Are Enid Blyton books still relevant?
Enid Mary Blyton (11 August 1897 – 28 November 1968) was an English children's writer, whose books have been worldwide bestsellers since the 1930s, selling more than 600 million copies. Her books are still enormously popular and have been translated into ninety languages.
The author hadn't intended the series to continue for so long. Initially planning between six and eight books, the children's adventures proved so popular that Blyton continued writing them until 1953. More than two million copies of the Famous Five books are still sold each year.
While some librarians expressed concern about the danger of 'addiction', the main objection was that Blyton was just a poor writer: her plots were contrived and predictable, her characterization was weak, and her language was restricted and unimaginative.
As for the Enid Blyton books, Rowling says she read them all, but was never tempted to go back to them, whereas she would read and re-read Lewis.
One example is Enid Blyton's book Five On A Treasure Island. First published in 1942, it's the most valuable in the Famous Five series. "A serious collector is going to pay between $8,000 and $10,000 for one of those first editions," Ms Boltresz says.
Yet another reason why kids should read books by Enid Blyton is because her books are adventure-oriented filled with mystery to the brim. The central characters tend to indulge themselves in various dangerous situations in their inquisitiveness.
Little Noddy Goes to Toyland (1949)
Perhaps the most divisive of Blyton's characters is also her best known.
Famous Five 21 Books Box Set by Enid Blyton - Ages 9-14 - Paperback — Books2Door.
The women of the Famous Five included Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, and Irene Parlby. These five women represent iconic powerful movements and change within Canada, as they devoted their lives to advocacy in the 1880s, through to the 1890s.
Enid Blyton's books are considered middle-grade fiction, meaning that they are appropriate for children ages 10-13. Blyton's most famous series include The Famous Five and The Secret Seven.
Why is Enid Blyton so popular?
Her vocabulary and prose style are simple and highly accessible to beginning readers. Blyton came under some criticism for her stereotyped characters and simplistic viewpoint, but her remarkable popularity with young readers has remained undiminished, and new editions of her books continue to appear.
Enid Blyton did a lot of work for charity and had a club for children which helped them to give money to charity. She was married twice and had two daughters. She died of Alzheimer's disease in Hampstead, London.
The story was rejected by major publishing houses in the U.K. Rowling's agent, Christopher Little, previously told Huff Post “Various reasons were given including the story being too long, the fact that a story set in a children's boarding school might feel too 'exclusive' to many readers, etc.”
J.K. Rowling's pitch for 'Harry Potter' was rejected 12 times — read the now-famous letter here. The letter F. An envelope.
Rowling has said that Harry Potter “simply fell into [her] head” and “all of the details bubbled up in [her] brain.” She “[had] never felt such a huge rush of excitement and [she] knew immediately that it was going to be such fun to write.”
Enid Blyton's books are considered middle-grade fiction, meaning that they are appropriate for children ages 10-13. Blyton's most famous series include The Famous Five and The Secret Seven.
Little Noddy Goes to Toyland (1949)
Perhaps the most divisive of Blyton's characters is also her best known.
'Ongoing process': Enid Blyton's Famous Five books edited to remove 'offensive' words. The publisher of a classic children's series has confirmed it will continue to rewrite the books to remove any “offensive terms”.
Re: Famous Five or Secret Seven
I think the characters are more interesting in The Famous Five, also, and we get to know them more than The Seven. I prefer the The Famous Five because of the beautiful scenery and interesting settings. But of course everyone has their own opinion. I don't mind the Secret Seven, myself.
The generation that reads the most is the millennials (26-40). Around 80 % have read a book in the past 12 months, more than any other generation according to data from Best By The Numbers. Coming in second place is baby boomers (56-75) with around 70 % having read a book in the past 12 months.
What reading level is Famous Five?
| Author: | Enid Blyton |
|---|---|
| Reading Level: | 7+ |
| Genre: | Action & Adventure |
| Subjects: | AdventureFriendsMystery |
| Series: | The Famous Five |
Mrs Baverstock left £100,000 to her son Owain and £50,000 to each of her six grandchildren, including the four Lane children. The former primary school teacher also left £50,000 each to Bolton Abbey Priory and the education department at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Enid fell ill with Alzheimer's disease in her old age (a disease that affects people's memory) and she died in 1963. Her spirit lives on in her books and she is remembered as one of the most-loved and celebrated children's authors.
