Author In Focus (Enid Blyton)
Enid Mary Blyton (11 August 1897 – 28 November 1968) was an English children's writer whose books have been among the world's best-sellers since the 1930s, selling more than 600 million copies. Blyton's books are still enormously popular, and have been translated into 90 languages; her first book, Child Whispers, a 24-page collection of poems, was published in 1922. She wrote on a wide range of topics including education, natural history, fantasy, mystery, and biblical narratives and is best remembered today for her Noddy, Famous Five, Secret Seven and Malory Towers series.
Following the commercial success of her early novels such as Adventures of the Wishing-Chair (1937) and The Enchanted Wood (1939), Blyton went on to build a literary empire, sometimes producing fifty books a year in addition to her prolific magazine and newspaper contributions. Her writing was unplanned and sprang largely from her unconscious mind; she typed her stories as events unfolded before her. The sheer volume of her work and the speed with which it was produced led to rumours that Blyton employed an army of ghost writers, a charge she vigorously denied.
Blyton's work became increasingly controversial among literary critics, teachers and parents from the 1950s onwards, because of the alleged unchallenging nature of her writing and the themes of her books, particularly the Noddy series. Some libraries and schools banned her works, which the BBC had refused to broadcast from the 1930s until the 1950s because they were perceived to lack literary merit. Her books have been criticised as being elitist, sexist, racist, xenophobic and at odds with the more liberal environment emerging in post-war Britain, but they have continued to be best-sellers since her death in 1968.
Blyton felt she had a responsibility to provide her readers with a strong moral framework, so she encouraged them to support worthy causes. In particular, through the clubs she set up or supported, she encouraged and organised them to raise funds for animal and paediatric charities. The story of Blyton's life was dramatised in a BBC film entitled Enid, featuring Helena Bonham Carter in the title role and first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Four in 2009. There have also been several adaptations of her books for stage, screen and television
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Secret Seven Mystery: 9 (The Secret Seven Series) is a children's adventure story book. Part of the ...
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When Peter discovers an old skull hidden in his bedroom, it's time for an urgent meeting of the Secr...
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A second, action-packed Secret Seven adventure by prize-winning author Pamela Butchart, brilliantly ...
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Secret Seven serires book 7
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A dazzling collection of magical tales by the world's best-loved storyteller. Perfect for children a...
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It's time to welcome new girls to Malory Towers, the famous boarding school by the sea, in four bran...
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For new girl Darrell Rivers, there are friends to be made, pranks to be played and fun to be had at ...
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Book eleven is filled with mystery. What's with all the secrets? How did Daffy pull off her latest p...
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In book twelve, the sixth form girls are to attend finishing school before they're sent out into the...
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'The Barney Mysteries Book 4
Great Explosions in Hush-Hush Bay!'Roger, Diana and Snubby read the he...
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The Barney Mysteries Book 5
How can the door knocker go rat-a-tat by itself? A cosy house surrounde...
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The Barney Mysteries Book 6
What does the secret code in the letter mean? How Roger, Diana and Barn...
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The Barney Mysteries Book 3
Why are the bells ringing by themselves?There are strange things going ...
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The Barney Mysteries Book 1
Rockingdown Hall is empty. So why are there strange noises coming from ...
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A classic tale from Enid Blyton's Magical Faraway Tree series with exciting new full-colour illustra...
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" Climb the Faraway Tree and discover magical lands with Moon-Face Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy....
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A full-colour short story taken from the world of the Magic Faraway Tree. Perfect for new readers. D...
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This is a stunning vintage edition of Enid Blyton's best-selling classic The Magic Faraway Tree now ...
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It’s Beth’s birthday, so everyone is delighted when the Land of Birthdays arrives at the top of ...
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A brand new full-colour short story from Blyton's magical Wishing-Chair series - an excellent compan...
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Brand new full-colour short story from Blyton's magical Wishing-Chair series - The perfect companion...
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A brand new full-colour short story from Blyton's magical Wishing-Chair series - The perfect compani...
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The wishing chair takes peter and mollie on strange and wonderful journeys. The children visit the l...
New Adventures of the Wishing Chair 5: The Land of Fairytales
Author : Enid Blyton
Publisher : Egmont
Author : Enid Blyton
Publisher : Egmont
Description :
Whisk yourself away to lands of magic and wonder with Enid Blyton's New Adventures of the Wishing-Ch...
New Adventures of the Wishing Chair 3: Spellworld, released on
Author : Enid Blyton
Publisher : Egmont
Author : Enid Blyton
Publisher : Egmont
Description :
Whisk yourself away to lands of magic and wonder with Enid Blyton's New Adventures of the Wishing-Ch...