The Famous Five's Consumption of Sausages 1942 - 1963
I'm currently re-reading Five Have A Mystery To Solve.You know the book.It's the one that Enid weaves a Famous Five mystery around the Five's love of sausages.
They ate 2lbs one evening much to Mrs Kirrin's chagrin and wanted more the next day too..
That got me thinking:how many books list the Five's consumption of sausages,how do they like them cooked,are the Famous Five's sausage preferences consistent throughout the series?
These are important questions that demand an in depth analysis.
(If you are not a fan of long posts or have a life,stop reading now!)
The very first mention occurs in book two.
Sausages mentioned in George and Anne's school and by Joan at K.C.2. Adventuring Again:
'He can sit under my feet whilst I'm doing them,' said George. 'It will be a great help to feel him there. For goodness' sake eat up your sausages, Anne. We've all nearly finished. The bell will go in a minute and you won't have had any breakfast.' –
'You can come into this kitchen once a day for your dinner,' said Joanna. 'And that's all. I'm not having meat and sausages and chicken disappearing under my nose if I can help it. I know what dogs are, I do!'
Quite a long gap from book two to nine until sausages reappear.Notice how Anne likes them,and also wants to eat George's!9. Fall Into adventure:
‘I never heard her go,’ said Joan. ‘She must have been very quiet. There you are now - there’s a fine breakfast for you - sausages and tomatoes and fried eggs!’
‘O-o-o-h, lovely,’ said Anne. ‘And you’ve done the sausages just how I like them, Joan - all bursting their skins. Do you think we’d better eat George’s too? She’s still out in the boat. She may not be back for ages.’
She bustled about after this outburst, and was soon frying sausages and tomatoes for them. They couldn’t wait till they were cooked, and helped themselves to great hunks of bread and butter.
Just a small mention in book ten - the nasty policeman likes sausages.10.Hike:
The policeman glared at Dick as he put the bits into his pocket. Then he made a peculiar snorting noise, turned on his heel and marched back to his sausages and onions.
‘And I hope his dinner’s gone cold!’ said George. ‘Horrid fellow! Why should he think we’re telling a lot of untruths?’
Book eleven informs us how they all like their sausages - George even prefers hers burnt!11. Wonderful Time:
Come on - let's think about dinner, Anne. What are we going to have?"
"Fried sausages and onions, potatoes, a tin of sliced peaches and I'll make a custard," said Anne, at once.
"I'll fry the sausages," said Dick. "I'll light the fire out here and get the frying-pan. Anyone like their sausages split in the cooking?"
Everyone did. "I like mine nice and burnt" said George. "How many do we have each? I've only had those ice creams since breakfast."
"There are twelve," said Anne, giving Dick the bag. "Three each. None for Timmy! But I've got a large, juicy bone for him.
Book fifteen sees Anne and George lusting after the cooking at K.C and as you would imagine,sausages get a mention!15. Secret Trail:
‘I wasn’t saying it,’ said Anne, ‘I was only going to say that I hope they’ll be successful tonight. I’d like to get back to Kirrin and have some fun bathing and boating, wouldn’t you?’
‘Yes. And some of Joan’s marvellous cooking,’ said George. ‘Sausages and mash - and tomatoes with it.’
‘Yes. And fried plaice fresh from the sea with Joan’s best chipped potatoes,’ said Anne. ‘I can almost smell it.’
‘Woof,’ said Timmy, sniffing hard.
17. Get Into A Fix:
I was rather surprised that the Five did not pounce on the offer of home made pork sausages - but I'm sure they will make up for that in a later book!Mrs. Jones came in almost at once, beaming at them. “Well, good morning to you now,” she said, “and a nice morning it is too, for all the snow we had in the night. What would you be wanting for breakfast now? Ham and eggs - or home-made pork sausages - or meat patties - or...”
“I’d like ham and eggs,” said Julian, at once, and the others said the same. Mrs. Jones went out of the room, and the children rubbed their hands.
Mrs. Jones gave them a fine breakfast - eggs, bacon and sausages.
“It’s the last hot meal you’ll have, if you’re going up to that hut,” she said.
Just one humble mention,but it shows sausages were still on their minds..19. Demon’s Rocks:
At last they came to the end of their journey. ‘I can see the chimneys of Kirrin Cottage!’ said Julian, standing up on the pedals of his bicycle. ‘And the kitchen fire is going - I can see smoke. The dinner must be cooking!’
‘I can smell it!’ said Dick, sniffing. ‘I think its sausages'.
‘Ass,’ said the other three together, and laughed.
The big one! This book is so crammed with references to sausages it had me wondering if Enid was subliminally promoting them for the meat marketing board or her local Beaconsfield butcher!20. Mystery To Solve:
We never seem to have enough in the house when all three of you are back. And by the way - does anyone know what has happened to the sausages that were in the larder?’
‘Sausages - sausages - let me think!’ said Julian, frowning. Anne gave a sudden giggle. She knew quite well what had happened.
‘Well, Mother - you said we could get our own meal last night, as you were out,’ said Julian. ‘So we poked about and decided on sausages.’
‘Yes, but Julian - two whole pounds of sausages!’ said his mother. ‘I know Georgina came over to spend the evening - but even so... !’
‘She brought Timmy,’ said Anne. ‘He rather likes sausages too, Mother.’
‘Well, that’s the last time I leave the larder door unlocked, when I go out!’ said her mother. ‘Fancy cooking those lovely pork sausages for a dog - especially Timmy, with his enormous appetite! Really, Anne! I meant to have them for our lunch today.’
‘Now - seeing that you had today’s dinner for last night’s supper, you’d better do a little shopping for me. What shall we have?’
‘SAUSAGES!’ said everyone, at once.
‘I should have thought you were quite literally fed up with sausages, after last night’s feast,’ said their mother, laughing. ‘All right - sausages. But Timmy can have a bone - a nice meaty bone. I am NOT going to buy any more sausages for him, that’s quite certain.’
‘Here’s the butcher’s. For goodness sake go and get the sausages and be sensible. I’ll go and buy the cakes.’
‘Well, you go and phone, and we’ll put our bikes away,’ said Julian. ‘Take your nose away from that bag of sausages, Timmy. You’re in disgrace over sausages, let me tell you. You’re suspected of eating too many last night!’
‘He did eat rather a lot,’ said George. ‘I took my eye off him, and he wolfed quite a few. I say, who’s this Mrs Layman who’s coming to tea?
'That’s your dinner, Tim,’ said Anne. ‘Plenty of meat on it, too. Look there’s Mother at the window, beckoning. I expect she wants the sausages. NO, Timmy - the sausages are NOT for you. Get down! Good gracious, I never in my life knew such a hungry dog. Anybody would think you starved him, George.’
‘Better take that dog of yours out of my kitchen,’ she said. ‘Funny how sausages always disappear when he’s around. Get down, now - take your paws off my clean table!’
‘Hallo, Georgina dear!’ said her aunt, coming into the kitchen, Timmy following her in delight. ‘Timmy, go out of the kitchen. I don’t trust you within a mile of sausages. Go on - shoo!’
The Five simply can't get enough of them in this book and I lost count at how many times they are mentioned and consumed.
Question: How much is 2lb of sausages? Is it too much to share between four hungry children and a jolly large hound?
The very last book and the love of sausages continues unabated.There are no mentions of sausages in the short stories,so we have here a complete record of The Famous Five's Sausage consumption over the years.21. Together Again:
‘Well - would there be enough for so many extra?’ said Julian. ‘We meant to bring our own meal. Should we bring that and share everything with you? We’ve more than enough. Our cook Jenny said she would have it all ready for us to bring down tonight - a meat-pie - cold sausages - and apples and bananas.’
‘Sh! Don’t say bananas in front of Charlie,’ said Jeremy.
‘I thought maybe you’d do that,’ said Jenny. ‘It’s all cold. A meat pie - cold sausages - a cucumber and lettuce hearts and tomatoes, rolls - and apples and bananas. Will that be enough?’
‘Gosh, yes,’ said Tinker, thrilled. ‘What about something to drink?’
It's supper time for me now so I must be off.Any suggestions as to what I could have.....