A Fine Defence of Enid Blyton

[Tony Summerfield]

Next week's Radio Times picks out A Fine Defence of Enid Blyton, which is on Radio 4 at 11.30 on Thursday 27th November, as the 'Choice of the day'. The programme is presented by children's author Anne Fine and it will include interviews with both Imogen Smallwood and Barbara Stoney. It is being broadcast the day before the 40th Anniversary of Enid's death.

For those living overseas it will be available to listen to on the internet.

[Lenoir]

That should be interesting. Hopefully I will be able to listen to it on the BBC website.

[Belly]

Thanks for letting us know, Tony.

[Julie2owlsdene]

Thanks for letting us know, Tony. I've made a note on the calendar to remind myself

[Lucky Star]

I shall listen in if I remember. It sounds good.

[Anita Bensoussane]

Just a reminder that this programme is on tomorrow morning.

Anita

[Julie2owlsdene]

Thanks for the reminder, Anita. (Just off to get my hair trimmed, but will be back in plenty of time to listen )

[Anita Bensoussane]

An enjoyable programme, I thought. Fascinating to hear Hanly's voice and it was also lovely to hear Imogen's tribute to her mother's storytelling abilities and wonderful imagination. Sometimes I wonder what Enid Blyton's books would have been like if she had rejected what came uppermost, and dug deeper or sought greater subtlety. But perhaps then her stories would have lost some of their spontaneity, fluidity and pace.

I felt that Anne Fine's remarks were considered and thoughtful but I'm sure I've heard her saying most of that before, word for word, so I can't help wondering whether at least some of her comments were taken from an old interview?

Anita

[Julie2owlsdene]

I'm glad I remembered to listen to this programme, it was very good. It was nice that Imogen had the last word, as she summed up in just a few words what everyone loved about Enid Blyton and her books.

The narrator did make a couple of mistakes though, at the beginning I'm sure she said Enid's 40th anniversary of her death, yesterday, when of course it is tomorrow. Then she said that Corfe Castle was in Deven, when we all know it's in Dorset.

It was nice to hear Viv's view, and Barbara's also. All in all, thoroughly enjoyable.

[Moonraker]

Then she said that Corfe Castle was in Deven, when we all know it's in Dorset.

She is certain to be down for a visit fron Viv!

[Tony Summerfield]

For those that missed the programme it can be heard for the next week here.

It has extracts from Enid herself, her brother Hanly, her daughters Imogen and Gillian, and her biographer Barbara Stoney. On top of this there are opinions from Blyton experts, David Rudd and Viv Endecott.

[Julie2owlsdene]

Thanks for posting the link, Tony. I can listen to again now

[Lenoir]

I was able to listen, thanks for the link. It was interesting to hear Viv and the others and all the opinions. One thing most people agree on is that Enid Blyton gets children reading.

[Aurélien]

Haven't heard the programme - don't suppose radio format gets put on You Tube?

Lenoir commented:

One thing most people agree on is that Enid Blyton gets children reading.

Yes, yes, yes. Why I have fond memories of - as Moonraker once described it - 'a wooden doll with a wonky head'.

‘Aurélien Arkadiusz’

[Tony Summerfield]

Have you tried using the link I gave? Surely if Lenoir get get it in South Africa you should be able to get it okay in New Zealand!!