When I see prices like that on eBay, I always assume the seller added an extra digit by mistake!!Fiona1986 wrote:Gosh, Abebooks are getting as bad as eBay...
More than £70 for a recent paperback? I have that very paperback. Didn't know it was worth a fortune
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Book ... d%2Bblyton" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Secret Island
- Rob Houghton
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Re: The Secret Island
'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)
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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)
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- Chrissie777
- Posts: 9448
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- Location: Worcester, MA, USA
Re: The Secret Island
Hi Pete and Rob,Rob Houghton wrote:The short answer is - 'YES!' I love telling everyone how I got an early edition (1941) without a dust wrapper but with a coloured frontispiece for only £3 - but that was about 15 years ago...I doubt I'd be so lucky these days!
I am very lucky and found the April 1946 edition from Blackwell in a green hardcover copy without a dust wrapper ca. 2 years ago for less than 20 £ thanks to a british online service called September Books (they found other EB books for me in the past).
André created a dust wrapper with a plastic cover/sleeve around.
My colored frontispiece shows the four children with the boat and several baskets with berries. It has 190 pages. A great, clean copy and I've read it 3 times so far. Will re-read it later this year.
One of EB's best books and thanks to EBS I discovered it. Even though it was translated into German (Arnoldkinder/Die verwegenen Vier) and I've read it years ago, the reading experience is so much better in English as there are quite some changes between the original and the German translation.
Chrissie
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
- pete9012S
- Posts: 17649
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Re: The Secret Island
That's great Chrissie.
I found both The Secret Island and The Secret Of Moon Castle quite hard to get hold of.
In fact I had to be very patient waiting for Moon Castle,but when an early edition came along for about £12 in great condition I nabbed it quick!
I was just thinking that this series possibly has the greatest difference in characters as they developed between the 1st and last book compared to many other of Enid's series of books?
I found both The Secret Island and The Secret Of Moon Castle quite hard to get hold of.
In fact I had to be very patient waiting for Moon Castle,but when an early edition came along for about £12 in great condition I nabbed it quick!
I was just thinking that this series possibly has the greatest difference in characters as they developed between the 1st and last book compared to many other of Enid's series of books?
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
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- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
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- Rob Houghton
- Posts: 16029
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- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: The Secret Island
I think this is why I struggle to consider 'the Secret Island' as part of the series. The other books are fairly similar in character development - although Moon Castle seems different, as it was written quite a few years after 'Kilimooin' - but the characters in the latter four books are to my mind totally different to the children we first meet in The Secret Island.pete9012S wrote:
I was just thinking that this series possibly has the greatest difference in characters as they developed between the 1st and last book compared to many other of Enid's series of books?
For me, Prince Paul spoils the series to a certain extent, and the only book I find him effective in is Mountain.
'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
- John Pickup
- Posts: 4895
- Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
- Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
- Favourite character: Snubby
- Location: Notts
Re: The Secret Island
Secret Island would have been a great stand alone book and if the following books in the series had been written with the names of the children changed I don't think anyone would have regarded Island as part of the series.
I don't own a single hardback copy of any book in this series as they are both rare and increasingly expensive with a reasonable dustwrapper. The internet has destroyed collecting for people with humble incomes.
I don't own a single hardback copy of any book in this series as they are both rare and increasingly expensive with a reasonable dustwrapper. The internet has destroyed collecting for people with humble incomes.
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- Rob Houghton
- Posts: 16029
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- Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
- Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
- Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham
Re: The Secret Island
I agree - and it's even difficult to find this series in hardback without dust jackets. I have them all, but they aren't in the best condition and only the last one has a dust jacket.
I'm always amazed by prices of books on the internet - but what surprises me more is that often books will sell for vast amounts - books like a 1960's Famous Five will go for maybe £30.00 when I wouldn't even consider selling a 1960's Famous Five for over £10 - £12. The customers are half to blame for this, because they seem to prefer paying more money for a book than paying just £10. It's something I've noticed since I've been selling books, and it puzzles me!
I'm always amazed by prices of books on the internet - but what surprises me more is that often books will sell for vast amounts - books like a 1960's Famous Five will go for maybe £30.00 when I wouldn't even consider selling a 1960's Famous Five for over £10 - £12. The customers are half to blame for this, because they seem to prefer paying more money for a book than paying just £10. It's something I've noticed since I've been selling books, and it puzzles me!
'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
- Chrissie777
- Posts: 9448
- Joined: 17 Mar 2012, 16:54
- Favourite book/series: Famous Five, Adventure Series, Valley of Adventure
- Favourite character: George Kirrin, Jack Trent
- Location: Worcester, MA, USA
Re: The Secret Island
Hi Pete,pete9012S wrote:That's great Chrissie.
I found both The Secret Island and The Secret Of Moon Castle quite hard to get hold of.
In fact I had to be very patient waiting for Moon Castle,but when an early edition came along for about £12 in great condition I nabbed it quick!
I was just thinking that this series possibly has the greatest difference in characters as they developed between the 1st and last book compared to many other of Enid's series of books?
I never read the sequels in English, only the German translations in which Prince Paul is left out by the translator for a reason unknown.
Also I often noticed that some forumites like Prince Paul and others don't.
Guess he would be too much of a fantasy/SciFi element for me. So I just stick to the first volume in English.
Chrissie
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
- Chrissie777
- Posts: 9448
- Joined: 17 Mar 2012, 16:54
- Favourite book/series: Famous Five, Adventure Series, Valley of Adventure
- Favourite character: George Kirrin, Jack Trent
- Location: Worcester, MA, USA
Re: The Secret Island
Pete, in case you are still looking for old edtions of "Killimoin" and "Mountain", please PM me.pete9012S wrote:I found both The Secret Island and The Secret Of Moon Castle quite hard to get hold of.
I tried to PM you, but it's disabled.
Chrissie
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
- 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 Secret Island
Thank you very much Chrissie.
I have all the books in really old editions in good condition,but that's very kind of you.
I have all the books in really old editions in good condition,but that's very kind of you.
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
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- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
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- Chrissie777
- Posts: 9448
- Joined: 17 Mar 2012, 16:54
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- Favourite character: George Kirrin, Jack Trent
- Location: Worcester, MA, USA
Re: The Secret Island
pete9012S wrote:Thank you very much Chrissie.
I have all the books in really old editions in good condition,but that's very kind of you.
Chrissie
Society Member
"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
- deepeabee
- Posts: 905
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- Favourite book/series: The one I'm reading....
- Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville.
Re: The Secret Island
I totally see what you mean about it seeming like a separate book to the series. I also agree with your thoughts on Prince Paul he is surplus to requirements as far as I can see. I can see why he was left out of the German translations.Rob Houghton wrote:
I think this is why I struggle to consider 'the Secret Island' as part of the series. The other books are fairly similar in character development - although Moon Castle seems different, as it was written quite a few years after 'Kilimooin' - but the characters in the latter four books are to my mind totally different to the children we first meet in The Secret Island.
For me, Prince Paul spoils the series to a certain extent, and the only book I find him effective in is Mountain.
SwatIsaid!
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- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
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Re: The Secret Island
Being friends with Prince Paul is the reason that Jack, Peggy and co. have access to a plane and pilots (Secret Mountain) and are able to stay in palaces and castles (Killimooin and Moon Castle). I agree that the tone of the series changes once Paul is involved but at least that means things never become stale. The extraordinary mixture of characters allows for almost limitless possibilities.
"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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- Carlotta King
- Posts: 2828
- Joined: 15 Mar 2013, 19:01
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- Location: England
Re: The Secret Island
I really like Prince Paul.
He's funny, and I know he can seem a bit pompous at times but that's because of who he is and how he's been brought up, and even so, his pompousness is never unbearable and he quite often laughs it off and behaves like the others do.
He seems like a kind, generous little lad, willing to share his lifestyle with the others.
He can be impetuous but its all done in kindness, he always means well.
Some of his moments are very funny, such as the sick bag on the plane, and Mike's (?) recounting of the scrapes he got into at school.
I've never seen him as surplus to requirements, to me he's as much a main character as the others, he's never stuck on the sidelines, he's always at the forefront.
I find Paul far more bearable than other popular characters, such as Darrell with her irritating temper, Bets who behaves like a toddler sometimes, Fatty who I can just never quite believe in with his lone trips to London with tons of money to buy disguises etc.
He's funny, and I know he can seem a bit pompous at times but that's because of who he is and how he's been brought up, and even so, his pompousness is never unbearable and he quite often laughs it off and behaves like the others do.
He seems like a kind, generous little lad, willing to share his lifestyle with the others.
He can be impetuous but its all done in kindness, he always means well.
Some of his moments are very funny, such as the sick bag on the plane, and Mike's (?) recounting of the scrapes he got into at school.
I've never seen him as surplus to requirements, to me he's as much a main character as the others, he's never stuck on the sidelines, he's always at the forefront.
I find Paul far more bearable than other popular characters, such as Darrell with her irritating temper, Bets who behaves like a toddler sometimes, Fatty who I can just never quite believe in with his lone trips to London with tons of money to buy disguises etc.
"Fussy Gussy! Polly, Polly, Polly-gize!"
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- Chrissie777
- Posts: 9448
- Joined: 17 Mar 2012, 16:54
- Favourite book/series: Famous Five, Adventure Series, Valley of Adventure
- Favourite character: George Kirrin, Jack Trent
- Location: Worcester, MA, USA
Re: The Secret Island
Nice avatar, Cathy. Is this a young Jane Birkin?
Chrissie
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
- Carlotta King
- Posts: 2828
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- Location: England
Re: The Secret Island
Yes, it is, Chrissie. I really like her style; her clothes, and her hair and her look.
"Fussy Gussy! Polly, Polly, Polly-gize!"
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