Spirit of America Bookstore
 | children's author | |
![color photograph of author Enid Mary Blyton [1897-1968] working at her typewriter](images2/authorEnidBlyton-color-workingattypewriter.jpg "color photograph of author Enid Mary Blyton [1897-1968] working at her typewriter")
British children's author Enid Mary Blyton wrote over 600 books, from 1922 to 2000; her most popular series included the 'Adventure Tales' series (8 books), 'The Famous Five' series (21 books), the 'Malory Towers' series (6 books), the 'Mary Mouse' series (23 books), several 'Little/Big Noddy' series (26 books), the 'Naughtiest Girl' series (10 books), 'The Secret Seven' series (15 books), the 'St. Clare's School' series (6 books), and the 'Wishing-Chair' series (3 books).
She sometimes produced fifty books a year, in addition to her prolific magazine & newspaper contributions.
B I O
t e x t
h e r e
Blyton's first full length children's book was published in 1938 and was titled "The Secret Island." After working on the column for years, Blyton quit "Teachers World" in 1945 and also ended her stint as editor of "Sunny Stories" seven years later. In 1953 she started her own children's magazine called "The Edith Blyton Magazine" which featured stories about her characters and news on the clubs formed around them. Her most famous stories were those of the "Famous Five"; the Magazine closed in 1959.
Her second husband burned almost all of her diaries, probably intending to protect her memory (or at least her benign image).
lit agent George Greenfield from 1953 to his retirement in 1986
The London-based entertainment and retail company Trocadero plc purchased Blyton's Darrell Waters Ltd in 1995 for £14.6 million and established a subsidiary, Enid Blyton Ltd, to handle all intellectual properties, character brands and media in Blyton's works. Trocadero changed its name to Chorion in 1998 but, after increasing financial difficulties, sold off its intellectual assets. The rights to 'Noddy' were sold to Classic Media (now a subsidiary of DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal) in December 2011. Hachette UK acquired the rest of the world rights in the Blyton estate in March 2012, including 'The Famous Five' series.
Enid Blyton Society [est. 1995, website est. 2002]
"Writing for children is an art in itself, and a most interesting one."
"I have written, probably, more books for children than any other writer, from story-books to plays, and can claim "I am not really much interested in talking to adults, although I suppose practically every mother in the kingdom "My work in books, films and talks lies almost wholly with children, and I have very little time to give to grown-ups."
"If one can judge from the letters that I receive, it would seem that there are many thousands of children "I get over a hundred letters a day from all over the world, from children and parents, and it's a wonder "We must have Christian ethics for our children, good and strong, but we must make them attractive, too, and it can be done."
"I think people make their own faces, as they grow."
"The best way to treat obstacles is to use them as stepping-stones. Laugh at them, tread on them,
author Enid Blyton entry at Wikipedia
Enid Blyton bibliography entry at Wikipedia
browse the Enid Blyton Store {returns 1,200+ titles} at Amazon
Enid Blyton movie & TV credits [36 titles since 1946] at Internet Movie Database
to know more about interesting children than most."
knows my name and my books. It's their children I love."
who would like me to speak or to read to them."
[that] I ever have time to write books, let alone speak!"
and let them lead you to something better."
![stylized & trademarked signature of Enid Blyton [1897-1968]](images2/sig_EnidBlyton.png "stylized & trademarked signature of Enid Blyton [1897-1968]")
Primary Book Series
author Enid Blyton entry at Wikipedia
Enid Blyton bibliography entry at Wikipedia
browse the Enid Blyton Store {returns 1,200+ titles} at Amazon
Adventure Tales ¨
The Famous Five ¨
Faraway Tree ¨
Five Find-Outers ¨
Malory Towers ¨
Mary Mouse ¨
Naughtiest Girl ¨
Noddy in Toyland ¨
Riddle books ¨
The Secret series ¨
The Secret Seven ¨
St. Clare's School + Hanni & Nanni ¨
The Wishing-Chair
 | "The Blyton Phenomenon: The Controversy Surrounding The World's Most-Successful Children's Writer" [1982] by Sheila G. Ray Deutsch hardcover [7/82] out of print/used |
  | "Who's Who In Enid Blyton" [1997, rev 2003] by Eva Rice
not complete, but very thorough for the books & series covered 303-page Orion Publng 9½x6¾ pb [rev 10/2003] out of print/used 320-page Orion Publng Group 9¾x6¾ hardcover [rev 7/2003] for $83.76 192-page Richard Cohen Books 1st edition hardcover [8/97] out of print/used |
 | "The Enid Blyton Dossier" [1998] by Brian Stewart & Tony Summerfield 96-page 'fact file' printed in blown-up size on glossy pages; many photographs from Enid's childhood to later days, details on many rare first edition covers and on legendary artists - book is 'a visual treat for fans' Hawk Books hardcover [10/98] out of print/used |
 | "Enid Blyton and The Mystery of Children's Literature" [2000] by Dr. David Rudd, senior lecturer at Bolton Institute [est. 1982], Greater Manchester looks particularly at Enid's three most popular and well-known series - Noddy, The Famous Five, and Malory Towers - and on the views of her readership, past and present, and uses a variety of critical approaches to show how adult criticism has consistently missed the secret of her long-running appeal Palgrave Macmillan 8¾x5¾ hardcover [6/2000] out of print/used |
 | "Enid Blyton: An Illustrated Bibliography" [2002-2005] by Tony Summerfield the four books so far are: Part 1 (1922-1942) [2002], Part 2 (1943-1952) [2002], Part 3 (1953-1962) [2003], and Part 4 (1963-1974) [2005] - expecting another issue on the many posthumous publications Published by Milford Books, available to Society members only for £18.55 each, possibly also available on eBay or Etsy |
Adventure Tales book series (8 books)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_Series
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111952/
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Barney Mystery book series
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Barney_Mystery_Series
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Brer Rabbit book series (39 books, 1925-2012)
"Tales of Brer Rabbit Retold by Enid Blyton" [1925]
Thomas Nelson & Sons, Ltd. hardcover [1925] long out of print/scarce
 | "Enid Blyton's Brer Rabbit Book" [1948] includes 43 Uncle Remus 'plantation fables' re-written by Enid Blyton: Brer Bear’s Tail; Brer Bear and Brer Bull-Frog; Brer Bear Gets A Shock; Brer Fox’s Fish-Trap; Brer Fox’s New House; Brer Fox and Miss Goose; Brer Fox and Mr. Jack Sparrow; Brer Fox and The White Plums; Brer Fox Catches Mr. Horse; Brer Fox Gets Into Trouble; Brer Fox Tries Another Fish-Trap; Brer Terrapin Shows His Strength; Brer Wolf Gets Too Warm; Brer Wolf Is Still In Trouble; Brer Wolf Tries To Grow Horns; Mr. Benjamin Ram; Mr. Lion’s Soup; Mr. Lion and Brer Rabbit Goes Hunting; Oh, Brer Rabbit!; Poor Sis Cow!; The Wonderful Tar-Baby; Brer Rabbit’s Pond; B.R. and Brer Bear; B.R. and Cousin Wildcat; B.R. and The Alligator; B.R. and The Butter; B.R. and The Greens; B.R. and The Pears; B.R. Catches Mice; B.R. Gets A House; B.R. Gets A Riding Horse; B.R. Gets Brer Bear; B.R. Gets Brer Fox’s Dinner; B.R. Is In A Hole; B.R. Is Nearly Caught; B.R. Lays In His Winter Stores; B.R. Meets His Match; B.R. Raises The Dust; B.R. Runs A Race; B.R. Saves Brer Terrapin; B.R. Saves His Meat; B.R. Tricks Mr. Man; and B.R. Up The Chimney Illustrated by Grace Lodge: Latimer House hardcover [1948] out of print/used Illustrated by Grace Lodge: Latimer House hardcover [1951] out of print/scarce Illustrated by Grace Lodge: Dean & Son 7½x5 hardcover [1963] out of print/used Dean & Son 7¼x5 hardcover [1975] out of print/40+ used Illustrated by Doug Hall: Budget Books hardcover [1986] out of print/used |
 | "The Brer Rabbit Story Collection" [Bumper Sept 2016] by Enid Blyton contains over 80 very short tales from the books "Enid Blyton's Brer Rabbit Book" [1948], "Brer Rabbit Again" [1963], and "Brer Rabbit's A Rascal!" [1965] with black-and-white illustrations Hachette/Hodder Children's Books 7¾x5 pb [9/2016] for $25.25 Egmont Books, Ltd. 7¾x5 pb [2012] out of print/used |
main details can be found on Spirit of America Bookstore's Joel Chandler Harris / Uncle Remus Tales Page
Circus Tales book series (9 books, 1938-52)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Circus_Series
for detailed info, visit Spirit of America Bookstore's
Circus Fiction Page / Enid Blyton's Circus Tales Section
The Famous Five series (22 books, 1942–62)
featuring Julian, Anne, George, Dick, and Timmy (the dog)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Famous_Five_(novel_series)
There are also 24 'Famous Five' books [1971-85] written originally in French by Claude Voilier,
and 21 'Famous Five' books [2004-2012] written originally in German by Sarah Bosse
for detailed info, visit BlackHat Mystery Bookstore's
Kid Sleuths Page / The Famous Five Section
Faraway Tree book series (4 books, 1939-51)
The original children's names were Jo, Bess & Fanny; recent political correctness/wokeness issues have changed them
to Joe, Beth, and Frannie - along with other similar detail changes.
'The Faraway Tree' entry at Wikipedia
"The Enchanted Wood" [1939].
When Joe, Beth, and Frannie move to a new home, they find an Enchanted Wood on their doorstep; and when they discover the Faraway Tree, that is the beginning
of many magical adventures with their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man, and Silky the Fairy; they want to know which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree:
will it be the Land of Birthdays, the Land of Toys, or even the Land of Ice and Snow with its magic snowman?
"The Magic Faraway Tree" [1943].
Joe, Beth, and Frannie take their cousin Rick on an adventure he’ll never forget – up the Magic Faraway Tree! Along with their friends Moon-Face, Saucepan Man, and
Silky the Fairy, the children tumble from the fun of the Land of Toys to the thrill of trying to escape the Land of Dreams. Will they ever make it home for tea?
"The Folk of the Faraway Tree" [1946].
Mischievous Connie comes to enjoy a few days with Joe, Beth, and Frannie while her mother is sick; Connie refuses to believe in the Faraway Tree or the magical folk
who live in it, even when the Angry Pixie throws ink at her! Join the children and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man, and Silky the Fairy as they discover
which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree.
"Up The Faraway Tree" [1951].
One day, children Robin and Joy discover a book all about a Magic Faraway Tree; intrigued, they go on an adventure and meet Joe, Beth, and Frannie from the story
and together they climb the Magic Faraway Tree and have the most magical adventures together! Will Robin and Joy ever want to go home?
 | "The Magic Faraway Tree" episode [BBC-TV Oct 2012] Season 1, Episode 7 of the "Bringing Books To Life" TV series [2012-2013] children's TV actress/host Naomi Wilkinson climbs a tree and explains why she loves Enid Blydon's book, and reads several passages VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • bare credits at IMDb watch full episode [7/2019 upload; 6:22] online at YouTube |
 | "Enid Blyton: The Complete Faraway Tree Collection" 4 Books Box Set [2014] Egmont slipcover 8x5¼ pb set [2014] 4 books for $27.93 Hodder Children's Books slipcover pb set [2020] 4 books for $28.99 |
The Five Find-Outers book series
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Five_Find-Outers
The Malory Towers book series (6 books)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malory_Towers
Mary Mouse book series (23 books)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Mouse
The Naughtiest Girl book series (10 books)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naughtiest_Girl_series
Little/Big Noddy book series (26 books)
 |
Noddy first appeared in books published between 1949 and 1963, at first illustrated by the Dutch artist Harmsen van der Beek [1897-1953], known as Beek; after Beek died, the work was continued by Peter Wienk [1920-2010] thru 1964 and by Robert Tyndall since 1957. Animated television shows based on the Noddy character have run on British television since 1955. visit Spirit of America Bookstore's |  |
Old Thatch book series
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Thatch_series
the first book "The Talking Teapot and Other Tales" appeared in 1934.
"Brer Rabbit Retold" [1934].
"Children of Other Days" [1934].
"The Strange Tale of Mr. Wumble" [1934].
"Birds At Home" [1935].
"A Book of Magic" [1937].
"The Adventures of Bobs" (later illustrator Lilian Chivers) [1939].
"Children of Other Lands" [1939].
"The Watchman With 100 Eyes" [1939].
"A Book of Magic" [1943] re-issue?.
"Round The Year Stories" [1943].
"Animals At Home" [1954].
 | "Aesop's Fables Retold" [Johnston-Bacon, Ltd. 1960] by Enid Blyton [1897-1968], Pictures by Grace Lodge Element Books pb [9/99] out of print/used lots more info on the "Aesop's Fables" Stories, Books, Stageplays & Movies Page |
Riddle book series (6 books, 1940–61)
revised & re-published as the "Riddle Series" by HarperCollins in 1997, re-issued as "The Young Adventurers" series in 2004.
"The Riddle of Holiday House" ISBN 1-84135-737-5 // based on "Holiday House" [1955]
"The Riddle That Never Was" ISBN 0-00-694574-0 // based on "The Mystery That Never Was" [1961]
"The Riddle of The Rajah's Ruby" ISBN 0-00-694575-9 // based on "Adventure of The Strange Ruby" [1960]
"The Riddle of The Hollow Tree" ISBN 0-00-694576-7 // based on "The Hollow Tree House" [1945]
"The Riddle of The Hidden Treasure" ISBN 0-00-694577-5 // based on "The Treasure Hunters" [1940]
"The Riddle of The Boy Next Door" ISBN 0-00-694578-3 // based on "The Boy Next Door [1944]
Secret book series (6 books, 1938-53, 2009)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Series_(Enid_Blyton)
The Secret Seven book series (16 books, 1949–63)
featuring leader Peter, Janet, Jack, Barbara, George, Pam, and Colin (with interfering Susie & Binkie)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Seven_series
for detailed info, visit BlackHat Mystery Bookstore's
Kid Sleuths Page / The Secret Seven Section
The St. Clare's School book series (6 books)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Clare%27s_(series)
Hanni und Nanni book series (39 books in German)
only books 1-4, 11, and 13 are based on Blyton's originals; books 19 & 20 are adapted from Pamela Cox editions "Third Form At St. Clare's"
and "Sixth Form At St. Clare’s"; Cox's third book "Kitty At St. Clare’s" has not yet been adapted.
The Wishing-Chair book series (3 books, 1937-2000)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wishing-Chair_series
"Adventures of The Wishing-Chair" [George Newnes 1937] illustrated by Hilda McGavin
"The Wishing-Chair Again" [George Newnes 1950] illustrated by Hilda McGavin
More Wishing-Chair Stories" [2000)
the second season of the animated TV series "Enid Blyton's Enchanted Lands" [1998] was based on stories from the 'Wishing Chair' books /tt3973020/
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 | "The Enid Blyton Faraway Tree & Wishing-Chair Collection" [2012] Joe, Beth, and Frannie discover the mysterious Enchanted Wood and, deep within it, the magical Faraway Tree; Mollie and Peter have amazing adventures with the Wishing Chair in their nursery; set contains three books from each series for ages 6 & up; first published between 1937 and 1950; Amazon reviewers complain of 'bait and switch' with unecessary modifications and lower quality - better to buy original/earlier editions Dean & Son slipcover 7¾x5 pb set [2012] 6 books for $27.00 |
Short Stories
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 | "Fairy Stories" [1970] by Enid Blyton Littlehampton/Purnell 7¾x5¼ pb [1970] out of print/used |
 | "Classic Enid Blyton Stories" [1992] Illustrated by David Barnett includes selections from "Animals", "Fives", "4 Series", "Goblins", "Magic", and "Toyland" collections 128-page Egmont Children's Books hardcover [9/92] out of print/used |
 | "Classic Enid Blyton Stories" [1999] 16 stories with over 100 color pictures 96-page Brockhampton Press/Caxton Publng hardcover [1999] out of print/used |
 | "Summertime Stories" [30 stories 2018] by Enid Blyton
Hachette India 7¾x5¼ pb [2018] for $12.37 |
 | "Winter Stories" [30 stories 2018] by Enid Blyton
Hachette 7¾x6¼ pb [2018] for $13.05 |
 | "Springtime Stories" [30 stories 2018] by Enid Blyton
Amazon links are mixed up with "Easter Stories" (2021): good luck! Hodder Children's Books pb [3/2018] - status unclear |
 | "Treasury of Bedtime Stories" [2018] by Enid Blyton, full-colour illustrations by Becky Cameron Hachette/Hodder Children's Group 10¾x8½ hardcover [10/2018] for $35.53 |
 | "Animal Stories" [30 stories 2019] by Enid Blyton, Illustrations by Becky Cameron
Hachette Children's Group 7¾x5 pb [2019] for $13.19 |
 | "Nature Stories" [30 stories 2020] by Enid Blyton, Illustrations by Becky Cameron
Hodder Children's Books 7¾x5 pb [3/2020] for $10.99 |
 | "Pet Stories" [30 stories 2021] by Enid Blyton, Illustrations by Becky Cameron 
Hachette Children's Group 7¾x5 pb [9/2021] for $10.99 |
 | "Stories For Every Season" [28 stories 2021] by Enid Blyton, Illustrations by Becky Cameron Hodder Children's Books 9¾x8½ hardcover [9/2021] for $30.22 |
Other Works
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   | "Child Whispers" [J. Saville Co., London 1922] 28 poems by Enid Blyton Enid's first published book, illustrated by her childhood friend and collaborator Phyllis Chase; probably a very small printing, so collectors have all the surviving copies (none for sale on Amazon) book entry at Wikipedia • Enid Blyton Society's bookpage available as free online flip-book at Internet Archive Kindle Edition from Distributed Proofreaders of Canada [3/2021] for $2.99 "Child Whispers: An Enid Blyton Coloring Book" [2020] Forever Young 11x8½ pb [7/2020] for $5.99 |
 | "Tales of Robin Hood" [1930] Edited by Enid Blyton [1897-1968] published by George Newnes as part of John O'London's Children's Library; not found on Amazon: very scarce |
"The Little Black Doll" [1937]. main character Sambo wants to be washed white, or pink, by the rain
Enid Blyton wrote six books in 1940 & 1943 using the pseudonym Mary Pollock (her middle name and her last name by marriage),
but her fans objected, and so the books were re-issued as written by Enid Blyton. Those six books were:
"The Children of Kidillin (Adventure Stories Series)" [George Newnes Nov 1940]
"Three Boys and A Circus" [George Newnes Nov 1940]
"The Secret of Cliff Castle (Secret Series)" [George Newnes 1943]
"The Adventures of Scamp" [George Newnes 1943]
"Smuggler Ben" [George Newnes 1943]
"Mischief At St. Rollo's (Adventure Stories Series)" [George Newnes 1943]
 | "Enid Blyton's Robin Hood Book" [1949]. by Enid Blyton [1897-1968], Illustrated by Joyce Johnson or by Debbie Ryder Element Books, Ltd. 7¾x5½ pb [9/98] out of print/used Latimer House hardcover [1949] out of print/used The 13 chapter titles are: "How Robin Hood Became An Outlaw"; "How Robin Met Little John"; "How Robin Hood Turned Butcher"; "How Robin Hood Met Will Scarlet"; "The Wedding of Allen-a-Dale"; "Robin Hood and The Bishop"; "How The Bishop Hunted Robin Hood"; "Robin Hood and Maid Marian"; "The Golden Arrow"; "The Shooting-Match"; "Robin Hood and The Tinker of Banbury"; "How King Richard Came To The Greenwood"; and "The Death of Robin Hood" |
"Mr. Tumpy and His Caravan" [Sidgwick & Jackson, 1949] by Enid Blyton, Illustrated by Dorothy M. Wheeler
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Tumpy-Caravan-Enid-Blyton/dp/B000M19PUI/
"Mr. Tumpy's Caravan" [circa 1930s, ms discovered 2011, so far unpublished] by Enid Blyton
previously unpublished children's novel/draft discovered among the Enid Blyton papers being catalogued
at The Seven Stories collection of the National Centre for Children's Books
2011 article on the B.B.C. News website
"Mr. Tumpy Plays A Trick On Saucepan" [Sampson Low, 1952] by Enid Blyton, Illustrated by Dorothy M. Wheeler
"The Big Enid Blyton Book" [1961].
 | "Tales of Brave Adventure" [1963]. Retold by Enid Blyton [1897-1968]
13 stories about Robin Hood, 14 stories about King Arthur Hamlyn Young Books 7¼x5¼ hardcover [10/90] out of print/many used |
Golliwog Stories
The blackface ragdoll 'golliwogg' character was created by cartoonist Florence Kate Upton [1873-1922]; she and her mother wrote a series of 13 books from 1895 to 1909; the character was not copyrighted or trademarked, and several other writers and illustrators wrote their own stories. Enid Blyton wrote four books with three golliwog characters from 1944 to 1955; they were named Golly, Wiggy, and N*gger {sic}, which were renamed Golly, Wiggy & Woggy around 1968. Enid's stories were deemed racist and xenophobic in the 1960s,
and the books began to be withdrawn from publication or banned.
'independent guide to golliwogs' website in U.K. +
merchandise shop
  | "The Three Golliwogs" [1944] by Enid Blyton 1944 illustrations by Joyce A. Johnson, 1968 illustrations by Rene Cloke contains eleven golliwog stories, mostly reprinted from Enid Blyton's Sunny Stories Magazine, 1937-42 Egmont Childrens Books hardcover [10/88] out of print/used Hamlyn Young Books hardcover [5/68] out of print/used |
  | "Here Comes Noddy Again!" [1950] by Enid Blyton, Pictures by Harmsen Van der Beek a golliwog dumps Noddy naked in the Dark Wood and steals his car; later changed to a gang of goblins new edition: Macdonald & Co. pb [9/90] out of print/used Classic Library Edition: Collins 7½x5½ hardcover [1996] out of print/used Sampson Low, Marston hardcover [1951] out of print/used Sampson Low, Marston hardcover [1950] out of print/used Sampson Low, Marston hardcover [1950] out of print/used |
 | "The Proud Golliwog - Little Book #3" [1951] by Enid Blyton, Illustrated by Molly Brett contains five golliwog stories, reprinted from Enid Blyton's Sunny Stories Magazine, 1946 Brockhampton Press pb [1951] out of print/used |
 | "The Golliwog Grumbled - Little Book #17" [1955] by Enid Blyton, Illustrated by Molly Brett contains three new golliwog stories Hodder & Stoughton, Ltd. pb [6/77] out of print/used Hodder & Stoughton, Ltd. pb [1955] out of print/used |
Works About Enid Blyton
  | "The Story of My Life" autobiography [Grafton 1952] by Enid Blyton
Kindle Edition from Hachette/Hodder Children's Group [DUE Aug 2022] - not yet priced 
H.A. & W.L. Pitkin hardcover [1952] long out of print/scarce German-language Erika Klopp Verlag pb [2/97] import/used |
  | "Enid Blyton: The Biography" [1974] by Barbara Stoney, Foreword by Gillian Baverstock published as official biography, after much help from surviving family members Kindle Edition from The History Press [8/2011] for $2.99 Tempus 8x5 pb [11/2006] for $18.82 Hodder & Stoughton 8¾x5½ hardcover [1992] out of print/used |
 | "The Enid Blyton Story" [1987] by Bob Mullan Amazon reviewers say 'full of great pictures' Boxtree hardcover [1987] out of print/used |
 |
"This Day Our Daily Fictions: An Enquiry Into The Multi-Million Bestseller Status of Enid Blyton and Ian Fleming" [1992] by Robert Druce Editions Rodopi pb [1992] out of print/used |
 | "(Tell Me About) Enid Blyton" [1997] by her daughter Gillian Baverstock
22-page Evans Brothers, Ltd. pb [10/2003] out of print/used 24-page Evans Brothers, Ltd. hardcover [5/97] out of print/used Evans Brothers, Ltd. hardcover [5/97] out of print/used |
 | "Enid Blyton (Pocket Biographies)" [1998] by her literary agent George Greenfield Sutton Publishing 9x6 pb [5/98] out of print/used Sutton Publishing 9x6 pb [5/98] out of print/used |
 | "Enid Blyton In Beckenham and Bromley: An Illustrated Biography of Her Early Life" [1998] by Nicholas Reed Lilburne Press pb [6/98] out of print/scarce |
 |
"Gillian Baverstock Remembers: Enid Blyton (Telling Tales)" children's book [2000] by {her daughter} Gillian Baverstock Egmont Children's Books pb [6/2000] out of print/used |
 | "Blytons, Noddies, and Denoddification Centers: The Changing Constructions of A Cultural Icon" chapter by Dr. David Rudd in "Change and Renewal In Children's Literature" [2004] Edited by Thomas Van der Walt, with Felicité Fairer-Wessels & Judith Inggs Greenwood Publishing Group/Praeger 9½x6¼ hardcover [10/2004] for $57.01 |
 | "Enid Blyton and Her Enchantment With Dorset" [2005] by Andrew Norman Enid brought her family to spend many holidays in and around the resort town of Swanage in South Dorset’s Isle of Purbeck - the setting for many of the 'Famous Five' series books Kindle Edition from Halsgrove [12/2011] for $9.99 Halsgrove pb [2005] out of print/used Halsgrove pb [8/00] out of print/used Halsgrove 4th edition 8¼x5¾ hardcover [10/2010] for $27.75 Halsgrove hardcover [11/2010] out of print/used |
"British Children's Fiction In The Second World War" [Edinburgh Univ Press 2007]
by Owen Dudley Edwards ISBN 978-0-7486-1651-0
 |
"Looking For Enid: The Mysterious and Inventive Life of Enid Blyton" [2007] by Duncan McLaren Kindle Edition from Granta Books UK [9/2012] for $11.99 Granta Books UK 8x5 pb [6/2008] for $16.95 Portobello 8½x6 hardcover [8/2007] out of print/used |
 | "Enid Blyton At Old Thatch" [2013] by Tess Livingstone British author Enid Blyton lived at the 400-year-old cottage Old Thatch in the village of Bourne End in Buckinghamshire, England (about 40 miles west of London) from 1929 to 1938; both her daughters were born during that time; book contains 23 color photos and 60 b&w photos, and is a combination of travel book and details of how Enid used the terrain in writing her many novels and stories 70-page Connor Court Publng Pty. Ltd. 9½x6¾ pb [2013] for $18.69 |
 | "The Real Enid Blyton" [2018] by Nadia Cohen Behind the prolific writer and shrewd & astute businesswoman and fan-loving hostess was a secretly insecure person subject to outbursts of temper, impossible standards, and remote relationships; entertain-ment journalist Cohen adds details to previous - usually biased toward the positive - biographical works Kindle Edition from Pen & Sword History [8/2018] for $2.99 {sic} Pen & Sword History 9½x6½ hardcover [12/2018] for $24.52 |
 | "Reading Enid Blyton" [2020] by Philip Gillett Continuing affection for Enid Blyton's work is apparent, though it is not always clear whether this comes from parents or their children; this book places the author’s work in its cultural and historical context, and examines a sample of her vast output, looking at five recurring themes: a sense of place, a sense of period, a sense of childhood, a sense of class, and a sense of fantasy Kindle Edition from Cambridge Scholars Publng [7/2021] for $9.99 Cambridge Scholars Publng hardcover [12/2020] for $60.04 |
 | "Enid Blyton: A Literary Life (Literary Lives Series)" [2021] by Andrew Maunder Palgrave Macmillan pb [DUE Nov 2021] for $84.99 {sic} |
 | These three Kindle format works are absolute garbage! - no kidding: they appear to be identical content, with pages turned 90° and thus unreadable; also each file says that it is 138 pages, and yet the faux-publisher managed to upload each one as an 11½ MB file {I looked: Tolstoy's huge "War & Peace" in Kindle format is a mere 3.16 MB} — included here as a warning, of course
"Enid Blyton’s Secret Series: Two Essays On Free Association In Art" by Tracy Dusen "Secret Series By Enid Blyton: Discovering The Two Artworks" by Travis Mckensie "The Blyton Enigma: Secret About The Twin Books" by Eddie Caldoron |
"Personality: Meet Enid Blyton" [British Pathé 1946]
featuring Enid Blyton, daughters Imogen & Gillian, husband Kenneth Waters • credits at IMDb
watch newsreel clip [1:17] online at British Pathé
watch newsreel clip [4/2014 upload; 1:16] online at YouTube
"Story Teller Extraordinary: Enid Blyton" [BBC-TV April 1974]
Season 1, episode 2 of the "Success Story" TV series [1974-75]
Directed by Anne James; narrated by Colin Welch; featuring Brian Alderson, Gillian Baverstock, William Feaver, Paul Hodder-Williams,
with archive footage of Enid Blyton • bare credits at IMDb
"Enid Blyton, 71 (1897-1968) U.K. Author" episode [Middlemarch/BBC-TV4 Dec 1996]
of the "Secret Lives" documentary TV series [1995-97]
 | readings from "Story of My Life" [1952], interviews, clips; 'secrets' include Gillian's happy childhood, Imogen's unhappy childhood, Enid's approaching senility • Directed by Sally George; written by Simon Berthon; featuring elder daughter Gillian Baverstock, literary agent George Greenfield, younger daughter Imogen Smallwood, biographer Barbara Stoney; with archive footage & voice of Enid Blyton, and archive footage of 'Famous Five' actors Gillian Harrison, John Bailey, Rel Grainer, Richard Palmer
VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • credits at IMDb watch episode [1/2018 upload; 44:41] online at YouTube |
"Enid: The Revealing Untold Story of Enid Blyton" biofilm [BBC-TV4 2009]
featuring Helena Bonham Carter in the title role
http://youtu.be/70lVTiHvmoI enid trailer
"Great British Authors: Enid Blyton" [History Roadshow]
 | British-accent narration by Jon Marshall, produced as episode of History Roadshow YouTube Channel
watch 6/2020 video [13:36] online at YouTube - try slower playback speed |
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"Woman's Hour: Sue MacGregor Interviews Enid Blyton" [B.B.C. Radio4 Sept 1974] Although Sue MacGregor recorded this interview in January 1966, it wasn't broadcast until eight years later on 23 September 1974, six years after Enid's death NOT AVAILABLE in USA from the B.B.C. website listen to audio recording [length unknown] online at the B.B.C. website |
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"A Childlike Person" [B.B.C. Radio4 Aug 1975] Enid Blyton's daughters, her brother, and some of her oldest friends share a broad range of memories of the writer's personal and professional life, building up to create a nuanced picture of a complex and often contradictory woman • NOT AVAILABLE in USA from the B.B.C. website listen to audio recording [length unknown] online at the B.B.C. website |
"Queen of Adventure: Enid Blyton Originally broadcast 31 July 1997 Writer/critic Susan Jeffreys
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/queen-of-adventure-enid-blyton/zjjcpg8
"A Fine Defence of Enid Blyton Originally broadcast 27 November 2008. past children's laureate Anne Fine
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/a-fine-defence-of-enid-blyton/zhhqgwx
"Great Lives Series #50: Novelist Enid Blyton" [Dec 2019]
host Matthew Parris talks to columnist Janice Turner & biographer Nadia Cohen
listen to 12/2019 radio broadcast [27:41] on B.B.C. website {may require different browser}
Image Gallery
Enid Blyton and her husband lived at Elfin Cottage in Beckenham, Bromley from 1926 to 1929, and at Old Thatch Cottage in Bourne End,
Buckinghamshire from 1929 to 1938; the family moved to a large house in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire (roughly 24 miles from
central London) in 1938; a vote by her fans named the house Green Hedges; Enid died at home in 1968, the house was demolished in 1971.
Family & Friends
Enid Mary Blyton was born in August 1897 in East Dulwich, London, England; her childhood was rather unhappy and she escaped into books and writing; her first book (poems) was published in 1922; her books became bestsellers in the late 1930s, and although often banned as racist or xenophobic, the books have sold nearly 600 million copies; she developed senile dementia in the 1960s and died at home in November 1968 at age 71.
beloved father Thomas Blyton - left family in 1910
stern mother Theresa Blyton - estranged to husband from 1910, refused divorce
brother Hanly Blyton
first husband Hugh Alexander Pollock [1888-1971] - married August 1924, divorced 1942
elder daughter Gillian Mary Pollock Baverstock [1931-2007] https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4687362/
son-in-law Donald Baverstock
younger daughter Imogen Mary Pollock Smallwood [b. 1935] https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7619426/
granddaughter Sophie Smallwood
lives in West Sussex, U.K. and teaches at a Montessori-based nursery
second husband Dr. Kenneth Darrell Waters [1892-1967] - married October 1943, died September 1967
nephew composer Carey Blyton [1932-2002]
official website •
entry at Wikipedia •
credits (1967-2013) at IMDb
literary agent George Greenfield [d. 2000]
partner in the celebrated John Farquharson literary agency in London; Blyton's agent from 1953; retired in 1986; wrote memoir in 1995, Blyton biography in 1998
credits (1967-2013) at IMDb • no entry at Wikipedia
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"A Smattering of Monsters: A Kind of Memoir" [1995] by George Greenfield Time Warner Paperbacks 8¼x5¼ pb [12/97] out of print/used Camden House hardcover [1995] out of print/used Little, Brown & Co. hardcover [1995] out of print/used |
Artists
'Enid Blyton's illustrators' entry at Wikipedia
artist Rene Cloke [1904-95], circa 1960s-2000s
artist Joyce A. Johnson, circa 1930s-1950s
artist Anthony Lewis
wildlife illustrator Eileen Soper [1905-90] painted book covers for 'The Famous Five', 1942-63
artist Robert Tyndall of Australia has drawn the much-loved Noddy characters since 1953
40 artworks by Robert Tyndall at Fine Art America website
artist Harmsen van der Beek [1897-1953] of Holland (known as Beek) drew the original Noddy characters, 1949-53
artist Peter Wienk [1920-2010] drew Noddy books 1953 thru 1964
Scholars
archivist Hannah Green at the Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books [est. 2005]
Tony Summerfield manages the Enid Blyton Society [est. 1995, website est. 2002]
official biographer Barbara Stoney
browse books at Amazon
L i n k s
Enid Blyton Society [est. 1995, website est. 2002]
author Enid Blyton entry at Wikipedia
author Enid Blyton entry on 'updated' Wikiwand with tons of annoying ads {may require different browser}
Enid Blyton bibliography entry at Wikipedia
browse the Enid Blyton Store {returns 1,200+ titles} at Amazon
Enid Blyton movie & TV credits [36 titles since 1946] at Internet Movie Database
World of Blyton weblog [est. 11/2012] - 'Enthusiastic ramblings about Enid Blyton and her work' by Fiona & Pippa & others
jump to Enid Blyton Page 2
here on the Enid Blyton [1897-1968] Pages at Spirit of America Bookstore
top of page 1 • short profile • primary book series • short stories • other works • works about Enid Blyton •
image gallery • family & friends • links
top of Page 2 • movies & TV • radio, stageplays, other media
Children's Department at Spirit of America Bookstore
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