A batch of bachelors?
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A batch of bachelors?
There seem to be quite a lot of unmarried adult men in Blyton's books and I wonder why? Take Chief whatever he is Jenks, for instance - he must be in his mid to late forties at least but is apparently unmarried and childless. Bill Smugs is another who did not marry untill he was, I presume, at least early forties. And then there's Goon ... although I think his unmarried state is probably more self explanatory .
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: A batch of bachelors?
Maybe its a subconscious thing on Enid's part - as she seemed to be attracted to older men...? I've always felt that had something to do with the character of Bill Smugs, anyway - a fantasy figure, rather like Kenneth obviously was for her, and also Hugh, when she was younger.
'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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- Courtenay
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Re: A batch of bachelors?
I don't think I ever really noticed or thought about it as a child, quite frankly — the focus of Enid's books, after all, is nearly always on the child characters and the grown-ups only come into the story when needed. I doubt Enid intended for the marital status of the adult characters to be of any significance, except in the case of Bill Smugs where of course he ends up marrying Allie. As Inspector Jenks usually only comes into the Find-Outers stories towards the end to tie up the mystery, there's not much about his personal life that's important to the plots... and yes, I agree Goon's lack of a love life is probably self-explanatory.
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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)
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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Re: A batch of bachelors?
Poor Goon .. maybe he'd have been happier with someone to love him and laugh at his jokes.
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: A batch of bachelors?
Are we sure there isn't a 'Mrs Jenks'? I thought she was mentioned on a couple of occasions, but maybe I'm wrong?
I do tend to think Bill Smugs was Enid's 'fantasy' character. he was the sort of man Enid obviously found exciting, attractive, dynamic, etc. I think I've said before that the way Blyton writes about Bill is very similar to how Daphne DuMaurier wrote about Maxim - who was supposedly based on her own husband Major Tommy “Boy” Browning. I tend to think Enid put many of her feelings about her second husband into her descriptions of Bill.
I do tend to think Bill Smugs was Enid's 'fantasy' character. he was the sort of man Enid obviously found exciting, attractive, dynamic, etc. I think I've said before that the way Blyton writes about Bill is very similar to how Daphne DuMaurier wrote about Maxim - who was supposedly based on her own husband Major Tommy “Boy” Browning. I tend to think Enid put many of her feelings about her second husband into her descriptions of Bill.
'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
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Re: A batch of bachelors?
True, Rob. It is called love.
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Re: A batch of bachelors?
I think she finally found love, and it shows in some of her books - her outlook changes slightly. With Hugh, I don't think she really had any real love at all.
'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
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Re: A batch of bachelors?
I don't remember any mention of a Mrs Jenks ... anyone else?
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Re: A batch of bachelors?
I don't recall a Mrs Jenks being mentioned, but are we just thinking about main series or individual books? If the latter I would guess the majority of men mentioned are unmarried - Block, Mr Barling for two. We don't think of the baddies having a cosy home life!
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Re: A batch of bachelors?
Daisy wrote: We don't think of the baddies having a cosy home life!
A good point Daisy. I was thinking of Red Tower, and I struggled to envision him sitting contentedly by the fireplace, smoking a pipe, with a cat on his lap and a mug of cocoa to hand.
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: A batch of bachelors?
I guess women like Miss Pepper were still single because they were career-minded? I don't think many teachers or governesses would have continued their careers after they got married - so many remained spinsters. Perhaps no one snapped Miss Pepper up - which is a shame - she would have been just the type to fuss around Inspector Jenks, get his tea on the table, and his slippers warmed by the fire...
'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
- Courtenay
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Re: A batch of bachelors?
There's gotta be a continuation novel there somewhere.Rob Houghton wrote:Perhaps no one snapped Miss Pepper up - which is a shame - she would have been just the type to fuss around Inspector Jenks, get his tea on the table, and his slippers warmed by the fire...
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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)
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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Re: A batch of bachelors?
A worthy idea.
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Re: A batch of bachelors?
Maybe she never had the opportunity and had to provide for herself. 2 World wars can do this kind of thing.Rob Houghton wrote:I guess women like Miss Pepper were still single because they were career-minded?
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