The Valley of Adventure

The books! Over seven hundred of them and still counting...
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Chrissie777
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Re: The Valley of Adventure/Das Tal der Abenteuer Readathon

Post by Chrissie777 »

Goering had a huge art collection in Karinhall which he stole from Jewish people. I've read that he already started collecting paintings by famous artists years before the outbreak of WW II.
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Rob Houghton
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Re: The Valley of Adventure/Das Tal der Abenteuer Readathon

Post by Rob Houghton »

Chrissie777 wrote:
Courtenay wrote:...but it's quite fascinating to have a story where the real-life war plays such a significant role in the plot, as Enid so rarely referenced any definite historical events in her books, let alone very recent ones.
Great post as always, Courtenay! 8)

The only other suspenseful EB book mentioning WW II that comes to my mind is "The Adventurous Four", but I'm sure there must be some more.
There really weren't many - I think the only other two that mention the war - or hint at it, are Smuggler Ben and The Children of Kidillin. :-D
'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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Wolfgang
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Re: The Valley of Adventure/Das Tal der Abenteuer Readathon

Post by Wolfgang »

An indirect reference is given in "The children at Green Meadows":
„But we’re poor, because my father got hurt in the war and he can’t work....“
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IceMaiden
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What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!

Post by IceMaiden »

Split from another topic.

I have just finished the Valley of Adventure. I hadn't read it for a good few years and I'm delighted to find it's every bit as good as I remember it (so many things aren't). This is the first time I've had as Macmillan copy to read and the illustrations are a superb finishing touch. It's the only book I've read that I wish had full colour pictures on almost every page, the scenery described in this story is something else. The waterfall and caves are almost like a magical fantasy setting from a dream, although the image that comes to my mind of the valley itself is the aerial opening scene of the Sound of Music. A truly marvellous book :D .
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Courtenay
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!

Post by Courtenay »

IceMaiden wrote:It's the only book I've read that I wish had full colour pictures on almost every page, the scenery described in this story is something else. The waterfall and caves are almost like a magical fantasy setting from a dream, although the image that comes to my mind of the valley itself is the aerial opening scene of the Sound of Music.
:D Well, it is set in Austria and involves Nazis... maybe not quite so many singing kiddies, though... :wink: :wink: :wink:
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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)
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Chrissie777
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!

Post by Chrissie777 »

IceMaiden wrote:I have just finished the Valley of Adventure. This is the first time I've had as Macmillan copy to read and the illustrations are a superb finishing touch. The waterfall and caves are almost like a magical fantasy setting from a dream, although the image that comes to my mind of the valley itself is the aerial opening scene of the Sound of Music. A truly marvellous book :D .
For me it's EB's master piece. 8) 8) 8)
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IceMaiden
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!

Post by IceMaiden »

Courtenay wrote:
IceMaiden wrote:It's the only book I've read that I wish had full colour pictures on almost every page, the scenery described in this story is something else. The waterfall and caves are almost like a magical fantasy setting from a dream, although the image that comes to my mind of the valley itself is the aerial opening scene of the Sound of Music.
:D Well, it is set in Austria and involves Nazis... maybe not quite so many singing kiddies, though... :wink: :wink: :wink:
:lol: This is the sort of place I imagine the valley was:

http://s1.1zoom.net/big0/976/386790-svetik.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very Sound of Music-ish :mrgreen:
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I'm just an old fashioned girl with an old fashioned mind
Not sophisticated, I'm the sweet and simple kind
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And A̶n̶ ̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶f̶a̶s̶h̶i̶o̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶m̶i̶l̶l̶i̶o̶n̶a̶i̶r̶e̶
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Courtenay
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!

Post by Courtenay »

Ooh yes, definitely. Valley certainly is one of Enid's most atmospheric and evocative books, and the wild, beautiful, lonely setting of the valley has a lot to do with it.
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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)
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Chrissie777
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!

Post by Chrissie777 »

IceMaiden wrote:This is the sort of place I imagine the valley was:
Very Sound of Music-ish :mrgreen:
That's what I imagine, too. Beautiful photo. 8)
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Chrissie777
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!

Post by Chrissie777 »

Courtenay wrote:Ooh yes, definitely. Valley certainly is one of Enid's most atmospheric and evocative books, and the wild, beautiful, lonely setting of the valley has a lot to do with it.
What would I give for just one night sleeping on top of the moss in the cave behind the waterfall...
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Courtenay
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!

Post by Courtenay »

I imagine it would be jolly cold and hard and damp, however romantic it sounds in the story. :shock: :wink:
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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)
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Chrissie777
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!

Post by Chrissie777 »

Yes, Courtenay, with the water rushing down in front of the fern it probably works like air condition even if this is summer. I never thought about it.
Somehow I remember that either Lucy-Ann or Dinah remarked that the moss was amazingly dry.
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IceMaiden
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Re: What Enid Blyton book are you reading right NOW!

Post by IceMaiden »

Courtenay wrote:I imagine it would be jolly cold and hard and damp, however romantic it sounds in the story. :shock: :wink:
And noisy. Plus the sound of rushing water would surely keep making you want to run to the loo all night long! :lol:
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I'm just an old fashioned girl with an old fashioned mind
Not sophisticated, I'm the sweet and simple kind
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And A̶n̶ ̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶f̶a̶s̶h̶i̶o̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶m̶i̶l̶l̶i̶o̶n̶a̶i̶r̶e̶
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Chrissie777
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Re: The Valley of Adventure

Post by Chrissie777 »

Wasn't Lucy-Ann worried it might be too noisy, but the fern made it less noisy?
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Daisy
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Re: The Valley of Adventure

Post by Daisy »

I don't think the waterfall was quite that close to the cave! They only got behind it by going through the series of caves and passages which led from the back of the cave behind the fern.
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