I was hoping we'd have this game next, if only there are enough covers to choose from!
I'm going to guess The Castle of Adventure, because that looks like it's supposed to be Button the fox in the foreground. (Mind you, comparing this cute cartoony art — which would be fine for a book aimed at 5-year-olds — with the great Stuart Tresilian just makes me wince. )
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
2014 Macmillan, not illustrated, cover by Rebecca Cobb
The Castle of Adventure is a children's classic from Enid Blyton, with a beautifully illustrated cover from rising picture-book star Rebecca Cobb.
As a special treat,I thought we could post the image in a larger size so we can all take a little longer to enjoy the majestic artistry of this 70th year celebration cover.
Why oh why was Rebbeca not let loose on Stuart Tresilian's internals??
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane - Society Member
pete9012S wrote:
As a special treat,I thought we could post the image in a larger size so we can all take a little longer to enjoy the majestic artistry of this 70th year celebration cover.
Why oh why was Rebbeca not let loose on Stuart Tresilian's internals??
Oh, don't.
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
1975 Piccolo, illustrations by Stuart Tresilian, cover by Juliet Stanwell-Smith
Above was the version I was first bought in 1975. After a healthy diet of Soper & Maxey covers I thought the front illustration was a bit naff back in the day. But, the Tresilian internals and the story was fantastic.
I did not know that the paperback cover had a wraparound - not in the same league as the ones below of course. When I now compare my mid 1970's cover with the very latest it's not quite as bad as I first thought - in retrospect.
Stuart Tresilian - The master
Which cover of the book did you discover first?
We'll let the comparison artwork above sink in for a little then move on with the quiz.
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane - Society Member
pete9012S wrote:
Which cover of the book did you discover first?
We'll let the comparison artwork above sink in for a little then move on with the quiz.
The original Tresilian, I'm glad to say. The 1975 paperback cover isn't at all bad, if not as artistically pleasing. But if that newest cover had been my first encounter with the Adventure series, I would have assumed it was a cute and fun adventure story for young children, about the level of The Treasure Hunters — whereas in reality the Adventure series books are among the most "mature" stories Enid ever wrote!!
I've a nasty feeling that most modern illustrators have it firmly in their heads that Enid Blyton stories are strictly for the little kiddies, without much appreciation at all for the sheer breadth of genres and age ranges her works actually cover...
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
I'm just an old fashioned girl with an old fashioned mind
Not sophisticated, I'm the sweet and simple kind
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And A̶n̶ ̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶f̶a̶s̶h̶i̶o̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶m̶i̶l̶l̶i̶o̶n̶a̶i̶r̶e̶
This was my introduction to the book. I still don't know who drew this series of covers. It had most of the Tresilian illustrations inside but I had to wait until about ten years ago to actually acquire an original hardback and get all of those fabulous pictures. Incidentally back in 2006 at the tender age of 39 it was The Castle of Adventure which brought me back to Blyton. I came across it in an Oxfam shop, flipped it open and was rocked to my soul by the fact that I could remember word for word the passage I was reading. I bought it on impulse and thus began what I call my Blyton Renaissance. The copy I found that day was this one.
However the magnificent Stuart Tresilian covers cannot be beaten in my opinion. Certainly not by the scribble which was posted as the competition entry. Yeuchh.
"What a lot of trouble one avoids if one refuses to have anything to do with the common herd. To have no job, to devote ones life to literature, is the most wonderful thing in the world. - Cicero
Courtenay wrote:
I've a nasty feeling that most modern illustrators have it firmly in their heads that Enid Blyton stories are strictly for the little kiddies, without much appreciation at all for the sheer breadth of genres and age ranges her works actually cover...
This was a problem I constantly had in the shop.
So many parents "couldn't wait" to read the Adventure series to their kids, and didn't. Including my sister
So lots of children never had age appropriate stories such as the Treasure Hunters for bedtime stories.
In defence ( ) of the above illustrator, at least she had illustrated a scene from the book!
Lucky Star wrote:...the magnificent Stuart Tresilian covers cannot be beaten in my opinion.
I feel the same. They're works of art and they capture the spirit of the series perfectly.
pete9012S wrote: 1975 Piccolo, illustrations by Stuart Tresilian, cover by Juliet Stanwell-Smith
Above was the version I was first bought in 1975. After a healthy diet of Soper & Maxey covers I thought the front illustration was a bit naff back in the day. But, the Tresilian internals and the story was fantastic.
I did not know that the paperback cover had a wraparound - not in the same league as the ones below of course. When I now compare my mid 1970's cover with the very latest it's not quite as bad as I first thought - in retrospect.
I grew up with that cover. I liked it very much as a child and I still do. Jack and the others appear eager for adventure, the landscape is suitably rugged and windswept, the castle looks brooding and Tassie seems sprite-like and completely at home amid nature as she gazes up at the soaring eagles. Kiki and Button are included too, of course. All in all, an attractive scene that promises excitement and intrigue.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Hmm - it could be absolutely any of them! (Is that supposed to be Philip over on the right who looks to be in his late 20s, or is it an adult character?!)
I'll guess The Island of Adventure because it's misty!
(It's lovely to know that your mum bought you the Piccolo paperback of Castle, Pete. Books that were presents from someone special will always be treasured.)
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
)
) of the above illustrator, at least she had illustrated a scene from the book!
