The Enid Blyton Society

After years of criticism, times are a changing, we are not out of step with society being such strong Enid Blyton enthusiasts.

Enid Blyton has made the 50 greatest Britons list.

I've always believed Enid Blyton has, and does, improve the lives of millions of children/people around the world and deserves recognition and on-going praise for this. I was very excited to see her being recognised at last in this list.

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cheers
Sue

Aussie Sue wrote:I've always believed Enid Blyton has, and does, improve the lives of millions of children/people around the world and deserves recognition and on-going praise for this. I was very excited to see her being recognised at last in this list.

I feel exactly the same, Sue! Just last night my son and I were talking about how, decades after her death, Enid Blyton's books remain a positive influence on children. Long may that continue!

Who is number one, Florence Nightingale? Never heard of her. Googel, mmmm: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Nightingale" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Mmmm: "Die Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland ehrt Florence Nightingale mit einem Gedenktag im Evangelischen Namenkalender am 14. August. Ihr Gedenktag für die Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Amerika und für die anglikanische Kirche ist ihr Todestag, der 13. August." Ok, nice person. Strange list, Enid should be higher.

I haven't looked at the list, but Florence Nightingale was inspirational social reformer and was the founder of modern nursing, for which the world has benefited beyond comparison.

Enid Blyton wrote 700+ books for children and inspired countless children to read and enjoy books.

I think Florence just has the edge!

I've heard of most of those on the list, and would agree most of them are deserving. But I'm impressed that at 20th, Enid has made the top 50% — above Queen Victoria, Beatrix Potter and Jane Austen!

A very interesting list and a lot more well balanced than I was expecting.

Soenke, I was interested to see that you hadn't heard of Florence Nightingale. I appreciate that she's British, but I would have thought that her contribution to current nursing would have been touched upon in other countries. Or maybe they have different ways of nursing to us?

Enid Blyton was a major influence on me since early childhood and I'm very pleased she is so high on the list. Lists of this kind always court controversy as people are missing whom we feel should be included but it appears to be a fairly-well balanced list to me.

John Pickup wrote:Enid Blyton was a major influence on me since early childhood

Oh, for me, too. I still often think of things she had written and her moral code when I make certain decisions. She is probably only second to Jesus Christ in helping to form my morals - and of course, my mother is a forerunner too!
Incidentally, I am not particularly religious, in case you're wondering. However, the New Testament teachings played an important part of my life as a child and chorister - teachings which remain with me always.

Blyton at number 20? That's a lot better than I would have expected. Especially coming from a traditionally left wing newspaper. But how on earth were Enid and the likes of Queen Victoria beaten by Mo Farah????

I too would have scrubbed a few of the sports people, and some of the royals as well. My list would probably have included C. S. Lewis, Alan Turing, William Caxton and Alfred the Great. But as John Pickup said, lists of this kind are inevitably controversial. I doubt two people would come up with the same 50 names.

If Enid had been a black immigrant fleeing from a tumultuous country, she would be at number 1.

Florence Nightingale wasn't a black immigrant fleeing a tumultuous country and she made number 1, so I'm not quite sure what you're getting at, Nigel.

Courtenay wrote:Florence Nightingale wasn't a black immigrant fleeing a tumultuous country and she made number 1, so I'm not quite sure what you're getting at, Nigel.

But how on earth were Enid and the likes of Queen Victoria beaten by Mo Farah????

John Pickup wrote:Enid Blyton was a major influence on me since early childhood and I'm very pleased she is so high on the list. Lists of this kind always court controversy as people are missing whom we feel should be included but it appears to be a fairly-well balanced list to me.

I'm in agreement with you, John. Enid Blyton has been major influence on me since early childhood and I'm delighted to see her high placing in the 50 Greatest Britons.

Lucky Star wrote:But how on earth were Enid and the likes of Queen Victoria beaten by Mo Farah????

He ran faster than they did.

Seriously, I don't know — I would question some of the placings on the list as well, but I guess just about everyone would. It's only the Daily Mirror, after all, nothing conclusive or authoritative.