Enid Blyton Books

Author Enid Blyton was born August 11, 1897 in East Dulwich, London, and died on November 28, 1968, months after her husband died. Her husband was Major Hugh Alexander Pollack, DSO (1888-1971), and got married shortly after he divorced his first wife that he had two sons with. He was an editor at a publisher, and suggested that she write a book about animals, which she did (called “The Zoo Book”) and it was finished about a month before they got married. She wrote children’s novels and her works are among the best selling novels in the world since the 1930s, having sold over six hundred million copies. Her work has been translated into ninety languages, and is the fourth most translated author in the world (behind Agatha Christie, Jules Verne, and William Shakespeare). Helena Bonham Carter played Enid in a BBC production called “Enid” that debuted in 2009; which is a dramatic portrayal of Enid Blyton’s life.

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Enid wrote and published many books in her time. She even wrote an entire sixty thousand word book in just five days. She has written many series that include the “Adventure” series, the “Noddy” series, the “Secret Seven” series, and the Famous Five” series. Blyton also wrote many other chapter books, short stories, and books that cover a wide range of genres.

Enid Mary Blyton was born in East Dulwich, London in August 1897. In her early years, Blyton’s family moved to Kent, which is where she developed a love for nature, especially the animals, which features a lot in Blyton’s books. Enid Blyton attended St Christopher’s School between the ages of 10 to 18, showing an aptitude for sport, as well as writing. Upon leaving school, Blyton, upon recognising she had an affinity with children, enrolled in a teaching course, which she completed in 1918.

During this time, Blyton also carried on her writing, which she had started during her school years. She failed to have any of her manuscripts published, but that steeled her reserve more, although she did have some of her poems printed in Nash’s Magazine. She kept on writing poems and short stories in her spare time, with many of them being picked up by various publications.

Enid Blyton’s big break came in 1922, when her collection of short stories and poems, Child Whispers, was published. Her collections of poetry continued to be published, including, in 1923, a collection called Real Fairies.

Come the ’30s, Blyton was building a reputation as a talented writer, and she started her first series of books, the Old Thatch series, with the first book of 28, The Talking Tea Pot and Other Tales. Another one of her beloved series, the Brer Rabbit series, was started, with Brer Rabbit Retold being published. During the ’30s, Blyton’s stock rose, and she branched out into adventure stories, with The Secret Island becoming a massive hit, and the Circus series was also created, as well as the Amelia Jane series.

In the ’40s, with her popularity soaring, Blyton released two books under the name Mary Pollock, to much success, both critical and commercial. However, she also continued to write under her own name, and released many more series of books, including the Famous Five series, the Malory Towers series and the Mary Mouse series.

It was 1949 when Blyton’s most endearing character was published, Noddy, in the first book of the series, Noddy In Toyland. Noddy’s adventures continued in well over 20 books, and the character continues to be a favourite today.

Blyton continued writing into the ’60s, although her output slowed down dramatically, and she also finished many of her series, with the Secret Seven, the Famous Five and Brer Rabbit series having their last stories published in 1963.

ENID BLYTON AWARDS

Boys’ Club of America gave her an award for “The Island of Adventure”. She was vote best loved author from Britain in 2008 by Costa Book Awards.

ENID BLYTON BOOKS INTO MOVIES/TV

The “Famous Five” stories have been adapted a few times. Once in 1957, an eight part serial film was made called “Five on a Treasure Island”. Another serial (this time in six parts) was made in 1964 called “Five Have a Mystery to Solve”. ITV adapted the series in 1978 and 1979 airing 26 half hour episodes about the series. It was adapted again (1995 until 1997) for television; the series (“The Famous Five”) aired for two series and 26 more half hour episodes.

BEST ENID BLYTON BOOKS

For those readers looking to get into novels by Enid Blyton, this section will help with that. It will go over the novels “The Enchanted Wood”, “The Magic Faraway Tree”, and “The Folk of the Faraway Tree”.

The Enchanted Wood: This is the first novel in the “The Faraway Tree” series and was released in the year 1939. Fanny, Bessie, and Jo go out on a walk in the wood that is located near their house. There is a large tree that stretches into the clouds; it is known as the Faraway Tree. It is wide enough to have houses built into it. The kids find different magical creatures living in the tree. There is Silky the fairy, Moon-Face, Dame Washalot, The Saucepan Man, and the Angry Pixie. Jo, Bessie, and Fanny befriend a few of the creatures (Moon-Face and Silky especially). They finally get to the very top of the tree, and find that there is a way to get to a magical land. The land changes with each and every visit, because the lands move on for another land. Anyone can come and go as they please. Whoever visits a land must leave before the land moves on, or be stuck until it comes back around.

The Magic Faraway Tree: This is the second novel in the “The Faraway Tree” series and was released in the year 1943. Jo, Bessie, and Fanny decide to take Rick (who is their cousin) to the magic Faraway Tree, something that he will never forget. He meets all the creatures of the tree and visits the lands. He is not interested in the place at first, but the more he stays, the more interested he gets. And the more mischief he gets into.

The Folk of the Faraway Tree: This is the third novel in the “The Faraway Tree” series and was released in the year 1946. Lizzie is sick. So her daughter (who is named Connie) comes to stay with Jo, Bessie, and Fanny. She is a mischievous little girl. Connie will not believe anything about the Faraway Tree or those that live in it. Even when she gets soaked by Dame Washalot or inked by the Angry Pixie. She gets a few surprises when she goes to the lands that the top of the tree has to offer. The mother of the Saucepan Man goes to live in the tree after leaving her baker job that she had in Dame Slap’s land. She is able to set up a surprising cake shop.

Enid Blyton Q&A

Q: What is the first book written by Enid Blyton?

A: The first book Enid Blyton had published was Child Whispers.

Q: What is the last Enid Blyton book?

A: The last book to be published under Enid Blyton’s name is The Dog With The Long Tail and Other Stories, which was published in 1975, 7 years after her death.

Q: When did Enid Blyton die?

A: The author Enid Blyton passed away on November 28, 1968 at the age of 71 in Hampstead, London.

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