The Circus of Adventure
- Carlotta King
- Posts: 2828
- Joined: 15 Mar 2013, 19:01
- Favourite book/series: Adventure, Barney, Secret Series, Famous Five
- Favourite character: Bill Smugs,Lucy-Ann,Snubby,Mr King,Diana,Kiki,Paul
- Location: England
Re: The Circus of Adventure
I always liked the trapeze bit, it was thrilling!
However I always wished they had been able to get the rope away because I always thought it would be completely obvious what had happened and where they would be hiding, when Count Paritolen saw a tightrope stretched across the two windows and there was a circus camp parked at the bottom of the hill!
However I always wished they had been able to get the rope away because I always thought it would be completely obvious what had happened and where they would be hiding, when Count Paritolen saw a tightrope stretched across the two windows and there was a circus camp parked at the bottom of the hill!
"Fussy Gussy! Polly, Polly, Polly-gize!"
Society Member
Society Member
- Courtenay
- Posts: 19308
- Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
- Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
- Favourite character: Lotta
- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: The Circus of Adventure
Probably not — although I suspect Enid put that line in not necessarily because she wanted readers to approve of Philip's sentiment, but because of the irony when they learn that Gussy is actually a prince!Anita Bensoussane wrote: I suppose Philip no longer remarks, "Why don't foreigners bring up their kids properly?"
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)
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)
- Rob Houghton
- Posts: 16029
- Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
- Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
- Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: The Circus of Adventure
very true! I think sometimes people underestimate Enid's sense of humour!
I think the trapeze rescue is one of the most thrilling parts of the book - although I do agree it is spoiled slightly by the fact the wire is kept in place! I can also never imagine how on earth the children manage to lower themselves onto the trapeze. Its below the window, hanging on a wire...how do they manage to climb from the window and get under the wire so they can sit on the trapeze? Sounds very risky!!
I think the trapeze rescue is one of the most thrilling parts of the book - although I do agree it is spoiled slightly by the fact the wire is kept in place! I can also never imagine how on earth the children manage to lower themselves onto the trapeze. Its below the window, hanging on a wire...how do they manage to climb from the window and get under the wire so they can sit on the trapeze? Sounds very risky!!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
- Carlotta King
- Posts: 2828
- Joined: 15 Mar 2013, 19:01
- Favourite book/series: Adventure, Barney, Secret Series, Famous Five
- Favourite character: Bill Smugs,Lucy-Ann,Snubby,Mr King,Diana,Kiki,Paul
- Location: England
Re: The Circus of Adventure
Me neither! It says that Toni put his hands under their armpits to lower them down but I could never get my head round how he did it; I can see how they would sit on the window ledge and then he could put his hands under their armpits and pick them up from the ledge, but to let them down onto the swing would mean that Toni would have to pretty much be lying flat on the tightrope to be able to hold them down low enough?
"Fussy Gussy! Polly, Polly, Polly-gize!"
Society Member
Society Member
- Wolfgang
- Posts: 3138
- Joined: 06 Apr 2008, 05:26
- Favourite book/series: The children at Green Meadows/Adventure-series
- Favourite character: Fatty
- Location: Germany
Re: The Circus of Adventure
Yes, that part is completely missing, together with Kiki's Fussy Gussy remarks.Anita Bensoussane wrote:Interesting, Wolfgang. It's a shame the part about the trapeze was altered. The use of trapeze equipment adds colour and novelty to the story of the escape.
I suppose Philip no longer remarks, "Why don't foreigners bring up their kids properly?"
They had to leave the rope behind in the French edtion behind as well (referring to other later comments).
Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
- Lucky Star
- Posts: 11491
- Joined: 28 May 2006, 12:59
- Favourite book/series: The Valley of Adventure
- Favourite character: Mr Goon
- Location: Surrey, UK
Re: The Circus of Adventure
Actually Toni carrying them on his shoulders sounds a lot more realistic than the Trapeze seat business. That always struck me as unrealistic although to a child it is quite an exciting image.
"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
Society Member
Society Member
- Darrell71
- Posts: 3027
- Joined: 19 Jun 2012, 15:35
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series
- Favourite character: Darrell Rivers, Bill Smugs, Kiki, Elizabeth Allen,
- Location: USA
Re: The Circus of Adventure
I don't remember what exactly has been altered in my modern version, if anything, and I can't currently check, but I definitely remember that whatever the way in which they have been rescued was very thrilling but also very unrealistic, I always thought that it was one of the most unrealistic scenes in an EB book. But highly exciting, and all's fair in EB books, eh?
You can call me Sunskriti!
- pete9012S
- Posts: 17649
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
- Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
- Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
- Location: UK
Re: The Circus of Adventure
Does the illustration help at all?
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
Society Member
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
Society Member
- Rob Houghton
- Posts: 16029
- Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
- Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
- Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: The Circus of Adventure
The illustration doesn't help my feelings much, lol! Look how far below the window ledge the trapeze would be when she reached it! She'd pretty much have to stand up on the trapeze in order to climb in the window!!
Surely if the wire had been somehow attached to the top of the window instead of to the bottom, it would have been easier? After all, the wire-walkers would have been able to get down off the wire easily and into the window wherever it was fixed.
Surely if the wire had been somehow attached to the top of the window instead of to the bottom, it would have been easier? After all, the wire-walkers would have been able to get down off the wire easily and into the window wherever it was fixed.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
- Wolfgang
- Posts: 3138
- Joined: 06 Apr 2008, 05:26
- Favourite book/series: The children at Green Meadows/Adventure-series
- Favourite character: Fatty
- Location: Germany
Re: The Circus of Adventure
I suppose it is possible to step on the trapez first, holding the sidebars (in lack for a better word), go to your knees then and sit carefully down. We're talking of supple and more or less light-weighted children and not stiff and over-weighted grown-ups of nowadays .
Last edited by Wolfgang on 29 Apr 2017, 06:25, edited 1 time in total.
Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
- pete9012S
- Posts: 17649
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
- Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
- Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
- Location: UK
Re: The Circus of Adventure
Yes,to someone supple,lithe and in perfect trim like Nigel it would be a cinch.
(Don't worry,he'll be far too busy to even notice this compliment.)
(Don't worry,he'll be far too busy to even notice this compliment.)
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
Society Member
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
Society Member
- Rob Houghton
- Posts: 16029
- Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
- Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
- Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: The Circus of Adventure
hmmm...I'm still not convinced! One slip and you'd be dead or have a broken back! I agree about Nigel though!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 26858
- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
- Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
- Location: UK
Re: The Circus of Adventure
Poor Lucy-Ann, having to do that. She doesn't even like stepping from one carriage to another on the train!
"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.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
- Darrell71
- Posts: 3027
- Joined: 19 Jun 2012, 15:35
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series
- Favourite character: Darrell Rivers, Bill Smugs, Kiki, Elizabeth Allen,
- Location: USA
Re: The Circus of Adventure
Whoa that looks scary! I still think it'd be fun as long as you don't fall though.
[Edited to remove a word that may be considered offensive]
[Edited to remove a word that may be considered offensive]
Last edited by Darrell71 on 06 Jun 2017, 07:02, edited 1 time in total.
You can call me Sunskriti!
Re: The Circus of Adventure
Thank you Pete and Rob!
Sunskriti - mind your language!
Sunskriti - mind your language!
Last edited by Moonraker on 29 Apr 2017, 16:18, edited 1 time in total.
Society Member