The Enid Blyton Society

Derek Lucas illustrated all the Secret Seven Knight edition books.
I have created a separate thread to post a link to them here in one place:
I have all the paperbacks,so I will add more as we go along:



01.The Secret Seven - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1968:

http://share.pho.to/9sUHs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

02. Secret Seven Adventure - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1967:

http://share.pho.to/9sUdY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

03. Well Done Secret Seven - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1968:

http://share.pho.to/9sXvN" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


04. Secret Seven On The Trail - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1968:

http://share.pho.to/9sZnJ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

05. Go Ahead Secret Seven - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1968:

http://share.pho.to/9scpm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

06. Good Work Secret Seven - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1969:

http://share.pho.to/9tVvv" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

07. Secret Seven Win Through - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1970:

http://share.pho.to/9ts6B" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

08. Three Cheers,Secret Seven - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1970:

http://share.pho.to/9tyQc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

09. Secret Seven Mystery - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1971:

http://share.pho.to/9uvgq" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

10. Puzzle For The Secret Seven - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1971:

http://share.pho.to/9vW8p" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

11. Secret Seven Fireworks - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1972:

http://share.pho.to/9vvyp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

12. Good Old Secret Seven - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1972:

http://share.pho.to/9wFq2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


13. Shock For The Secret Seven - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1973:

http://share.pho.to/9xp9w" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Those look great, Pete! One thing I've always really liked about Derek Lucas's illustrations for 'The Secret Seven' is the great feeling of 'cold' he manages to portray, with the scenes of snowy lanes and fields and the snowmen. The illustration with the man with the stick chasing them off his property is particularly atmospheric I think.

They're quite good, Pete. Almost as good as George Brook's.


Derek Lucas


George Brook

Yes, not bad Pete. I do like all the originals though.

I like the originals by George Brook but the ones by Derek Lucas that portray the night time scenes are very atmospheric.

Thanks, Pete. The Derek Lucas illustrations take me back to my childhood. My sister and I and our friends would read the Secret Seven books and hold meetings in our shed (complete with passwords and badges), believing that one day a mystery would come our way!

As I've said before, Derek Lucas's illustrations WERE the Secret Seven to me. I made books and magazines etc using the characters (drawn by me)

There are now five books available to view all the illustrations.
I have noticed a few things already: There always invariably seems to be a visit from a policeman to the shed at the end of the story.

Also,I'm looking forward to checking the consistency of Derek's illustrations of the interior and exterior of the shed over the course of the whole series.I like comparing details like that.

ie.which way does the shed door open,which side of the door is the handle on,interior windows/shelves/seating arrangements etc....
(No Eddie Stobart trucks passing near were I live!!!!)

Also,one book's printing/illustration dates puzzles me,but I can't remember which one at the moment.I will highlight it when I come across it again.

Before Nigel says it, Pete - I'll jump in 'You have too much time on your hands!' LOL Honestly, I find those sort of details interesting also - consistencies in door handles, which way doors open, etc - it's all stuff that an artist has to take notice of in order for their illustrations to ring true.

One thing I find really telling about the two illustrations you compared above, Pete, which I'd never noticed before, and that is the likeness between the two depictions of the man in the window - they are uncannily alike - so much so that I'm sure Derek Lucas must have based his depiction on the original!

Yes,I agree!
But all credit must go to eagle eyed Nigel for spotting it

And notice the superior brick-work drawing in George Brook's illustration.

Often, I prefer the backgrounds in George Brook's illustrations but the characters' faces and hair in Derek Lucas's illustrations.

It could be worse, Nigel, don't forget — Betty Maxey would probably have left out the brick-work altogether.

Derek Lucas depicts Janet as having dark hair but wasn't she blond-haired in the original illustrations by George Brook and Bruno Kay? I always imagine her to have blond hair.

John Pickup wrote:Derek Lucas depicts Janet as having dark hair but wasn't she blond-haired in the original illustrations by George Brook and Bruno Kay?

She does seem to be, yes.