The Real Enid Blyton

[Tony Summerfield]

This is a hardback published on August 30th at £19.99. Perhaps someone knows some of her books as she has published quite a few, but I have never heard of her!

[Daisy]

Hmm, I've never heard of Nadia Cohen!

[Lucky Star]

Never heard of her either but a quick Google search seems to indicate that she specialises in biographies of famous people. Since I'm guessing that she did not get in touch with Tony or Imogen or anyone else in the Blyton world I expect this will be a potted rehash of existing biographies.

[John Pickup]

When it's published I shall keep a look out for it in Waterstones and skim through it. I suspect that Lucky Star may be right though.

[Courtenay]

I suspect so too. I can't help the feeling that any author who needs to claim he/she is revealing "The Real" someone or something, probably isn't... But it will be interesting to look out for it and see.

I like the cover design, but I notice already it's using the image of Corfe Castle with the likely implication that this is "The Real" Kirrin Castle!!

[Anita Bensoussane]

Since I'm guessing that she [Nadia Cohen] did not get in touch with Tony or Imogen or anyone else in the Blyton world I expect this will be a potted rehash of existing biographies.

I can't help wondering about that too, John (Lucky Star).

[sixret]

Easy money. Just rehash the existing biography and price it for £22. Clicked Nadia Cohen and the list of biograhies came out.

[Eddie Muir]

I think you’re spot on with what you say, John (Lucky Star).

Like you, John (Pickup), I’ll keep a lookout for the book when it is published so that I can skim through it to check its contents.

I also like the cover design, Courtenay.

[pete9012S]

Was Enid's signature ever displayed like above in her own books?


The Blurb:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Real-Enid-Blyt ... 1526722038" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

She is the most prolific children s author in history, but Enid Blyton is also the most controversial. A remarkable woman who wrote hundreds of books in a career spanning forty years, even her razor sharp mind could never have predicted her enormous global audience. Now, fifty years after her death, Enid remains a phenomenon, with sales outstripping every rival. Parents and teachers lobbied against Enid s books, complaining they were simplistic, repetitive and littered with sexist and snobbish undertones. Blatant racist slurs were particularly shockingly; foreign and working class characters were treated with a distain that horrifies modern readers. But regardless of the criticism, Enid worked until she could not physically write another word, famously producing thousands of words a day hunched over her manual typewriter. She imaged a more innocent world, where children roamed unsupervised, and problems were solved with midnight feasts or glorious picnics with lashings of ginger beer. Smugglers, thieves, spies and kidnappers were thwarted by fearless gangs who easily outwitted the police, while popular schoolgirls scored winning goals in nail-biting lacrosse matches. Enid carefully crafted her public image to ensure her fans only knew of this sunny persona, but behind the scenes, she weaved elaborate stories to conceal infidelities, betrayals and unconventional friendships, lied about her childhood and never fully recovered from her parent s marriage collapsing. She grew up convinced that her beloved father abandoned her for someone he loved more, and few could ever measure up to her impossible standards. A complex and immature woman, Enid was plagued by insecurities and haunted by a dark past. She was prone to bursts of furious temper, yet was a shrewd businesswoman years ahead of her time. She may not have been particularly likeable, and her stories infuriatingly unimaginative, but she left a vast literary legacy to generations of children.

[Fiona1986]

I predict that "naked tennis" and "affair with Dorothy" will feature in this book!

[Courtenay]

Blatant racist slurs were particularly shockingly; foreign and working class characters were treated with a distain that horrifies modern readers.

This alone is enough to put me off the book already, thanks.

I predict that "naked tennis" and "affair with Dorothy" will feature in this book!

[Kate Mary]

I think I'll stick with Barbara Stoney's biography and Tony's Dossier. Short of finding a stack of previously unknown diaries nothing more can be added.

[Anita Bensoussane]

I'm amazed at the blurb describing Enid Blyton's stories as "infuriatingly unimaginative". I know Enid Blyton has been criticised over the years for the simplicity of her language (though that could be seen as a strength depending on one's point of view), her reliance on stereotypes (which has been exaggerated by some critics) and her repetitive plots (actually, they're not overly repetitive as Enid rings the changes on similar themes and generally manages to intrigue and surprise the reader). However, I don't think many would accuse her of lacking imagination! Just think of wonders like the Faraway Tree and Wishing-Chair and the various lands visited, the awe-inspiring caves and treasures in The Valley of Adventure, the emotional dramas of The Naughtiest Girl in the School, the whimsical quality of the nature stories involving Pip the pixie, the humour of the Mister Meddle tales, the vibrant community of the Galliano's Circus series, etc. When I was a child, Enid Blyton's books inspired many of my games and activities and she enriched my life probably more than any other author. I'd say she had an incredibly fertile imagination!

[Kate Mary]

Well said, Anita.

[Daisy]

I'm amazed at the blurb describing Enid Blyton's stories as "infuriatingly unimaginative". I know Enid Blyton has been criticised over the years for the simplicity of her language (though that could be seen as a strength depending on one's point of view), her reliance on stereotypes (which has been exaggerated by some critics) and her repetitive plots (actually, they're not overly repetitive as Enid rings the changes on similar themes and generally manages to intrigue and surprise the reader). However, I don't think many would accuse her of lacking imagination! Just think of wonders like the Faraway Tree and Wishing-Chair and the various lands visited, the awe-inspiring caves and treasures in The Valley of Adventure, the emotional dramas of The Naughtiest Girl in the School, the whimsical quality of the nature stories involving Pip the pixie, the humour of the Mister Meddle tales, the vibrant community of the Galliano's Circus series, etc. When I was a child, Enid Blyton's books inspired many of my games and activities and she enriched my life probably more than any other author. I'd say she had an incredibly fertile imagination!

Indeed, Anita! Now that's the kind of review that everybody should read.