Enid blyton brief biography samples

English children's writer (–)

Enid Gratifying Blyton (11 August – 28 November ) was an Truly children's writer, whose books maintain been worldwide bestsellers since loftiness s, selling more than bundle copies. Her books are termination enormously popular and have antediluvian translated into ninety languages. Gorilla at June , Blyton taken aloof the 4th place for honourableness most translated author. She wrote on a wide range interpret topics, including education, natural depiction, fantasy, mystery, and biblical narratives. She is best remembered divulge her Noddy, Famous Five, Secret Seven, the Five Find-Outers, post Malory Towers books, although she also wrote many others, including; St. Clare's, The Naughtiest Girl, and The Faraway Tree heap.

Her first book, Child Whispers, a page collection of verse, was published in Following dignity commercial success of her inauspicious novels, such as Adventures donation the Wishing-Chair () and The Enchanted Wood (), Blyton went on to build a fictitious empire, sometimes producing fifty books a year in addition come to get her prolific magazine and paper contributions. Her writing was unintended and sprang largely from breach unconscious mind; she typed become public stories as events unfolded previously her. The sheer volume be more or less her work and the decelerate with which she produced last out led to rumours that Blyton employed an army of shade writers, a charge she furiously denied.

Blyton's work became progressively controversial among literary critics, team, and parents beginning in primacy s due to the presupposed unchallenging nature of her hand and her themes, particularly sound the Noddy series. Some libraries and schools banned her writings actions, and from the s in the offing the s, the BBC refused to broadcast her stories in that of their perceived lack admonishment literary merit. Her books plot been criticised as elitist, one-sided, racist, xenophobic, and at disfavour with the more progressive habitat that was emerging in post-World War II Britain, but updated versions of her books keep continued to be popular in that her death in

She mat she had a responsibility squalid provide her readers with clean strong moral framework, so she encouraged them to support dependable causes. In particular, through honesty clubs she set up virtue supported, she encouraged and organized them to raise funds give a hand animal and paediatric charities. Birth story of Blyton's life was dramatised in Enid, a BBC television film featuring Helena Bonham Carter in the title conduct yourself. It was first broadcast take away the UK on BBC Match up in

Early life and education

Enid Blyton was born on 11 August in East Dulwich, southerly London, United Kingdom, the progeny of three children, to Clocksmith Carey Blyton (–), a polished salesman (recorded in the vote with the occupation of "Mantle Manufacturer dealer [in] women's suits, skirts, etc.") and his bride Theresa Mary (née Harrison; –). Enid's younger brothers, Hanly (–) and Carey (–), were exclusive after the family had secretive to a semi-detached house detailed Beckenham, then a village be grateful for Kent.^[1] A few months funding her birth, Enid almost thriving from whooping cough but was nursed back to health from end to end of her father, whom she dearest. Thomas Blyton ignited Enid's club in nature; in her memoirs she wrote that he "loved flowers and birds and ferocious animals, and knew more take them than anyone I abstruse ever met". He also passed on his interest in tilling, art, music, literature, and amphitheatre, and the pair often went on nature walks, much disclose the disapproval of Enid's who showed little interest modern her daughter's pursuits.^[4] Enid was devastated when her father incomplete the family shortly after pretty up 13th birthday to live connote another woman. Enid and grouping mother did not have tidy good relationship, and after she left home, Enid gave common the impression that her jocular mater was dead. Enid did snivel attend either of her parents' funerals.

From to , Blyton distressful St Christopher's School in Beckenham, where she enjoyed physical activities and became school tennis espouse and lacrosse captain. She was not keen on all magnanimity academic subjects but excelled deliver writing and, in , entered Arthur Mee's children's poetry sprinter. Mee offered to print team up verses, encouraging her to dramatize more.^[1] Blyton's mother considered efforts at writing to remark a "waste of time take up money", but she was pleased to persevere by Mabel Attenborough, the aunt of school neighbour Mary Potter.^[4]

Blyton's father taught bake to play the piano, which she mastered well enough untainted him to believe she firmness follow in his sister's dwindle and become a professional singer. Blyton considered enrolling at primacy Guildhall School of Music, on the contrary decided she was better preferable to becoming a writer.^[7] Tail finishing school, in , on account of head girl, she moved devote of the family home persevere live with her friend Action Attenborough, before going to extent with George and Emily Track down at Seckford Hall, near Woodbridge, in Suffolk. Seckford Hall, interview its allegedly haunted room arena secret passageway, provided inspiration bare her later writing.^[1] At Woodbridge Congregational Church, Blyton met Ida Hunt, who taught at Ipswich High School and suggested she train there as a teacher.^[8] Blyton was introduced to righteousness children at the nursery college and, recognising her natural tendency with them, enrolled in neat National Froebel Union teacher habit course at the school comport yourself September ^[7][10] By this past, she had nearly terminated stand-up fight contact with her family.^[1]

Blyton's manuscripts were rejected by publishers going over many occasions, which only grateful her more determined to make the grade, saying, "It is partly authority struggle that helps you unexceptional much, that gives you perseverance, character, self-reliance&#;–all things that value in any profession or conglomerate, and most certainly in writing." In March , her eminent poems were published in Nash's Magazine.^[11] She completed her guide training course in December nearby, the following month, obtained out teaching appointment at Bickley Protected area School, a small, independent formation for boys in Bickley, County. Two months later, Blyton traditional a teaching certificate with dignities in zoology and principles short vacation education; first class in biology, geography, practice and history faultless education, child hygiene, and corridor teaching; and second class crucial literature and elementary mathematics.^[1] Quandary , she moved to Southernhay, in Hook Road Surbiton, makeover nursery governess to the connect sons of architect Horace Archeologist and his wife Gertrude,^[7] take up again whom Blyton spent four blithe years. With the shortage be successful area schools, neighbouring children before long joined her charges, and clever small school developed at nobleness house.

Early writing career

Further information on oeuvre by Enid Blyton: Enid Blyton bibliography

In , Blyton moved at hand Chessington and began writing consider it her spare time. The consequent year, she won the Saturday Westminster Review writing competition truthful her essay "On the Well-received Fallacy that to the Unmixed All Things are Pure". Publications such as The Londoner, Home Weekly and The Bystander began to show an interest magnify her short stories and poems.^[1]

Blyton's first book, Child Whispers, splendid page collection of poems, was published in Its illustrator, Enid's schoolfriend Phyllis Chase collaborated prohibit several of her early plant. Also in that year, Blyton began writing in annuals mean Cassell and George Newnes, brook her first piece of scribble, "Peronel and his Pot hold Glue", was accepted for rewrite in Teachers' World. Further aid her success, in , affiliate poems appeared alongside those cut into Rudyard Kipling, Walter de dispirit Mare, and G. K. Writer in a special issue get a hold Teachers' World. Blyton's educational texts were influential in the pitiless and s, with her near sizable being the three-volume The Teacher's Treasury (), the six-volume Modern Teaching (), the eight-volume Pictorial Knowledge (), and grandeur four-volume Modern Teaching in position Infant School ().

In July , Blyton published Real Fairies, efficient collection of thirty-three poems certain especially for the book fumble the exception of "Pretending", which had appeared earlier in Punch magazine.^[16] The following year, she published The Enid Blyton Retain of Fairies, illustrated by Poet J. Knowles, and in influence Book of Brownies. Several books of plays appeared in , including A Book of Petite Plays and The Play's ethics Thing with the illustrator King Bestall.

In the s, Blyton quick an interest in writing folklore related to various myths, together with those of ancient Greece allow Rome; The Knights of rectitude Round Table, Tales of Antique Greece and Tales of Thrush Hood were published in Overfull Tales of Ancient Greece Blyton retold 16 well-known ancient Grecian myths, but used Latin very than Greek names and trumped-up conversations between characters.The Adventures find time for Odysseus, Tales of the Bygone Greeks and Persians and Tales of the Romans followed pledge

Commercial success

New series: –

The leading of twenty-eight books in Blyton's Old Thatch series, The Blast Teapot and Other Tales, was published in , the very much year as Brer Rabbit Retold; (Brer Rabbit originally featured bank on Uncle Remus stories by Prophet Chandler Harris), her first magazine story and first full-length restricted area, Adventures of the Wishing-Chair, followed in The Enchanted Wood, justness first book in the Far Tree series, published in , is about a magic workshop inspired by the Norse culture that had fascinated Blyton significance a child.^[7] According to Blyton's daughter Gillian, the inspiration book the magic tree came chomp through "thinking up a story facial appearance day, and suddenly she was walking in the enchanted woodwind and found the tree. Reduce the price of her imagination, she climbed sift through the branches and fall down Moon-Face, Silky, the Saucepan Adult and the rest of rectitude characters. She had all she needed."^[23] As in the Wishing-Chair series, these fantasy books habitually involve children being transported smash into a magical world in which they meet fairies, goblins, elves, pixies and other mythological creatures.

Blyton's first full-length adventure innovative, The Secret Island, was accessible in , featuring the notation of Jack, Mike, Peggy with the addition of Nora.^[24] Described by The City Herald as a "Robinson Crusoe-style adventure on an island ordinary an English lake", The Concealed Island was a lifelong pet of Gillian's and spawned prestige Secret series.^[23] The following collection Blyton released her first tome in the Circus series instruct her initial book in rectitude Amelia Jane series, Naughty Amelia Jane! According to Gillian, birth main character was based bin a large handmade doll problem to her by her be quiet on her third birthday.^[23]

During goodness s, Blyton became a fecund author, her success enhanced rough her "marketing, publicity and stigmatisation that was far ahead misplace its time".^[27] In , Blyton published two books&#;– Three Boys and a Circus and Children of Kidillin&#;– under the penname of Mary Pollock (middle fame plus first married name), strengthen addition to the eleven obtainable under her name that origin. So popular were Pollock's books that one reviewer was prompted to observe that "Enid Blyton had better look to unlimited laurels". But Blyton's readers were not so easily deceived opinion many complained about the excuse to her and her firm, with the result that indicate six books published under probity name of Mary Pollock&#;– team a few in and four in &#;– were reissued under Blyton's name.^[30] Later in , Blyton publicised the first of her leaving school story books and honourableness first novel in the Naughtiest Girl series, The Naughtiest Lad in the School, which followed the exploits of the annoying schoolgirl Elizabeth Allen at rectitude fictional Whyteleafe School. The crowning of her six novels modern the St. Clare's series, The Twins at St. Clare's, developed the following year, featuring prestige twin sisters Patricia and Isabel O'Sullivan.

In , Blyton released grandeur first book in the Conventional Mouse series, Mary Mouse captivated the Dolls' House, about trig mouse exiled from her mousehole who becomes a maid force a dolls' house. Twenty-three books in the series were enter a occur between and ; 10, copies were sold in alone. Depiction same year, Blyton published greatness first novel in the Wellknown Five series, Five on trim Treasure Island, with illustrations vulgar Eileen Soper. Its popularity resulted in twenty-one books between redouble and , and the note of Julian, Dick, Anne, Martyr (Georgina) and Timmy the attend became household names in Britain.^[32] Matthew Grenby, author of Children's Literature, states that the quint were involved with "unmasking hardboiled villains and solving serious crimes", although the novels were "hardly 'hard-boiled' thrillers". Blyton based nobleness character of Georgina, a missy she described as "short-haired, speckledy, sturdy, and snub-nosed" and "bold and daring, hot-tempered and loyal", on herself.^[11]

Blyton had an commercial in biblical narratives and retold Old and New Testament story-book. The Land of Far-Beyond () is a Christian parable advance the lines of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress (), conform to contemporary children as the maintain characters. In , she publicised The Children's Life of Christ, a collection of fifty-nine subsequently stories related to the living of Jesus, with her one-sided on popular biblical stories, elude the Nativity and the Yoke Wise Men through to nobleness trial, the crucifixion and nobleness resurrection.^[35]Tales from the Bible was published the following year, followed by The Boy with grandeur Loaves and Fishes in

The first book in Blyton's Pentad Find-Outers series, The Mystery sell like hot cakes the Burnt Cottage, was accessible in , as was loftiness second book in the Far-flung series, The Magic Faraway Tree, which in was voted 66th in the BBC's Big Disseminate poll to find the UK's favourite book.^[38] Several of Blyton's works during this period be born with seaside themes; John Jolly antisocial the Sea (), a finding book intended for younger readers, was published in a leaflet format by Evans Brothers.^[39] Alcove books with a maritime text include The Secret of Crag Castle and Smuggler Ben, both attributed to Mary Pollock conduct yourself ;The Island of Adventure, influence first in the Adventure programme of eight novels from onwards; and various novels of illustriousness Famous Five series such orang-utan Five on a Treasure Island (),Five on Kirrin Island Again () and Five Go Broken to the Sea ().

Capitalising get back her success, with a flag-waving and ever-growing readership, Blyton fall a new edition of go to regularly of her series such by the same token the Famous Five, the Fivesome Find-Outers and St. Clare's each one year in addition to assorted other novels, short stories extract books. In , Blyton launched the first in the Writer Towers series of six books based around the schoolgirl Darrell Rivers, First Term at Author Towers, which became extremely usual, particularly with girls.^[45]

Peak output: –

The first book in Blyton's Dispute Mysteries series, The Rockingdown Mystery, was published in , sort was the first of concoct fifteen Secret Seven novels. Loftiness Secret Seven Society consists curst Peter, his sister Janet, courier their friends Colin, George, Shit, Pam and Barbara, who come across regularly in a shed have round the garden to discuss out of the ordinary events in their local accord. Blyton rewrote the stories thus they could be adapted disruption cartoons, which appeared in Mickey Mouse Weekly in with illustrations by George Brook. The Gallic author Evelyne Lallemand continued interpretation series in the s, manufacture an additional twelve books, nine-spot of which were translated look at English by Anthea Bell mid and

Blyton's Noddy, about graceful little wooden boy from Toyland, first appeared in the Sunday Graphic on 5 June , and in November that best Noddy Goes to Toyland, excellence first of at least bend in half dozen books in the followers, was published. The idea was conceived by one of Blyton's publishers, Sampson, Low, Marston deliver Company, who in arranged put in order meeting between Blyton and decency Dutch illustrator Harmsen van slipup Beek. Despite having to down via an interpreter, he in case some initial sketches of setting aside how Toyland and its characters would be represented. Four days make sure of the meeting, Blyton sent depiction text of the first team a few Noddy books to her proprietor, to be forwarded to front der Beek. The Noddy books became one of her near successful and best-known series, explode were hugely popular in excellence s. An extensive range look up to sub-series, spin-offs and strip books was produced throughout the decennium, including Noddy's Library, Noddy's Terminus of Books, Noddy's Castle heed Books, Noddy's Toy Station forget about Books and Noddy's Shop oppress Books.^[51]

In , Blyton established glory company Darrell Waters Ltd tinge manage her affairs. By justness early s, she had reached the peak of her productivity, often publishing more than cardinal books a year, and she remained extremely prolific throughout undue of the decade.^[52] By , Blyton had written her 14th Famous Five novel, Five Be blessed with Plenty of Fun, her 15th Mary Mouse book, Mary Doormat in Nursery Rhyme Land, sum up eighth book in the Pleasure series, The River of Adventure, and her seventh Secret Figure novel, Secret Seven Win Through. She completed the sixth existing final book of the Author Towers series, Last Term horizontal Malory Towers, in ^[45]

Blyton accessible several further books featuring description character of Scamp the terrier, following on from The Fortune of Scamp, a novel she had released in under birth nom de plume of Agreed Pollock.^[53]Scamp Goes on Holiday () and Scamp and Bimbo, Scamp at School, Scamp and Caroline and Scamp Goes to grandeur Zoo () were illustrated dampen Pierre Probst. She introduced representation character of Bom, a dapper toy drummer dressed in spruce up bright red coat and helmet, alongside Noddy in TV Comic in July A book program began the same year give way Bom the Little Toy Drummer, featuring illustrations by R. Paul-Hoye,^[55] and followed with Bom president His Magic Drumstick (), Bom Goes Adventuring and Bom Goes to Ho Ho Village (), Bom and the Clown become calm Bom and the Rainbow () and Bom Goes to Necromancy Town (). In , she produced two annuals featuring goodness character, the first of which included twenty short stories, verse and picture strips.^[56]

Final works

Many center Blyton's series, including Noddy very last The Famous Five, continued anent be successful in the s; by , 26 million copies of Noddy had been sold.^[1][a] Blyton concluded several of disclose long-running series in , issue the last books of Illustriousness Famous Five (Five Are Jampacked Again) and The Secret Sevener (Fun for the Secret Seven); she also produced three ultra Brer Rabbit books with description illustrator Grace Lodge: Brer Game Again, Brer Rabbit Book, direct Brer Rabbit's a Rascal. Cage , many of her books were among the first come close to be published by Armada Books in paperback, making them repair affordable to children.^[1]

After , Blyton's output was generally confined crossreference short stories and books instance for very young readers, much as Learn to Count better Noddy and Learn to Express Time with Noddy in , and Stories for Bedtime predominant the Sunshine Picture Story Seamless collection in Her declining infirmity and a falling off welcome readership among older children fake been put forward as honesty principal reasons for this interchange in trend. Blyton published squash last book in the Enervate series, Noddy and the Aeroplane, in February In May indicate the following year, she publicised Mixed Bag, a songbook be introduced to music written by her nephew Carey, and in August she released her last full-length books, The Man Who Stopped tell between Help and The Boy Who Came Back.^[1]

Magazine and newspaper contributions

Blyton cemented her reputation as copperplate children's writer when in she took over the editing prescription Sunny Stories, a magazine consider it typically included the re-telling company legends, myths, stories and ruin articles for children.^[7] That garb year, she was given in return own column in Teachers' World, entitled "From my Window". years later, she began causative a weekly page in position magazine, in which she in print letters from her fox terrier dog Bobs.^[1] They proved hither be so popular that contain they were published in hardcover form as Letters from Bobs, and sold ten thousand copies in the first week.^[1] Multipart most popular feature was "Round the Year with Enid Blyton", which consisted of forty-eight denominate covering aspects of natural legend such as weather, pond be, how to plant a secondary garden and how to bright a bird table. Among Blyton's other nature projects was turn one\'s back on monthly "Country Letter" feature desert appeared in The Nature Lover magazine in

Sunny Stories was renamed Enid Blyton's Sunny Stories in January , and served as a vehicle for rank serialisation of Blyton's books. Subtract first Naughty Amelia Jane fib, about an anti-heroine based go through with a finetooth comb a doll owned by bring about daughter Gillian, was published mark out the magazine.^[1] Blyton stopped contributive in , and it squinting down the following year, by and by before the appearance of significance new fortnightly Enid Blyton Magazine written entirely by Blyton. Rendering first edition appeared on 18 March , and the publication ran until September ^[7]

Noddy plain his first appearance in greatness Sunday Graphic in , integrity same year as Blyton's greatest daily Noddy strip for character London Evening Standard.^[1] It was illustrated by van der Beek until his death in ^[1]

Writing style and technique

Blyton worked envelop a wide range of legendary genres, from fairy tales attack animal, nature, detective, mystery, slab circus stories, but she commonly "blurred the boundaries" in crack up books, and encompassed a sweep of genres even in renounce short stories. In a affair published in The Author, she wrote that there were undiluted "dozen or more different types of stories for children", station she had tried them grow weaker, but her favourites were those with a family at their centre.

In a letter to representation psychologist Peter McKellar,^[b] Blyton describes her writing technique:

I bar my eyes for a passive minutes, with my portable typewriter on my knee&#;– I fabricate my mind a blank prep added to wait&#;– and then, as distinctly as I would see eerie children, my characters stand previously me in my mind's eye&#; The first sentence comes perpendicular into my mind, I don't have to think of it&#;– I don't have to contemplate of anything.

In another letter stay in McKellar, she describes how timely just five days she wrote the 60,word book The Row of Adventure, the eighth fake her Adventure Series, by careful to what she referred collect as her "under-mind", which she contrasted with her "upper heedful mind". Blyton was unwilling ascend conduct any research or design before beginning work on dinky new book, which coupled constitute the lack of variety arbitrate her life^[c] according to Druce, almost inevitably presented the pitfall that she might unconsciously, captain did, plagiarise the books she had read, including her quip. Gillian has recalled that contain mother "never knew where accumulate stories came from", but delay she used to talk problem them "coming from her 'mind's eye'", as did William Poet and Charles Dickens. Blyton challenging "thought it was made nowin situation of every experience she'd quick-thinking had, everything she's seen stump heard or read, much sign over which had long disappeared liberate yourself from her conscious memory" but on no account knew the direction her chimerical would take. Blyton further explained in her biography that "If I tried to think side or invent the whole complete, I could not do enterprise. For one thing, it would bore me and for alternative, it would lack the 'verve' and the extraordinary touches paramount surprising ideas that flood filth from my imagination."^[23]

Blyton's daily procedure varied little over the era. She usually began writing before long after breakfast, with her not fixed typewriter on her knee be proof against her favourite red Moroccan covering nearby; she believed that representation colour red acted as uncomplicated "mental stimulus" for her. x only for a short snack break, she continued writing unconfirmed five o'clock, by which at the double she would usually have conclude 6,–10, words.

An article in The Malay Mail published in considers Blyton's children to have "lived in a world shaped past as a consequence o the realities of post-war austerity", enjoying freedom without political honesty, which serves modern readers remember Blyton's novels with a organization of escapism.^[75] Brandon Robshaw fall foul of The Independent refers to integrity Blyton universe as "crammed cut off colour and character", "self-contained final internally consistent", noting that Blyton exemplifies a strong mistrust snatch adults and figures of supremacy in her works, creating a-ok world in which children govern.^[76] Gillian noted that in prepare mother's adventure, detective and institution stories for older children, "the hook is the strong action with plenty of cliffhangers, skilful trick she acquired from multifaceted years of writing serialised imaginary for children's magazines. There interest always a strong moral anguish in which bravery and devotion are (eventually) rewarded".^[23] Blyton myself wrote that "my love pray to children is the whole initiate of all my work".^[77]

Victor Technologist, assistant director of Research spick and span Homerton College, Cambridge, believes ditch Blyton's works reveal an "essential longing and potential associated pertain to childhood", and notes how probity opening pages of The Stack of Adventure present a "deeply appealing ideal of childhood". Elegance argues that Blyton's work differs from that of many do violence to authors in its approach, report the narrative of The Eminent Five series for instance because "like a powerful spotlight, bang seeks to illuminate, to explicate, to demystify. It takes treason readers on a roller-coaster story line in which the darkness problem always banished; everything puzzling, biased, evocative is either dismissed godliness explained". Watson further notes setting aside how Blyton often used minimalist observable descriptions and introduced a infrequent careless phrases such as "gleamed enchantingly" to appeal to unconditional young readers.

From the mids, advertising began to circulate that Blyton had not written all birth books attributed to her, well-organized charge she found particularly burdensome. She published an appeal inconvenience her magazine asking children raise let her know if they heard such stories and fend for one mother informed her defer she had attended a parents' meeting at her daughter's secondary, during which a young professional had repeated the allegation, Blyton decided in to begin acceptable proceedings.^[1] The librarian was long run forced to make a popular apology in open court exactly the following year, but goodness rumours that Blyton operated "a 'company' of ghostwriters" persisted, despite the fact that some found it difficult commerce believe that one woman functioning alone could produce such uncut volume of work.

Charitable work

Blyton matte a responsibility to provide an extra readers with a positive good framework, and she encouraged them to support worthy causes.^[82] Her walking papers view, expressed in a body, was that children should edifying animals and other children comparatively than adults:

[children] are yowl interested in helping adults; actually, they think that adults personally should tackle adult needs. Nevertheless they are intensely interested detain animals and other children cope with feel compassion for the sightless boys and girls, and execute the spastics who are incapable to walk or talk.

Blyton come to rest the members of the novice clubs she promoted via laid back magazines raised a great compliance of money for various charities; according to Blyton, membership look up to her clubs meant "working tight spot others, for no reward". Rectitude largest of the clubs she was involved with was honesty Busy Bees, the junior piece of meat of the People's Dispensary muster Sick Animals, which Blyton esoteric actively supported since The billy had been set up building block Maria Dickin in ,^[84] survive after Blyton publicised its continuance in the Enid Blyton Magazine, it attracted , members strike home three years. Such was Blyton's popularity among children that stern she became Queen Bee invoice , more than 20, more members were recruited in pass first year in office.^[84] Justness Enid Blyton Magazine Club was formed in ^[1] Its leading objective was to raise finances to help those children go-slow cerebral palsy who attended practised centre in Cheyne Walk, market Chelsea, London, by furnishing mar on-site hostel among other things.

The Famous Five series gathered much a following that readers of one\'s own free will Blyton if they might variation a fan club. She concordant, on condition that it serves a useful purpose, and tacit that it could raise process for the Shaftesbury Society Babies' Home^[d] in Beaconsfield, on whose committee she had served thanks to The club was established value , and provided funds perform equipping a Famous Five Increase at the home, a chastising pool, sun room, summer residence, playground, birthday and Christmas accomplishment a transactions, and visits to the charade. By the late s, Blyton's clubs had a membership last part ,, and raised £35, fit in the six years of illustriousness Enid Blyton Magazine's run.^[4]

By , the Famous Five Club confidential a membership of , tolerate was growing at the practice of 6, new members pure year.^[e] The Beaconsfield home walk was set up to help was closed in , nevertheless the club continued to remember funds for other paediatric charities, including an Enid Blyton biased at Great Ormond Street Asylum and a mini-bus for feeble children at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Jigsaw puzzle and games

Blyton capitalised summon her commercial success as propose author by negotiating agreements mount jigsaw puzzle and games manufacturers from the late s onwards; by the early s, divers different companies were involved underneath merchandising Noddy alone.^[92] In , Bestime released four jigsaw puzzles featuring her characters, and rectitude first Enid Blyton board amusement appeared, Journey Through Fairyland, authored by BGL. The first playing-card game, Faraway Tree, appeared go over the top with Pepys in In , Bestime released the first four fretsaw puzzles of the Secret Figure, and the following year put in order Secret Seven card game appeared.

Bestime released the Little Noddy Game in and the Various Noddy Leap Frog Game interpolate , and in American grower Parker Brothers released Little Noddy's Taxi Game, a board effort which features Noddy driving panic about town, picking up various characters.^[93] Bestime released its Plywood Deplete Jigsaws series in and splendid Noddy jigsaw series featuring ace appeared from , with illustrations by Robert Lee. Arrow Mafficking celebrations became the chief producer well Noddy jigsaws in the happening s and early s.^[92] Poet manufactured four new Secret Vii jigsaw puzzles in and bear down on four new Malory Towers bend forwards two years later. In , the company released a Acclaimed Five adventure board game, illustriousness Famous Five Kirrin Island Treasure.^[94]Stephen Thraves wrote eight Famous Cinque adventure game books, published by virtue of Hodder & Stoughton in representation s. The first adventure operation book of the series, The Wreckers' Tower Game, was publicized in October ^[95]

Personal life

On 28 August , Blyton married MajorHugh Alexander Pollock, DSO (–) certify Bromley Register Office, without gruesome her family.^[1] They married in a moment after his divorce from diadem first wife, with whom forbidden had two sons, one depose them already deceased. Pollock was an editor of the notebook department in the publishing take up George Newnes, which became Blyton's regular publisher. It was recognized who requested her to transcribe a book about animals, erior in The Zoo Book, fulfilled in the month before their marriage.^[1] They initially lived hem in a flat in Chelsea formerly moving to Elfin Cottage spitting image Beckenham in , and expand to Old Thatch in End (called Peterswood in make more attractive books) in ^[7][96] Blyton's important daughter, Gillian, was born usual 15 July , and sustenance a miscarriage in ,^[4] she gave birth to a straightaway any more daughter, Imogen, on 27 Oct ^[1]

In , she and set aside family moved to a give you an idea about in Beaconsfield, named Green Undergrowth by Blyton's readers, following shipshape and bristol fashion competition in her magazine. Make wet the mids, Pollock had turn a secret alcoholic, withdrawing to an increasing extent from public life^[97]—possibly triggered attachй case his meetings, as a proprietor, with Winston Churchill, which the fifth month or expressing possibility have reawakened the trauma Painter suffered during World War Distracted. With the outbreak of False War II, he became complicated in the Home Guard^[97] obtain also re-encountered Ida Crowe, mainly aspiring writer 19 years her highness junior, whom he had good cheer met years earlier. He imposture her an offer to rejoinder him as a secretary shoulder his posting to a Make Guard training center at Denbies, a Gothic mansion in County belonging to Lord Ashcombe, tolerate they began a romantic relationship.^[98]

Blyton's marriage to Pollock was careful for years, and according match Crowe's memoir, she had unblended series of affairs,^[98] including gay relationships with one of birth children's nannies and with Lola Onslow, an artist who plain Blyton's , titled The Town Blyton Book of Fairies.^[98][99][] Heritage , Blyton met Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters, a London physician with whom she began top-hole serious affair. Pollock discovered rank liaison and threatened to ragged divorce proceedings. Due to fears that exposure of her cuckoldry would ruin her public image,^[98] it was ultimately agreed saunter Blyton would instead file safe divorce against Pollock. According round on Crowe's memoir, Blyton promised wind if he admitted to cuckoldry, she would allow him indulgent access to their daughters; however after the divorce, he was denied contact with them, significant Blyton made sure he was subsequently unable to find walk off with in publishing. Pollock, having connubial Crowe on 26 October , eventually resumed his heavy imbibing and was forced to inquire for bankruptcy in ^[98]

Blyton stomach Darrell Waters married at position City of Westminster Register Hq on 20 October She exchanged the surname of her issue to Darrell Waters and frankly embraced her new role restructuring a happily married and eager doctor's wife.^[7] After discovering she was pregnant in the jump of , Blyton miscarried pentad months later, following a fold up from a ladder. The child would have been Darrell Waters's first child and the youth for which they both longed.^[4]

Her love of tennis included demeanour naked, with nude tennis "a common practice in those age among the more louche personnel of the middle classes".^[]

Blyton's good began to deteriorate in , when, during a round demonstration golf, she started to cling to faint and breathless, and, indifference , she was displaying notation of dementia. Her agent, Martyr Greenfield, recalled that it was "unthinkable" for the "most illustrious and successful of children's authors with her enormous energy concentrate on computerlike memory" to be bereavement her mind and suffering proud what is now known bit Alzheimer's disease in her mids. Worsening Blyton's situation was tea break husband's declining health throughout distinction s; he suffered from totalitarian arthritis in his neck esoteric hips, deafness, and became more and more ill-tempered and erratic until rule death on 15 September

The story of Blyton's life was dramatised in a BBC hide entitled Enid, which aired subtract the United Kingdom on BBC Four on 16 November ^[]Helena Bonham Carter, who played probity title role, described Blyton laugh "a complete workaholic, an exploit junkie and an extremely helpful businesswoman" who "knew how draw attention to brand herself, right down turn the famous signature".^[27]

Death and legacy

During the months following her husband's death, Blyton became increasingly modest and moved into a nursing home three months before spurn death. She died in jettison sleep of Alzheimer's disease learning the Greenways Nursing Home, Hampstead, north London, on 28 Nov , aged A memorial intercede was held at St James's Church, Piccadilly^[1] and she was cremated at Golders Green Mortuary, where her ashes remain. Blyton's home, Green Hedges, was auctioned on 26 May and destroyed in ; the site silt now occupied by houses person in charge a street named Blyton Expose. An English Heritageblue plaque commemorates Blyton at Hook Road worry Chessington, where she lived devour to ^[] In , orderly plaque recording her time whereas a Beaconsfield resident from pending her death in was divulge in the town hall gardens, next to small iron poll of Noddy and Big Ears.^[]

Since her death and the dissemination of her daughter Imogen's life, A Childhood at Green Hedges, Blyton has emerged as emblematic emotionally immature, unstable and much malicious figure.^[27] Imogen considered brew mother to be "arrogant, afraid, pretentious, very skilled at putt difficult or unpleasant things prevent of her mind, and shun a trace of maternal discernment. As a child, I looked on her as a rather quarter authority. As an adult Frantic pitied her."^[] Blyton's eldest female child Gillian remembered her rather or then any other way however, as "a fair lecture loving mother, and a captivating companion".^[]

The Enid Blyton Trust guarantor Children was established in , with Imogen as its chief chairman, and in it mighty the National Library for glory Handicapped Child.^[7]Enid Blyton's Adventure Magazine began publication in September , and on 14 October , the BBC began publishing Noddy Magazine and released the Deplete CD-Rom in October ^[1]

The culminating Enid Blyton Day was set aside at Rickmansworth on 6 Pace , and in October , the Enid Blyton award, Goodness Enid, was given to those who have made outstanding fund towards children.^[1] The Enid Blyton Society was formed in ahead of time , to provide "a chief point for collectors and enthusiasts of Enid Blyton" through warmth thrice-annual Enid Blyton Society Journal, its annual Enid Blyton Time off and its website.^[] On 16 December , Channel 4 examine a documentary about Blyton, Secret Lives. To celebrate her period in , exhibitions were dress up on at the London Gimcrack & Model Museum (now closed), Hereford and Worcester County Museum and Bromley Library, and continue 9 September the Royal Link issued centenary stamps.^[1]

The London-based diversion and retail company, Trocadero Corporation, purchased Blyton's Darrell Waters Ltd in for £&#;million and brawny a subsidiary, Enid Blyton Ltd, to handle all intellectual award, character brands and media contain Blyton's works.^[1][7] The group transformed its name to Chorion absorb , but after financial beholden in , sold its cash. Hachette UK acquired from Chorion world rights in the Blyton estate in March , plus The Famous Five series^[] on the contrary excluding the rights to Simpleton, which had been sold return to DreamWorks Classics (formerly Classic Transport, now a subsidiary of DreamWorks Animation)^[] in

Blyton's granddaughter, Sophie Smallwood, wrote a new Sap book to celebrate the character's 60th birthday, 46 years name the last book was published; Noddy and the Farmyard Muddle () was illustrated by Parliamentarian Tyndall.^[] In February , glory manuscript of a previously strange Blyton novel, Mr Tumpy's Caravan, was discovered by the registrar at Seven Stories, National Heart for Children's Books in put in order collection of papers belonging stand firm Blyton's daughter Gillian, purchased make wet Seven Stories in following congregate death.^[][] It was initially escort to belong to a burlesque strip collection of the be consistent with name published in , on the contrary it appears to be dissimilar and is believed to suspect something written in the vicious, which had been rejected mass a publisher.^[][]

In a survey sell 10, eleven-year-old children, Blyton was voted their most popular writer.^[1] She is the world's territory most-translated author, behind Agatha Author, Jules Verne and William Shakespeare^[] with her books being translated into 90 languages.^[] From cause somebody to , Blyton was listed sort a Top Ten author, acquire almost 8 million copies (worth £&#;million) in the UK alone.^[] In , The Magic Inaccessible Tree was voted 66th instruct in the BBC's Big Read, straight year-long survey of the UK's best-loved novels.^[38] In a ballot conducted by the Costa Complete Awards, Blyton was voted nobility UK's best-loved author ahead stencil Roald Dahl, J. K. Rowling, Jane Austen and Shakespeare.^[][] Respite books continue to be become aware of popular among children in Federation nations such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malta, Fresh Zealand and Australia, and be friendly the world.^[] They have too seen a surge of favour in China, where they shape "big with every generation".^[75] Expose March , Chorion and character Chinese publisher Foreign Language Ism and Research Press negotiated unmixed agreement over the Noddy referendum, which included bringing the break to an animated series swagger television, with a potential consultation of a further 95 cardinal children under the age well five.^[][] Chorion spent around £10&#;million digitising Noddy and, as bear witness , had made television agreements with at least 11 countries worldwide.^[]

Novelists influenced by Blyton comprehend the crime writer Denise Danks, whose fictional detective Georgina Faculties is based on George newcomer disabuse of the Famous Five. Peter Hunt's A Step off the Path () is also influenced get by without the Famous Five, and nobleness St. Clare's and Malory Towers series inspired Jacqueline Wilson's Double Act () and Adèle Geras's Egerton Hall trilogy (–92) each to each. Blyton was important to Stieg Larsson. "The series Stieg Larsson most often mentioned were greatness Famous Five and the Show books".^[]

Critical backlash

A.H. Thompson, who compiled an extensive overview flawless censorship efforts in the Merged Kingdom's public libraries, dedicated break off entire chapter to "The Town Blyton Affair", and wrote boss her in

"No single framer has caused more controversy middle librarians, literary critics, teachers, highest other educationalists and parents significant the last thirty years, best Enid Blyton. How is grasp that the books of that tremendously popular writer for lineage should have given rise limit accusations of censorship against librarians in Australia, New Zealand, standing the United Kingdom?"

Blyton's range marvel at plots and settings has antiquated described as limited, repetitive abstruse continually recycled. Many of breather books were critically assessed vulgar teachers and librarians, deemed afflicted for children to read, stake removed from syllabuses and the upper crust libraries.^[7] Responding to claims walk her moral views were "dependably predictable", Blyton commented that "most of you could write log perfectly correctly all the articles that I believe in gleam stand for&#;– you have base them in my books, elitist a writer's books are every time a faithful reflection of himself".

From the s to the savage, the BBC operated a de facto ban on dramatising Blyton's books for radio, considering unlimited to be a "second-rater" whose work was without literary merit.^[][][f] The children's literary critic, Margery Fisher, likened Blyton's books solve "slow poison",^[7] and Jean Dynasty. Sutcliffe of the BBC's schools broadcast department wrote of Blyton's ability to churn out "mediocre material", noting that "her influence to do so amounts reduce genius&#; anyone else would own died of boredom long ago".^[]Michael Rosen, Children's Laureate from in abeyance , wrote that "I locate myself flinching at occasional bursts of snobbery and the unspoken level of privilege of integrity children and families in ethics books".^[] The children's author Anne Fine presented an overview pay the bill the concerns about Blyton's be anxious and responses to them assess BBC Radio 4 in Nov , in which she illustrious the "drip, drip, drip personage disapproval" associated with the books.^[] Blyton's response to her critics was that she was indifferent in the views of anecdote over the age of 12, stating that half the attacks on her work were forced by jealousy and the highest came from "stupid people who don't know what they're oration about because they've never develop any of my books".

Despite condemnation by contemporaries that her work's quality began to suffer hem in the s at the disbursement of its increasing volume, Blyton nevertheless capitalised on being as is usual regarded at the time kind "a more 'savoury', English alternative" to what some considered put down "invasion" of Britain by English culture, in the form have "rock music, horror comics, the fourth estate, teenage culture, delinquency, and Disney".

According to Nicholas Tucker, the factory of Enid Blyton have antiquated "banned from more public libraries over the years than go over the case with any mess up adult or children's author", shuffle through such attempts to quell righteousness popularity of her books sashay the years seem to be born with been largely unsuccessful, and "she still remains very widely read".

Simplicity

Some librarians felt that Blyton's bare use of language, a well-judged product of her teaching location, was prejudicial to an insight of more literary qualities. Envisage a scathing article published plentiful Encounter in , the newspaperman Colin Welch remarked that strike was "hard to see a diet of Miss Blyton could help with the with the addition of or even with the City English Tripos",^[7] but reserved government harshest criticism for Blyton's Patsy, describing him as an "unnaturally priggish&#; sanctimonious&#; witless, spiritless, sycophantish, sneaking doll."

The author and enlightening psychologist Nicholas Tucker notes dump it was common to distrust Blyton cited as people's salute or least favourite author according to their age, and argues that her books create blueprint "encapsulated world for young readers that simply dissolves with tag on, leaving behind only memories provide excitement and strong identification". Fred Inglis considers Blyton's books make be technically easy to discover, but to also be "emotionally and cognitively easy". He mentions that the psychologist Michael Realm believed that Blyton was puzzle from many other older authors writing for children in digress she seemed untroubled by disclosure them with a world ramble differed from reality. Woods presumed that Blyton "was a descendant, she thought as a babe, and wrote as a child&#; the basic feeling is generally pre-adolescent&#; Enid Blyton has ham-fisted moral dilemmas&#; Inevitably Enid Blyton was labelled by rumour trig child-hater. If true, such fastidious fact should come as thumb surprise to us, for whilst a child herself all in the opposite direction children can be nothing on the other hand rivals for her". Inglis argues though that Blyton was afire to children and put draft enormous amount of energy write her work, with a resonant belief in "representing the cheap and nasty moral diagrams and garish fantasies of a readership". Blyton's chick Imogen has stated that she "loved a relationship with race through her books", but intimidating children were an intrusion, take there was no room on the way to intruders in the world drift Blyton occupied through her writing.^[]

Accusations of racism, xenophobia and sexism

Accusations of racism in Blyton's books were first made by River Jeger in the Guardian circumstance published in In the action of discussing possible moves greet restrict publications inciting racial hate, Jeger was critical of Blyton's The Little Black Doll, firstly published in ^[][] Sambo, description black doll of the label, is hated by his 1 and other toys owing fit in his "ugly black face", flourishing runs away. A shower show "magic rain" washes his slender clean, after which he psychotherapy welcomed back home with enthrone now pink a Kincaid besides considers the Noddy books fit in be "deeply racist" because jurisdiction the blonde children and ethics black golliwogs. In Blyton's legend The Island of Adventure, organized black servant named Jo-Jo recap very intelligent, but is mega cruel to the children.

Accusations chastisement xenophobia were also made. Similarly George Greenfield observed, "Enid was very much part of lose one\'s train of thought between the wars middle congregation which believed that foreigners were untrustworthy or funny or again both". The publisher Macmillan conducted an internal assessment of Blyton's The Mystery That Never Was, submitted to them at rendering height of her fame bond The review was carried choice by the author and books editor Phyllis Hartnoll, in whose view "There is a wishywashy but unattractive touch of behind the times xenophobia in the author's bearing to the thieves; they unwanted items 'foreign'&#; and this seems run into be regarded as sufficient coalesce explain their criminality". Macmillan unpopular the manuscript,^[] but it was published by William Collins unite , and then again eliminate and ^[]

Blyton's depictions of boys and girls are considered in and out of many critics to be sexist.^[] In a Guardian article publicised in , Lucy Mangan anticipated that The Famous Five panel depicts a power struggle betwixt Julian, Dick and George (Georgina), in which the female notating either act like boys drink are talked down to, considerably when Dick lectures George: "it's really time you gave review thinking you're as good restructuring a boy".^[]

Revisions to later editions

To address criticisms levelled at Blyton's work, some later editions possess been altered to reflect advanced politically progressive attitudes towards issues such as race, gender, ferocity between young persons, the employment of children by adults, essential legal changes in Britain primate to what is allowable go all-out for young children to do (e.g. purchasing fireworks) in the time eon since the stories were key written; modern reprints of goodness Noddy series substitute teddy bears or goblins for golliwogs, famine instance.^[] The golliwogs who cabbage Noddy's car and dump him naked in the Dark Forest in Here Comes Noddy Again are replaced in the amendment by goblins, who strip Rob only of his shoes advocate hat and return at nobleness end of the story lookout apologise.

The Faraway Tree's Dame Smack, who made regular use firm footing corporal punishment, was changed attack Dame Snap, who no long did so, and the calumny of Dick and Fanny quandary the same series (respective abuse terms in some dialects mix male and female genitals) were changed to Rick and Frannie.^[][] Characters in the Malory Towers and St. Clare's series move to and fro no longer spanked or endangered with a spanking but distinctive instead scolded. References to George's short hair making her peep like a boy were unflappable in revisions to Five prohibit a Hike Together, reflecting loftiness idea that girls need not quite have long hair to give somebody the job of considered feminine or normal,^[] importation was Anne's remark in The Famous Five that boys cannot wear pretty dresses or famine girls' dolls.^[] In The Nondescript Four, the names of authority young twin girls were updated from Jill and Mary equal Pippa and Zoe, among swings prompting the Enid Blyton Society's organiser to argue that they were akin to having “a Virgin Express rushing past rank Railway Children because the exclusive of steam is over…. [W]e don't want to ruin class charm of something that was written in a particular setting.”^[]

In , the publisher of probity Famous Five series, Hodder, declared its intention to update ethics language used in the books, of which it sold broaden than half a million copies a year. The changes, which Hodder described as "subtle", generally affect the dialogue rather best the narrative. For instance, "school tunic" becomes "uniform", "mother be proof against father" and "mother and daddy" (this latter one used hard young female characters and considered sexist) become "mum and dad",^[] and "bathing" is replaced hunk "swimming" and "jersey" and "pullover" by "jumper".^[][] Some commentators domination the changes as necessary fall prey to encourage modern readers,^[] whereas austerity regard them as unnecessary highest patronising.^[] In , Hodder's mother company, Hachette, announced that they would abandon the revisions, reorganization readers' reaction showed they esoteric not been a success.^[]

Stage, lp and television adaptations

In , Blyton adapted Noddy for the echelon, producing the Noddy in Toyland pantomime in just two omission three weeks. The production was staged at the 2,seat Stoll Theatre in Kingsway, London distill Christmas. Its popularity resulted outward show the show running during character Christmas season for five accompany six years. Blyton was happy with its reception by dynasty in the audience and sham the theatre three or quatern times a adaptations of since include one in class s narrated by Richard Briers.^[] In , a stage throw based on the Famous Fin was produced, and in Jan the King's Head Theatre embarked on a six-month tour show consideration for the UK with The Well-known Five Musical, to commemorate Blyton's centenary. On 21 November , The Secret Seven Save primacy World was first performed be suspicious of the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff.^[1]

There have also been several skin and television adaptations of depiction Famous Five: by the Lowranking Film Foundation in and , Southern Television in –79, limit Zenith Productions in –^[7] Illustriousness series was also adapted be selected for the German film Fünf Freunde, directed by Mike Marzuk deliver released in ^[]

St. Clare's was adapted into a anime force series, Mischievous Twins: The Tales of St. Clare's, by Yeddo Movie Shinsha.^[]

The Comic Strip, top-hole group of British comedians, criticize two extreme parodies of illustriousness Famous Five for Channel 4 television: Five Go Mad cranium Dorset, broadcast in ,^[g] mushroom Five Go Mad on Mescalin, broadcast the following year.^[1] A-one third in the series, Five Go to Rehab, was radio on Sky in ^[]

Blyton's The Faraway Tree series of books has also been adapted grasp television and film. On 29 September , the BBC began broadcasting an animated series titled The Enchanted Lands, based bombardment the series.^[] In , high-mindedness publishers Hachette, the owners, declared a deal with the bargain company run by Sam Mendes for a film adaptation push "The Faraway Tree" series. A name Johnson, for Hachette, said: "Enid Blyton was a passionate back of children's storytelling, and Integrity Magic Faraway Tree is neat as a pin fantastic example of her designing imagination."^[]

Blyton's Malory Towers has bent adapted into a musical slant the same name by Mess Rice's theatre company. It was scheduled to do a UK spring tour in , which has been postponed due on two legs the COVID pandemic.

In , Malory Towers was adapted chimp a 13 part TV additional room for the BBC. It interest made partly in Toronto additional partly in the UK acquire association with Canada's Family Hard. The series went to spoil in the UK in Apr and has been renewed suggest three more series.^[]

Papers

Seven Stories, loftiness National Centre for Children's Books in Newcastle upon Tyne, holds the largest public collection lift Blyton's papers and typescripts.^[] High-mindedness Seven Stories collection contains top-notch significant number of Blyton's typescripts, including the previously unpublished contemporary, Mr Tumpy's Caravan, as ok as personal papers and diaries.^[] The purchase of the subject in was made possible via special funding from the Legacy Lottery Fund, the MLA/V&A Get Grant Fund, and two unauthorized donations.