where's the treasure? The Five are on the trail, looking for clues... but they're not alone and time is running out. 2. Five Go Adventuring Again (1943) There's a thief at Kirrin Cottage! The Famous Five think they know who it is, but they need to prove it! Where can they find evidence?

The discovery of an old map and very unusual hiding place is all they need to get to the bottom of this mystery and uncover the true culprit! 4. Five Go To Smuggler's Top (1945) Can there still be smugglers at Smuggler's Top? The Famous Five go to stay at the large old house, and discover lots of brilliant hiding places, even underground tunnels! Then they catch people signalling out to seaï¿½who are they? 6. Five On Kirrin Island Again (1947) What is Uncle Quentin up to, all alone on Kirrin Island? He won't let anyone visit, not even George and the rest of the famous Five. But Uncle Quentin isn't really alone on the islandï¿½someone is watching his every move. 7. Five Go Off to Camp (1948) Spook trains in the middle of the night! And they seem to vanish into thin airï¿½but where do they go? The Famous Five are on to it. But the discovery of an unusual underground tunnel system, and a train-service, has them puzzled. If they follow the tracks, will they solve the mystery? 8.

Five Get Into Trouble (1949) The Famous Five are distraught! Dick has been kidnappedï¿½mistaken for somebody else! The gang finally track him downï¿½to a lonely, abandoned houseï¿½but then they too are seized and held captive. How will the intrepid Five get themselves out of this mess? 9. Five Fall Into Adventure (1950) Julian, Dick and Anne are really worriedï¿½George and her devoted Timmy have just disappeared! Not only that, somebody has broken in to Kirrin Cottage. Could there be a connection? The Famous Five think so, but it's going to be tough getting to the bottom of this mystery. 10. Five On a Hike Together (1951) Dick is puzzled when he's woken by a light flashing through his window. Is someone trying to send him a coded message? And when the Famous Five hear of an escaped convict in the area, they are on red alert. The police won't help, so the Five have no choice but to solve the mystery alone. 11.

Five Have a Wonderful Time (1952) The Famous Five are having a brilliant timeï¿½on holiday in horse-drawn caravansï¿½and they've discovered a ruined castle nearby! The castle looked deserted from a distance, but is that a face at the window? Or is it a trick of the light? Just who is hiding in the castle? 13. Five Go to Mystery Moor (1954) Mystery Moor is aptly named, as the Five discover! There's something dangerous out there, but gang need help to find out what it is. The travellers camped on the moor are unfriendly, so the Famous Five have no other choice but to risk the treacherous mists and follow the trail. 14. Five Have Plenty of Fun (1955) George is not pleased when Berta, a spoilt American girl, turns up at Kirrin Cottage in the middle of the night dressed in disguise! But George hasn't got time to be jealous. Berta is in hiding from kidnappers, and she needs help. The Famous Five must risk danger to help out this stranger. 15. Five On a Secret Trail (1956) Camping again!

This time the Five have pitched their tent near an old ruined cottage, which looks as though it's been abandoned for years. When Anne hears strange noises at night the others don't believe her...until they see ghostly lights. Could the cottage be haunted? 16. Five Go to Billycock Hill (1957) Hurrah! It's holiday time, and the Famous Five are spending it at Billycock Hill. Most exciting of all, they've made a new friendï¿½a real pilot! But when he disappears with top secret equipment, the Five are puzzled. Could their new friend be a spy? 17. Five Get Into a Fix (1958) The Famous Five are having lots of fun in the snow! But who is living in the mysterious house near the chalet they're staying in? The caretaker says nobody has lived there for years, but the Five are sure they've seen a terrified, haunted face at one of the windows. 18. Five on Finniston Farm (1960) There is a ruined castle on Finniston Farm, but only the dungeons remain and no one knows where they are!

The Famous Five are determined to find them, and whatever else is hidden inside, but someone else wants to find out too. Can the Five get there first? 19. Five Go to Demon's Rocks (1961) The Five have heard the stories about treasure on Demon's Rocks, but they never thought they were really true! When they discover a very old, valuable gold coin, the myth becomes real. Who does the treasure belong to? The gang are determined to find out...but so is someone else. Enid Blyton's Famous Five novels are adult's most loved children's books | Daily Mail Online comments Firm favourite: Enid Blyton's first Famous Five book. The series of children's books is the favourite of parents in Britain, a poll has found It may be 70 years since they first appeared, but Enid Blyton’s Famous Five novels remain the books most favoured by parents for their children, a poll reveals. The adventures of Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog topped a survey in which parents were asked to name their favourite children’s books.

Two other series by Blyton, the Secret Seven and Malory Towers, also made the top five, confirming her status as the nation’s best-loved children’s author. Among children, however, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series emerged as the favourite. The survey, carried out to mark World Book Day today, suggested that children's book tastes are inherited from their parents since choices were similar across both top 10 charts. Adventure tales, such as Treasure Island, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Blyton's 21-book series, first published in 1942, were popular among both audiences. Despite the recent popularity of futuristic titles such as the Hunger Games, the science fiction genre failed to make an impact on the children's list. Instead, classics such as Thomas the Tank Engine, the Mr Men and Little Miss books and the Gruffalo featured strongly in their top 10. Authors appearing in both sets of results were Blyton, whose Famous Five tales came fourth on the children's list, as well as Roald Dahl and CS Lewis. The poll also showed that more than three quarters of children would choose the paper version of a book over an e-book or tablet.

RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Among children dressing up for World Book Day, The Boy Who Lived emerged as the most popular character for children to go as. Along with Harry Potter, other popular costume choices for the day were Horrid Henry, Where's Wally and Cinderella. A scene from one of the Harry Potter films: JK Rowling's series about a boy wizard was the children's favourite The poll, by Asda, questioned 1,747 parents including 1,000 with children under 13. They answered on their children's behalf. Hayley Whittaker, Asda's childrens' books buyer, said: 'Even though hundreds of new children's titles are released every week, parents and kids alike are united in their love of classic childhood literature, with their humour and adventure proving relevant across generations. 'It's clear to see that kids still think nothing beats the feeling of having a real book in their hands.' There was less positive news about children's reading habits in a separate poll, also released today. Significant numbers of youngsters are unaware that popular characters from films and TV programmes actually originated in books.

According to a survey of 500 eight to 13-year-olds, 40 per cent are unaware that Harry Potter started life in a book, and even more - 42 per cent - didn't know Winnie the Pooh is a literary character. boys clothing: English literary characters -- the Famous Five English Costumes of Literary Characters: The Famous Five Figure 1.-- Enid Blyton published 21 volumes in the "Famous Five" series beginning in 1942. Another famous English literary character was really a group of five--four children and a dog. The central characters are Julian, Dick, Anne, George, and the dog Timmy. This was a children's series created by famed children's writer Enid Blyton, one of Britain's best-loved children�s authors. It was one of the most popular series of children's books in England and America. The series began in 1942 and were translated into many languages. The boys were commonly costumed in period clothes, jumpers, short trousers, and sandals. The Author Enid Blyton is probably the most successful children's author of all time--although not the most famous.

She published an amazing number of children's or juvenile books, 600 by one account. She certainly was the most prolific author of all time, and with over 700 books and 10,000 short stories to her name, she is likely to remain so for years to come. Her importance is that she wrote books that children loved to read and attracted them to books--much like J.D. Rowlings. Blyton's most famous series was The Famous Five. Blyton's works painted an idyllic vision of rural England and hearty Englishness and in recent years she has been criticized for this. It is interesting that Rowlings who also attracts children to books has been criticized for just the opposite--a dangerous forbidding world of wizardry. The Books Enid Blyton books are about children in jeopardy, children empowered, children winning through. Enid Blyton is still the world's greatest storyteller for children. Blyton published 21 volumes in the series. The first was published in 1942. The last Famous Five book was published in 1963.

It was one of the last books that Enid Blyton published before her death in 1968, although her prolific output continued, in more scattered fashion, into the mid-1960s. HBC readers may be interested in more detailed information about the Famous Five. More information on Famous Five dates of publication can be found on an interesting Blyton page by Michael Edwards which is part od a wider work on children's literature. Book Reviews: Michael Edwards Enid Blyton enthusiast Michael Edwards has prepared several reviews of books in the Famous Five series as well as other Blyton books. Readers interested in the Famous Five might want to have a look at his reviews which provide interesting details on several individual books. They will give you a good idea of what the Secret Seven books are like. Characters The central characters are Julian, Dick, Anne, George, and the dog Timmy. Julian, the older brother of Dick and Anne, is the natural leader of The Famous Five. He's the older brother, so he keeps Dick in line and looks after his sister, Anne. He's sensible and he believes in setting a good example.

George is, the tomboy alter ego of Enid Blyton, whose best friend is her beloved dog, Timmy. Julian Julian is the eldest of the five characters, and older brother of Dick and Anne. Naturally he assumes the role of the group leader. He has a resourceful and dependable nature, helping the group through many sticky moments. He is bold, but sensible, knowledgeable and thoughtful. Dick Dick is the younger brother of Julian, and the joker in the group. He is the tease of the Five, a natural humorist who is always cracking jokes and enjoys nothing better than stirring the others up. He is sensitive to other's feelings, and has a sharp mind, which often makes him a valuable asset when, as always, a mystery has to be solved. Anne Anne is the sister of both Julian and Dick, and is the youngest of the group. She likes nothing better than cooking, cleaning and generally looking after other people. As a result, her character has been used to substantiate charges that Blyton's Famous Five series is sexist. Anne is more emotional than her brothers. However, she is imaginative and often strong in the face of adversity.

George Julian, Dick and Anne in the first book, Five on a Treasure Island, meet their cousin Georgina. Georgina likes to act like a boy and hence is called George. In one interview Enid confessed that George was based on herself. She is the tomboy of the group whose main aim in life is to prove that she's just as good as a boy. Although she is often stubborn, strong-willed and hot-tempered, she remains a true friend to her cousins. By far her best friend though is her faithful dog Timmy, her unconditionally loyal aide. Timmy Timmy, the lovable mongrel, is never happier than when he is with his master George. His second favorite pastime of chasing rabbits gets him into frequent mischief, as does his escapades with George, Anne, Dick, and Julian. The Illustrations The original illustrator was Eileen Soper. Through the first dozen books the children age in the illustrations in line with the passage of time through the stories: Julian from 12 to 18, Dick and George from 11 to 17, and Anne from 10 to 16.

In the later stories they appear to be fixed at: J 15/16, D & G 14/15 and A 13/14. Later illustrations to modernize the appearance of the five now look hopelessly dated, with 1970s style flared trousers and androgynous kids. Also the artists are nowhere near as skilled as Miss Soper. Recent paperbacks have restored her illustrations but in a colored form. Costuming The series began in 1942 and were translated into many languages. The boys in the early editions were commonly costumed in period clothes, jumpers, short trousers, and sandals worn by British boys in the 1940s and 50s. This changed somewhat a the children were allow to age in subsequent books. Also publishers began "updating" the illustrations to make the books appear more timely. Headgear I have not noted the boys commonly wearing caps as most of the adventures normally take place away from school, but I think that the children are sometimes pictured in their school uniforms. Short pants The boys mostly appear in short trousers in the original editions.

I think some of the modern editions of the books may have changed the drawings, but I am not yet sure of this. Wellies Sandals As many of the adventures take place during summer vacations, the children--both the girls and boys--commonly wear sandals. The style is the traditional school sandal style with the narrow center strap. Popularity The books that children most often buy with their own pocket money are Enid Blyton's. They give children an appetite for reading. Her books have been translated into nearly 70 languages (other sources say 40) and sold 400 million copies. Blyton's legacy is one that has captivated children of all ages for generations. Enid Blyton's books remain best-sellers for children around the world. The 1990's sees an ever increasing demand for the books and products that have evolved from her imaginative creations. Criticisms Blyton's books have been criticized. Although Blyton was a actually better writer than she is generally given credit for, it is fair to say that she was hardly a wordsmith who struck fire from the flint of language. Among the criticisms are racism, sexism, and snobbishness.

Her writing does indeed reflect the temper and thought of the times in which she wrote. Even those who admire her books admit that the attitudes displayed in many of the books can be considered as sexist and outdated. Another criticism was that her works were not true literature. In the late 1950s many librarians in England refused to stock books by Enid Blyton on the grounds that children would not read the great works of literature. After a period of attacks from the press, Enid Blyton allegedly stated that criticism from the over 12's did not really count. One Blyton proponent personally remembers that one of her teachers told the class that he did not wish to see any pupil bring Enid Blyton books into the class as there were unsuitable reading material. The result of the criticism and removal of books from libraries was that children pestered their parents to buy the books at shops and Blyton sold more books than ever before. The books continue to appeal to children and have found new readers in each successive generation. "She was a child, she thought as a child and she wrote as a child," the psychologist Michael Woods has offered as the secret of her books.

In the final analysis, a key to the value of a children's author id perhaps not the brilliance of the writing, but the success it interesting children to reading. Once they are hooked on reading, they will seek out many of the great classics that so concern scholars. Figure 2.--The Famous Five are shown here in a recent British TV series. Notice the characteristic short pants and sandals. Continuing Popularity The Famous Five continue to be popular with young readers and not just English children. A French reader reports in 2003, "I just dicovered your site as I was looking for information about the Famous Five, the new favourite heroes of my 7 year old son." Movies The children's film foundation in the UK during 1957 made a film serial of Five on a Treasure Island. Television Series Recently a television series of most of the Five books has been shown which more or less followed the plot of the books. One reviewer writes that the only problem she had with the television series was Timmy the Dog. (He was too small!) Enid Blyton's daughter, Gillian Baverstock, has been closely involved in the TV adaptation of her mother's work.

When she saw The Famous Five in their costumes for the first time, she gasped and said, "Oh, if only my mother could have seen them - they're perfect!" Translations Interestingly, the Famous Five books as well as other Enid Blyton books are among the most translated books ever written. No one has an exact count of vthe number of translations of the Blyton books. We note one estimate exceeds 3,500. That wouls make her the fifth most translated author in history. This huge number results from the large number of books written by Blyton and the many different translation in some if the more important languages, just as thereare many English language editions of the same book, Nor do we know how many lanuages are involved. We know the books have been translated into all the major languages and most smaller languages, smaller in the sence of the number of speakers. One study lisdted 36 languages, but we suspect that the actual number is even greater. We are sure just whu her works are so popular, but there clearly is a universal appeal. One factor is that younger children like for children to be some of the characters in the books read.

Especially characters that appeal to them. And the simplicity of vocabulary makes the books idea for young readers. Of all the Blyton books translated, the Famous Five series is by far the most important. Sources Ariaux, B�n�dicte. E-mail message, June 17, 2003. Baverstock, Gillian. Tell Me About Writers, Enid Blyton (Evans Brothers Ltd). Rice, Eva. Who's Who in Enid Blyton (Richard Cohen Books) . Stoney, Barbara. Enid Blyton's Biography (Hodder & Stroughton) . HBC BEST BOOKS OF ENID BLYTON! (76 books) BEST BOOKS OF ENID BLYTON! Score A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating Error rating book. Refresh and try again.

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Enid Blyton biography | birthday, trivia | British Writer | Who2 Enid Blyton Biography Writer Enid Blyton was one of the 20th century’s most popular British authors and a prolific producer of books and stories for young readers, including the series of adventure books featuring the Famous Five. Trained as a teacher, Enid Blyton began writing poems and childrens stories on the side. After five years of teaching she left to write full-time, and between 1942 and 1968 Blyton published hundreds of books (some sources say as many as 800). Her Famous Five series included 21 novels published between 1942 and 1963; the adventure stories feature four kids and a clue-sniffing dog. Blyton also authored other series, featuring the Secret Seven (fifteen books between 1949 and 1963), the Five Find-Outers (fifteen books between 1943 and 1961) and Toyland’s wooden boy, Noddy (24 books between 1949 and 1963).

Critics have sneered at Blyton’s formulaic stories and her lack of literary sophistication — and she’s been called racist, sexist and classist because of certain passages — but her books continue to be popular all over the world. Extra credit The Famous Five include siblings Julian, Dick and Anne, their cousin George (Georgina, a tomboy) and George’s dog, Timmy… In the 1990s several of Enid Blyton’s books were edited to remove racist passages and reissued… A 2008 poll of English readers voted Enid Blyton just above J.K. Rowling as “Britain’s Best-Loved Author”… A 2009 BBC television movie, Enid, starred Helena Bonham Carter as Enid Blyton.

Question: The dog Timmy made how many in Enid Blyton's 'Famous...' series of children's adventure books?
Answer: 5