RANDOM JOTTINGS

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Long time blogger just moved to wordpress. Love music, theatre, movies, sport (tennis and cricket) and cooking. Two great daughters, two great granddaughters.

Famous Five book covers: through the years – Telegraph

Enid Blyton's 21 Famous Five books, among the most popular children's books even today, have been revamped continuously in the 70 years since they were first published. Blyton's prose has been tinkered with to eliminate some of the perceived racism and snobbery, some of the more dated dialogue has been ironed out, and the jackets have regularly been smartened up. Here, left, is one of five new anniversary editions published by Hodder, with covers by leading children's illustrators. This one will be recognised immediately by Quentin Blake's fans. 'Five on a Treasure Island' is the first book in Blyton's series, published originally in 1942. The new look is a vast improvement on the previous edition, right, from 2010, which contained the most excessive of the rewrites. By Lorna Bradbury

via www.telegraph.co.uk

While I am delighted that these books are still being read, I do wonder at athe rewrites that have taken place.   I am sure modern day children reading these books will be able to assimilate the fact that the attitudes and customs are of their time.  They might even find them interesting instead of having them updated.   OK 'lashings of ginger beer' may raise a giggle or two and yes, there is racism and snobbery shown – though even the Telegraph say it is 'perceived' – by who I wonder, but I still wish they would let well alone.   I read shed loads of books written back in the 1920s and 30s etc and, as a reader, accept that the attitudes portrayed in these stories reflect the time in which it was written.  Are we going to re-write everything that we think might offend us or harm the shell like ears of today's children?

The Quentin Blake illustrations are simply wonderful but I wonder why nobody thought of just reissuing the entire series with the original covers?  Sure they would sell.

Ah well….

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18 responses to “Famous Five book covers: through the years – Telegraph”

  1. Elaine Avatar
    Elaine

    Spot on Hayley! But those of us who oved Blyton don’t want her changed. It is the litterati who think they need to be revised and heaven knows why. As you so rightly said, I am sure that children can work out the differences for themselves. In fact it might do them good to see children who called their parents Mother and Father (though their parents were neer around wre they?) and behaved with ingenuity and common sense.

    Reply
  2. Elaine Avatar
    Elaine

    To be honest with you Karen I cannot imagine that enid blyton would be big in Texas. Her books are so quintessentially English and of a certain time and era which I think would be difficult to realise in the USA. I am sorry if I sound snobbish or superior here – rather difficult to say what I want to say without sounding this way. And also, much though readers adore Blyton, most of the litterati don’t and do not regard them as children’s classics at all. I disagree but then I would!

    Reply
  3. Karen K. Avatar
    Karen K.

    My library here in Texas only has two books by Enid Blyton, and they are both Bible stories. How sad that more of her books aren’t popular here. I have some of the Faraway Tree books that I picked up in Australia, but I’m missing the first one! I need to track down a copy and read them in order. I keep hearing about how beloved she is, so I would love to read them someday. I do love children’s classics.

    Reply
  4. Desperate Reader Avatar
    Desperate Reader

    What surprises me so much about the re writing and make overs that the Famous Five are inflicted with is that this crime against Blyton must be being perpetrated by my generation. We grew up on these books and clearly came out the other end without the prejudices we’re so keen to attack Blyton for so why do we imagine that today’s children will be incapable of working it out for themselves too?

    Reply
  5. anne Avatar
    anne

    I agree that they should just leave well-enough alone– perhaps w/new covers to make them “new” looking, but still keeping the spirit of the original. All this sanitizing of the past, because “we” don’t want to “appear” to have held certain beliefs/postures/etc — and yet, so many of them exist still today, in some form or other, some where or other —seems like putting more energy into changing the prejudices instead of hiding them –HECK, maybe even having DISCUSSION with our kids about these various issues, might be more productive than re-writings……
    grrrr!

    Reply
  6. Elaine Avatar
    Elaine

    Oh Margaret – instant nostalgia! I still have the Blyton Adventure books and I also used to have the Lorna Hills books as well. They all vanished ages ago along with the FF – wish I had still got them though where I would put them heaven knows

    Reply
  7. Margaret Powling Avatar
    Margaret Powling

    Yes, weren’t the original hardbacks with those wonderful Eileen Soper dust jackets wonderful, Elaine! I think my favourite was Smuggler’s Top! And I always loved anything set on Kirrin Island (here in Torbay we have Thatcher Rock which always reminds me of Kirrin Island although there is no little beach where you could land a boat) and anything with a caravan in it. The original editions are, for me, the only ones to read. I loved my hardbacks but I lost them all when my parents and I moved from the shop we had to an hotel they bought, and my books (I was then 17 and too old for children’s books, or so I thought!) were stored in the basement and became damp, mildewed and eventually thrown away. But I have bought some of my old favourites again via Abe, especially my Lorna Hill ‘Wells’ books (original hard backs with dust jackets, of course.)

    Reply
  8. Elaine Avatar
    Elaine

    I am still cross that I got rid of my collection – all had dust jackets as well!!!

    Reply
  9. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    I loved these books growing up! I hate the new covers, they don’t look interesting at all. I went through the telegraph illustrations, and couldn’t find any that I remembered. Maybe they were issued with completely different covers over here in Canada.
    As for tinkering with the less savoury aspects – ugh. Why would anyone sanitize a book that’s been in print for over 50 years? I would think it would be a good way to remember the world as it was, once, and a starting point to talk to our kids. I don’t recall it either bothering me or if it did, I reasoned it through. Plus, I learned about ginger beer – I always wanted to try some! lucky kids! and the chocolate bar in someone’s pocket usually saved the day (or a biscuit or two). I’m looking for the older editions for my daughter to read.

    Reply
  10. Elaine Avatar
    Elaine

    Oh Margaret that sounds wonderful.
    Woof woof say I and get out the ginger beer (which my son in law loves by the way!)

    Reply
  11. Elaine Avatar
    Elaine

    I see Linda has answered your comment Dawn and made the points that I would have done but she does it better than I!
    I mean are we going to re-write The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables etc et. They probably think they can tinker with Enid because they can get away with it and the literati always held her in derision

    Reply
  12. Linda Gillard Avatar
    Linda Gillard

    When I was a parent & primary teacher many years ago there was plenty of research available demonstrating that quite young children could tell the difference between fantasy and reality. They knew the violence in STAR WARS & TOM & JERRY was completely different from what they might see on the news. There was also evidence to suggest that primary-aged children were quite sceptical about advertising. (My own children used to quote Xmas ads with derision: “Only £69.99!” They knew the point of these ads was to make them want the toys and they knew the toys were expensive.) Children are much more savvy than some people think.
    I question whether the real point of the re-vamp was to protect our children from the blight of Blyton. It could just be a cynical marketing ploy to get some old books a lot of new publicity, play on the conscience of parents & grandparents & boost book sales.

    Reply
  13. Margaret Powling Avatar
    Margaret Powling

    They didn’t need tinkering with! I once wrote to the Telegraph on this subject when, a few years ago, they issued some CDs of the stories. I listened in horror and then wrote in cod-Blyton style a letter with the four children (and Timothy) disussing their make-over. They didn’t like it one bit. “Woof,” said Timothy, in agreement!
    PS to this: and yes, I had all the Five books, too.

    Reply
  14. Dawn Avatar
    Dawn

    I agree Elaine when you ask the question “Are we going to re-write everything that we think might offend us or harm the shell like ears of today’s children?” It is in a way a part of our history isn’t it? Just so long as it ‘remains’ history.
    I have always believed we cannot protect our children from everything, instead we need to be ‘parents’ and educate them to be “street wise” (for lack of a better word). How will they ever know how to deal with anything should they meet it face to face out there ?.
    I imagine it is a difficult one to debate on ? not that I am trying to debate it :)

    Reply
  15. Elaine Avatar
    Elaine

    Totally agree Linda – I love those original illustrations and I think I love them for the same reason as you, they bring back such happy memories. I used to get a new FF every Christmas and so wish I still had my original collection

    Reply
  16. Linda Gillard Avatar
    Linda Gillard

    Since the books have sold solidly since they were written, I can’t see why there’s any need to update them and much as I adore Quentin Blake’s illustrations, nothing comes near Eileen Soper for me – but that may a lot to do with the happy & exciting memories those covers conjure up for me. I collected a set as a child and then, as an oh-so-cool undergrad, instructed my mother to give them all away when I left home.
    You can probably guess what I’m going to say next… Yes, I’m re-collecting them now! Only the Eileen Soper hbs, complete with DJs, whenever I see one I can afford.
    The funny thing is, the books are much smaller than I remember. As I recall, they felt like quite big books to hold & read (ideally under the bedclothes with a torch.)
    Happy days…

    Reply
  17. Elaine Avatar
    Elaine

    I had all the Famous Five books but heaven knows where they ended up. I kept all of Blyton’s Adventure series so not sure what happened to FF. Wish I had kept them now.

    Reply
  18. Jo Avatar
    Jo

    I agree, I reeds one of the ‘new’ versions and it was so sanitised I had to put it down. Nothing should rewritten for fear of actually missing the whole point of the story!!
    I love these covers and very tempted to purchase!

    Reply

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