I found an old copy of First Term at Malory Towers. I knew better than to open it when I was drowning in work, but bad decisions are stronger than the voice of reason. The book began with “Darrel Rivers looked at herself in the glass” and suddenly released a flood of memories. Before I knew it, I was frantically reading book after book, all deadlines happily forgotten.
Almost half a century back, the world said goodbye to a beloved children’s book author. Enid Blyton made an entire generation nostalgic for a time they never grew up in. She put her English ways in those of us who never grew up anywhere near England. Suddenly, Indian schoolkids wanted potted meat on bread (even the vegetarians), baked potatoes in their skin, and toast with marmalade. They wanted to wash it down with ginger beer and run off to solve a mystery, climb a tree that would take them to a new land or go into their rooms and wait for the Wishing Chair to grow its wings.
Today, I climbed the Faraway Tree and was hurt to realize I hadn’t been around here for a while. I forgot about the Angry Pixie and his tendency to throw things at people who peeped, and that Dame Washalot would throw her water down the tree. Later, Silky would give me Pop Biscuits and take me up to dear old Moon Face, while Saucepan Man would mishear everything I said.
I spent some time in the Enchanted Woods. I went up to the land at the top of the tree and spent a strange (“queer” or “most curious,” if I may) afternoon with upside-down people. Then Moon Face gave me a cushion and let me out through the slippery slope, and I laughed on the ride down, reacquainted with the thrill after so long.
It’s strange to read an Enid Blyton book and think, “Wow, I’d completely forgotten about this!” Almost like you let your inner ten-year-old down. As I put down The Faraway Tree series and picked up a St. Clare’s book, I remembered how confused I was when the girls were given “ten shillings” to spend. I still don’t know how much it’s worth.
Malory Towers and St. Clare’s were my first contact with the idea of boarding school. Who decided that boarding schools are a punishment, anyway? And why play violent and humiliating pranks when you can consult Alicia for perfectly harmless tricks?
My eyelids were prickling; I had to think of an excuse for leaving all my work undone. And preferably something that didn’t go along the lines of “Irene left my notes in the common room again, that scatter-brained genius!” I reached for the mystery series.
Once again, I had the unfamiliar feeling of opening her books and not knowing what the next sentence would be. Over the years, JK Rowling, Roald Dahl and Agatha Christie had worked their way into my memory, wiping all traces of these mystery solvers’ secret passwords, policemen who always ordered them to “Clear Orf,” Fatty, and the faithful canine pal.
But Blyton isn’t punishing me for my unfaithfulness. Over the next few days, she’ll take me to a place where toys come alive at night. A pixie will join me as the wishing chair takes us to evil goblins or nice wizards – depending on our luck. I’ll go to a (gasp) coed boarding school and have a new set of adventures altogether.
For all the pranks, generously used exclamation marks, magical toys and mysteries, I have to thank her. It’s been a thrilling ride and before I put away her books (presumably for another twenty years), I take one last look at her iconic signature that automatically told me I’d stumbled upon a great simply splendid read.
Oh, you brought back SO many memories. *runs off to find my Enid Blytons” ❤
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Haha I need to rebuild my collection now!
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I’m reading the Faraway Tree series to my little girl and am having the same feelings as you!
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Strange isn’t it? So glad her magic is still alive in the next generation!
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Every single word resonates with me! I’m kind of sniffing now:’)
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Glad to know you liked it! I got very nostalgic when writing it 🙂
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Every single word resonates with me! I’m kind of sniffing now:’) After reading her books, even I wanted to go to a boarding school! And a trip with the Wishing Chair wouldn’t have hurt either!
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Enid Blyton, now that’s a name that I’ve got buried deep in my memory banks and never would’ve ever imagined myself remembering it again hah! Great post. Ever considered taking over Blyton’s role and write some children’s book yourself? 😉
Your pal,
David Long
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I’d buried her deep in my memory too, and then she suddenly resurfaced. Thank you! 🙂 i had never considered it but i definitely will now. Thanks!
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Do let me know when you get the first draft out hah! Would love to check it out bud 😉
Your friend,
David Long
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I definitely will! 🙂
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Brilliant writing! Love it. I too spent many hours lost in Enid Blyton’s world, and remember loving her adaptation of John Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress…I was pretty sad to read up about her life though, flawed and selfish (so it seems). This has broken a lot of the simplistic joy in her writing for me. She wrote stories instead of being with her own children. That does seem a little wrong to me and not such a good legacy.
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Thank you! I felt pretty bad too, when I read up about her life. She made everyone’s childhood except her children’s, it seems.
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Love this, especially because my daughter is setting out on her own Enid Blyton adventure. So magical to re-read with her.
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I’m sure it’s an amazing thing to revisit her world with your daughter. Glad you liked my post!
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I had never come across Enid Blyton before, but having a four year old daughter, your post has made me want to seek her out. Thank you.
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I hope your daughter loves her as much as I did 🙂
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Oh I love this post! I too read all of the books that you mentioned. It really made me laugh when you mentioned Dame Wash-a-lot and her tendency to throw water down the tree! I always wanted a midnight feast as well. Even though I am English, I never had potted meat sandwiches or midnight feasts, and I was desperate to go to boarding school! Thanks for bringing back so many happy memories of dear old Enid’s books!
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Thanks! Glad you liked it. I got super nostalgic for her books all of a sudden. I think she made every one of her readers desperate to try boarding school 🙂
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Enid Blyton! Before J K R, she fuelled our imaginations! I still remember never getting enough of Noddy’s adventures and all of my classmates fighting to get their hands on the Noddys and Famous Fives during Library Class. Our teachers had to literally pull as away from those and put books from other authors in our hands!
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So true! She was everyone’s ticket to a better world 🙂
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I need to read these books again.
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Remember Mr. Twiddle? 🙂
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Thank you so much for this post- brought me right back to my childhood! I was a huge Enid Blyton fan! Task for the weekend is to hunt out a few of my old books now! 🙂
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Glad you liked it! Happy re-reading 🙂
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