The Enid Blyton Society

Glad you've subscribed Charlotte. Welcome to the society proper.

I joined the society straight after enrolling on the forums too, Charlotte. The journals are marvellous, aren't they?

Glad you joined the Society, and and enjoyed the latest Journal, Charlotte!

I've just finished reading Journal 55 and agree that it is one of the best (and that's saying a great deal). From Anita's informed enthusiasm for 'The Secret Island' to Freda Knight's 'A Lifetime of Adventures With the Famous Five' it is a constant delight. All highlights. Enid Blyton's enthusiasm for contemporary children's books, her correspondence with the sympathetic librarian, Norman Wright's tribute to Mary Cadogan, and the many personal reminiscences of the ways Enid Blyton enriched childhoods make this an issue which should be re-read regularly by those fortunate to have it in their collections. Freda's article surprised me. She did not stop at the 21 titles comprising the Famous Five adventures. She decided to collect all Hodder and Stoughton copies she came across, hoping to encompass 'the first full printing and various impression dates of the original Hodder and Stoughton and Brockhampton Press editions'. At the time of printing she'd reached 103 volumes. I have come across collectors concentrating on one title before but this is a little different.
In Australia two National collections now house probably the greatest collection of Don Quixote outside of Spain, and the greatest collection of editions of The Great Australian Childrens Book, 'The Magic Pudding' by Norman Lindsay, both collections first put together by enthusiasts. I hope Freda was looking to the future to ensure her collection ends up in safe hands.
And now for Journal 56 - more from Anita and Rob Houghton and ... am I dreaming? A four-page letter from Enid to W.E. Johns! What larks!

A lovely reminder of a brilliant Journal. I remember reading Freda Knight's article with fascination. It's always interesting to see what people have focussed on in their collections.