Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

The books! Over seven hundred of them and still counting...
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
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: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Courtenay »

Rob Houghton wrote:One thing I do find interesting is that the artist depicts a horse chestnut tree in the Australian version. Do horse chestnut trees grow in Australia? I guess they must do? Just wondered why they didn't change the tree to a more typically antipodean one! :wink:
No, they don't grow in Australia — well, at least, I don't recall seeing one in 30 years of living there. (We do grow sweet chestnuts for eating, but not horse chestnuts as far as I know.)

As far as I'm aware, too, Enid Blyton books published in Australia have never actually had the illustrations or the text modified to make it look like the story is set in Australia!! :P I have an Angus and Robertson edition of Circus Days Again and it's most definitely set in Britain — Lotta still rides from Dorset across Devon almost to Plymouth, not from, say, Melbourne across Victoria to Mount Gambier (just over the South Australian border). :lol:

Now there's a thought, mind you — or if she rode east instead, into the high country... gosh, now I'm having visions of Lotta chasing the wild bush horses with The Man from Snowy River... :shock: :wink:

Image
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)
User avatar
sixret
Posts: 4130
Joined: 16 Aug 2006, 14:25
Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers,Mr.Twiddle,Barney R
Favourite character: Mr.Twiddle,Fatty,Saucepan,Snubby

Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by sixret »

Thanks for the explanation and the photo, Courtenay. They look like a loving couple. :shock: :wink:
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
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: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Courtenay »

Not sure who the bloke is meant to be, mind you, if we say that's Lotta in Oz... maybe Jimmy, but he wasn't much of a horseman! :wink: (It's a shot from the classic film The Man from Snowy River, for those who hadn't picked that up. I'm not really familiar with the film, but I do love the legendary poem of the same name (by "Banjo" Paterson) on which it's based. Which doesn't feature any women, but I suppose they had to pad the story out a bit for the film. 8) )
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)
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17570
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by pete9012S »

Image

TWO YEARS IN THE INFANT SCHOOL (BOX 1 TOPICS 1-21) 1938
http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book ... cs+1-21%29" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image
What a cosy family scene.

Image
illustrated by William Fyffe
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Kate Mary
Posts: 1917
Joined: 20 Apr 2007, 06:25
Favourite book/series: The Treasure Hunters/ Five Find Outers
Favourite character: Barney
Location: Kent

Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Kate Mary »

I like the little detail of the dog and the cat on the wall in the second picture.
"I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines." Oliver Goldsmith

Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26768
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: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Lovely pictures. They paint a world of happy domesticity and neighbourliness, just like the illustrations in Ladybird books.
"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
User avatar
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: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Rob Houghton »

They reminded me of the Ladybird book illustrations too, Anita - what great scenes of a time gone by! Of course, everything looks perfect in them - and I'm sure that wasn't the reality - but that's the beauty of nostalgia!

I had no idea this 'book' (or box!) had such lovely illustrations. That will teach me! I've seen it for sale a few times and just presumed it was a book similar to 'Modern Teaching' etc. 8) I particularly like the look of story number 14 - 'Rob's Birthday' - sounds exciting! :lol:
'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
User avatar
Julie2owlsdene
Posts: 15244
Joined: 24 Jul 2007, 20:15
Favourite book/series: F.F. and Mystery Series - Five get into Trouble
Favourite character: Dick
Location: Cornwall

Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

What lovely nostalgic illustrations, I love the rainy day one, as well as the two above this posting. In fact I like them all, takes me straight back to my childhood days. :)

8)
Julian gave an exclamation and nudged George.
"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"

Society Member
User avatar
Eddie Muir
Posts: 14566
Joined: 13 Oct 2007, 22:28
Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers and Dog
Favourite character: Fatty
Location: Brighton

Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Eddie Muir »

My feelings entirely, Julie. A real trip down Memory Lane for me. :D
'Go down to the side-shows by the river this afternoon. I'll meet you somewhere in disguise. Bet you won't know me!' wrote Fatty.

Society Member
User avatar
Daisy
Posts: 16632
Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England

Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Daisy »

And for me. Lovely pictures. :)
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.

Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26768
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: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Rob Houghton wrote:I had no idea this 'book' (or box!) had such lovely illustrations. That will teach me! I've seen it for sale a few times and just presumed it was a book similar to 'Modern Teaching' etc.
The coloured pictures aren't in the book or box. I believe they were poster-sized and came separately, to be pinned on the classroom wall as required.
"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
User avatar
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: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Rob Houghton »

yes - I thought that - I've often seen the book/box for sale but never the posters/cards. they are much nicer, in my view, than the bible pictures or nature pictures. 8)
'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
User avatar
John Pickup
Posts: 4876
Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
Favourite character: Snubby
Location: Notts

Re: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by John Pickup »

Lovely pictures, especially the one with the milk man.
Society Member
User avatar
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: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Rob Houghton »

Not a 'gem' by any means, but I didn't know where else to post it! Another of those dreadful modern Famous Five covers. I came across it on eBay, and it struck me that I hadn't realised 'Five Go To Demon's Rocks' was about a magic monkey with a crystal ball until now... :lol:

Image
'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
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
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: Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

Post by Courtenay »

They also seem to have the title slightly wrong... :shock:
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)
Post Reply