Note: I am Swedish and living in Sweden.
As a child, I read every Blyton book I could lay my hands on. The local library had a ban on Blyton because the books were not considered "cultural" enough (along with Biggles, those books were additionally considered too "militarist"). So I and my sister bought the books with our allowance. All those that were translated into Swedish, that is.
I have a couple of memories connected with the Adventure books. There were two tame puffins named (in translation) "Lunne" and "Punne". The Swedish word for puffin is "lunnefågel" i.e. lunne bird. Never forgot them, always wondered what they were named in the English original.
Also I think there was a parrot which persisted in saying "pardon" all the time. This word was not translated in the Swedish edition. I and my best friend had no idea what it meant. We read it out with a Swedish pronounciation, rendering it something like "par-doon" with the stress on oon. We had endless fun saing "pardoon" to each other whenever we met.
Sunshine and endless summer vacations!
Åke
Childhood memory
- 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: Childhood memory
Welcome! In the English version the two puffins are named 'Huffin and Puffin'
'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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- Francis
- Posts: 7275
- Joined: 17 Nov 2009, 21:13
- Favourite book/series: Mountain of Adventure / Adventure and Famous Five
- Favourite character: George and Timmy
- Location: Guildford, Surrey
Re: Childhood memory
Eldberg, you should try reading the old English hardback version of 'The Sea of Adventure' and enjoy the superb illustrations of Huffin and Puffin. The book is set in the remote Scottish Islands which should appeal to Swedish readers.
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- Eddie Muir
- Posts: 14566
- Joined: 13 Oct 2007, 22:28
- Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers and Dog
- Favourite character: Fatty
- Location: Brighton
Re: Childhood memory
Welcome to the forums, Åke!
'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.
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- Machupicchu14
- Posts: 2031
- Joined: 06 Feb 2016, 15:57
- Favourite book/series: The Famous Five/The Naughtiest Girl
- Favourite character: George Kirrin/ Elizabeth Allen
- Location: Sweden
Re: Childhood memory
Welcome to the the forums Åke! it's very nice reading about your memories.
(by the way, Sweden is a beautiful country! Would love to go there!)
(by the way, Sweden is a beautiful country! Would love to go there!)
"All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love."
(все, что я понимаю, я понимаю только потому, что люблю)
Lev Tolstoy
You can call me Machupicchu14 or María Esther
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(все, что я понимаю, я понимаю только потому, что люблю)
Lev Tolstoy
You can call me Machupicchu14 or María Esther
Society Member
Re: Childhood memory
Ha ha! The translation completely misses out on the humour.Rob Houghton wrote:Welcome! In the English version the two puffins are named 'Huffin and Puffin'
Åke