Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
- Courtenay
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
Now that I didn't know! I always loved his songs about Aussie animals — he also had a show called Feathers, Fur or Fins and released several albums of catchy songs, some of which we used to sing at school. But this is getting off topic.
Meanwhile, my copy of Enid Blyton: The Untold Story is officially in the post, so I expect I'll see it some time within the next few days...
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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)
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)
- Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
I'm guilty of having joined in with a bit of off-topicness but it would be great to have some further comments on the content of the book.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
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- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
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- pete9012S
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
Somehow, I think the further Off Topic we go Anita, the happier Brian will be.
I do hope we get to read some further authoritative reviews. I almost got to do one today, but as my wife insisted I do some painting and decorating instead, that potential avenue of pleasure quickly became a cul-de-sac.
I do hope we get to read some further authoritative reviews. I almost got to do one today, but as my wife insisted I do some painting and decorating instead, that potential avenue of pleasure quickly became a cul-de-sac.
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
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- Fiona1986
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
One thing I noticed was that Rob Houghton is quoted in the book, something he said on the forums about her cinema-screen writing technique. Only he's described as a Scotsman. I always thought Rob was a Brummie?
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
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"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
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- pete9012S
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
Yes, I thought Rob even had strong Welsh ancestry too!
I do miss Rob on the forums and hope when the time is right for him we will see him here again.Rob Houghton wrote: ↑12 Jul 2020, 12:12 I'm actually planning my first tattoo, which I want to have to mark my 50th birthday in January...probably something with a dragon, as befits my Welsh ancestry!
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
Hear hear. I would love to see Rob back on both the forums and the Journal. Hopefully he is doing fine. And yes he has a strong Welsh ancestry though I have never known him mention any Scottish heritage.
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
The Scottish heritage was a mistake on Brian's part which he has since acknowledged and apologised to Rob about.
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
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- pete9012S
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
If you are still in contact with Rob, Daisy please send him our very best wishes. Thank you.
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
I've read the first chapter of Brian's book, Enid the Naturalist. As the author states in his introduction, readers can start the book at any chapter they choose but, as a correct order freak, I prefer to work my way from front to back.
Following an overview we are given a journey through Enid's experiences, from remembering her father's imparted knowledge of wildlife and botany on their shared nature walks, through her qualifications to becoming a teacher to her articles in Teachers World which was a major cause in her rise to fame.
We are told about her progress in writing books about nature, we are even reminded of the controversy about her disparaging remarks about gypsies in her final nature book, the Enid Blyton Animal Lovers Book.
There are some beautiful illustrations from Enid's own The Bird Book, the title pages from many more of her nature books and a reproduction of the Teachers World cover from August 29th 1934 which featured Enid in her garden at Old Thatch.
Links are provided to the appendices at the back of the book and I found the chapter informative and written in a pleasing style, not just a list of facts but an appreciation of Enid's career in this field.
I would certainly recommend this book, from what I have already read, and I hope others will maybe review other chapters so we have a balanced view for others to read, who are maybe thinking of buying this book.
Following an overview we are given a journey through Enid's experiences, from remembering her father's imparted knowledge of wildlife and botany on their shared nature walks, through her qualifications to becoming a teacher to her articles in Teachers World which was a major cause in her rise to fame.
We are told about her progress in writing books about nature, we are even reminded of the controversy about her disparaging remarks about gypsies in her final nature book, the Enid Blyton Animal Lovers Book.
There are some beautiful illustrations from Enid's own The Bird Book, the title pages from many more of her nature books and a reproduction of the Teachers World cover from August 29th 1934 which featured Enid in her garden at Old Thatch.
Links are provided to the appendices at the back of the book and I found the chapter informative and written in a pleasing style, not just a list of facts but an appreciation of Enid's career in this field.
I would certainly recommend this book, from what I have already read, and I hope others will maybe review other chapters so we have a balanced view for others to read, who are maybe thinking of buying this book.
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- Fiona1986
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
Thanks, Daisy. A pity it couldn't have been corrected before it went to print.
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
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"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
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- Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
I too would like to see Rob back on the forums and writing for the Journal once again.
John (Pickup), I've thoroughly enjoyed reading your review of Chapter 1 of Enid Blyton - The Untold Story. It's great to see Enid Blyton's deep interest in nature being brought to the fore.
As Brian Carter says, it's only one of the characters in Enid Blyton's Animal Lover's Book who makes disparaging remarks about gypsies - not Enid herself. The story of Zacky (Zachary Boswell), who befriends two children named Richard and Susan, is Enid Blyton's most sustained and positive portrayal of gypsy life. Zacky is friendly and honest and cares about wildlife, patrins are mentioned and Enid Blyton even introduces a few gypsy words such as "yokmush" for "policeman" and "disilo", which means "day comes". In the final chapter, Susan remarks that one thing she and Richard have learnt from Zacky is "to make friends with everything we can." She adds, "That ought to be Zacky's motto. He should carve it all round his waggon: I MAKE FRIENDS."
John (Pickup), I've thoroughly enjoyed reading your review of Chapter 1 of Enid Blyton - The Untold Story. It's great to see Enid Blyton's deep interest in nature being brought to the fore.
As Brian Carter says, it's only one of the characters in Enid Blyton's Animal Lover's Book who makes disparaging remarks about gypsies - not Enid herself. The story of Zacky (Zachary Boswell), who befriends two children named Richard and Susan, is Enid Blyton's most sustained and positive portrayal of gypsy life. Zacky is friendly and honest and cares about wildlife, patrins are mentioned and Enid Blyton even introduces a few gypsy words such as "yokmush" for "policeman" and "disilo", which means "day comes". In the final chapter, Susan remarks that one thing she and Richard have learnt from Zacky is "to make friends with everything we can." She adds, "That ought to be Zacky's motto. He should carve it all round his waggon: I MAKE FRIENDS."
"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.
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"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
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- Courtenay
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
My copy of the book arrived today — and gosh, I can see what others here mean about it being hefty! I wonder why Brian had it printed on such heavy paper? Aside from that, though, it looks very very interesting and I look forward to getting into it.
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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)
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)
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
Hence my earlier comment about excess baggage, Courtenay.
"You can't change history as that won't change the future"
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- Fiona1986
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Re: Enid Blyton - The Untold Story
Has anyone else had a chance to read it yet?
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
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"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
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