The Enid Blyton Society

Quite right - it was Nigel's comparison - and a good comparison it is too!

I agree the brick wall in George Brook's illustration is better drawn...and as has been said, Maxey would have missed out the wall altogether, LOL.

It's funny how we see the characters as depicted by different illustrators. In my minds eye Janet has always had dark bobbed hair rather than the blonde hair of the original. But then again, don't most of the characters have blond hair in the original illustrations? Or maybe that's just how I imagine it!

Robert Houghton wrote:But then again, don't most of the characters have blond hair in the original illustrations?

No. I see three of them with dark hair here — four if you count the fact that Peter looks fairly dark-haired, although he seems more blond in the previous illustration with Janet:

True. It sort of proves that I don't identify at all with these depictions! I couldn't name any of those characters with certainty, and the illustrator uses so many thick lines that often it's hard to tell what colour their hair is meant to be, except by looking on the covers. I much prefer the Secret Seven covers of the original versions to the inside illustrations.

I've only read one of the Secret Seven books, so I don't have a childhood attachment to them, but I instinctively identify with those original depictions (by George Brook) over the Derek Lucas ones, comparing them now. So it's all individual, I guess.

I think it has a lot to do with how we first encounter the characters.

We now have another book added to the 1st page of this thread:

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

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Goodo - thanks, Pete! Robert's picture from when he was twelve stands up well next to the original. Derek Lucas's illustration of the candle near the fireworks is scary!

Robert's depiction of Peter as the guy is a lot more sinister than Derek Lucas'. The illustration where Peter and Janet's father's car is stolen doesn't seem right to me, the picture doesn't reflect that this happened at night.

I feel honoured that my illustration is up there with the original! Thank you Pete!

It's definitely one of my favourite covers and favourite SS books.

John Pickup wrote:Robert's depiction of Peter as the guy is a lot more sinister than Derek Lucas'. The illustration where Peter and Janet's father's car is stolen doesn't seem right to me, the picture doesn't reflect that this happened at night.

Thanks John.It would be interesting to compare how Bruno Kay illustrates the same scene.

Not much differently, Pete. In my copy (Brockhampton Press 6th Impression 1964) Bruno draws the two car thieves running away from the vehicle as two shadowy figures and there is some dark shading at the top of the illustration. It doesn't take up half a page (Page 53). On Page 55 he draws Peter in the phone box calling for help as Janet shines her torch. This is quite clearly a night scene.

Thanks, Rob. I haven't a clue how to do that.

Great to see so many of these Derek Lucas illustrations (with Robert`s being mighty fine as well) which bring back very fond memories from my childhood. I mostly had the photo covers as a kid and, while I know I am probably alone in this, they also stir up some nostalgic feelings whenever I see them.

Book seven has just been added to the 1st page of this thread:

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

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