Charles Saatchi and Blyton.

[Lucky Star]

In this week's edition of The Week magazine Charles Saatchi the advertising guru is asked to name his favourite books. This is a regular feature in the magazine with a different person each week but I thought Saatchi's choices were particularly interesting to us. He chose:

1) The Famous Five Series by Enid Blyton

2) Bleak House by Charles Dickens

3) Noddy Goes to Toyland by Enid Blyton

4) The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

5) Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School by Frank Richards

6) The Triall by Franz kafka


I was pleasantly surprised that such a famous and famously hard nosed person as Saatchi would choose the FF and Noddy. Not to mention Bunter.

Of the FF he said;" I very much wanted to join up and make it the famous six. Despite reading many books which are more illustrious these are the ones that must have imprinted themselves on me most firmly - they popped into my head immediately as I tried to recall my favourites".

Of Noddy he said "Toyland and it's inhabitants, Big ears, PC Plod, Tubby Bear, Mr Sparks, the Naughty Goblins - they remain the most unforgettable characters in fiction".

[Poppy]

That's interesting, John, thanks for posting it.

[Anita Bensoussane]

Interesting choices! Thanks for that, John.

[Katharine]

Interesting bit of info. I wonder if any of those books has influenced his designs?

[Ming]

I hadn't heard of Charles Saatchi before but it's interesting to see a well known person enjoy Blyton just like we simple, humble folks!