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Enid Blyton voted Britain's favourite author

Reuters

Latest comment posted at 10:07 AM EST 19/08/08

J.K. Rowling falls to third place, behind Charlie and the Chocolate Factory author Roald Dahl ...Read the full article

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  1. dave ross from Canada writes: Enid who? Honestly never heard of her or her books. And, speaking of children's authors, what about C.S. Lewis?

    I wonder where 'adult' authors such as Evelyn Waugh or Doris Lessing place? It would also be interesting to know the demographics of the 2000 people polled.
  2. leo bloom from radisson, sask, canada, Canada writes: Hey dave ross - I'll bet J.K. Rowling knows well who Enid Blyton is, eh? I'll bet she's pretty familiar with Roald Dahl too: these would have been the writers of her youth - the imprinters so to speak. Lessing and Waugh didn't rate in the top 50; C.S. Lewis was 11th....
  3. Mark Tilley from Brampton, Canada writes:

    C.S. Lewis was 11th. Waugh and Lessing didn't place.

    The complete list is at http://www.costabookawards.com/reading/britainsbestloved_authors.aspx
  4. Yishey Choden from Toronto, Canada writes: I was shocked when I came to North America and realized most people didn't know who Enid Blyton was. She is a tremendous writer of children's fiction and I grew up devouring her books as a child in India. Fiction, mystery, fantasy, she's done it all. Hurrah for Enid Blyton!!
  5. S Powell from Ottawa, Canada writes: If you didn't grow up in the UK, then you most likely wouldn't know who Enid Blyton is. She's a favourite author from my childhood. I still have all my 5's books plus other books that she wrote. Actually her other books, like the 'Magic Faraway Tree' and 'The Wishing Chair' were by far my favourites because they were pure fantasy and escapism. As for the criticism that the books are sexist, racist etc.., well, yes they are but you have to think about the era in which they were written - the 1930s and 40s. That still doesn't make it right but at least you can understand why they are the way they are. I can't imagine that Rowling didn't use them as inspiration.
  6. J. D. from Hamilton, ON, Canada writes: Enid Blyton's work is terribly sexist and racist...and if 'simple minded' is a euphemism for 'numbingly sub-literate' then that's just about right.

    I swear to God, the next time I see a child reading about wealthy white boys foiling evil 'ethnic' kidnappers and protecting their 'dainty, timorous' ladyfolk...or about that bloody tin-toy getting carjacked by Golliwogs...I'm absolutely going to scream.

    The fact that Blyton remains popular in Britain is flat-out revolting -- a testament to the British capacity for allowing brainless nostalgia to trounce common sense.

    Enjoying them 'despite' their disgusting worldview is exactly the same as enjoying a racist or sexist joke 'despite' the fact that it is racist and sexist. Period.
  7. Ginette Mazerolle from Canada writes: When I was about 9 or 10 in the early 80's in a small rural French school in New Brunswick I came upon the Famous Five series but it was called ''Le Club des cinq''. I loved these books! I don't recall the books being sexist or racist but I do recall dreaming of having wild and scary adventures with my cousins as in the books. These were the first ''books with no pictures'' that I started with. The funny thing is that it is only much much later (20 years) that I realized that the books were translations and that the name of the main characters were completely different. For instance the dog Timmy was Dagobert in French. I hope to introduce these books to my two girls when they are ready for books with no pictures!
  8. Caroline Russell-King from Canada writes: I grew up in England, we were poor but I was given the essentials, food, clothing, love and books to read. There was no money but my mother managed to buy me a new book about every 4 months. I always chose Enid Blyton books. In the Valley of Adventure Dina, Lucy Ann, Jack and Philip with the parrot Kiki wrestle with men profiting from Nazi looting in the Second World War. In The Sea of Adventure they risk their lives to rescue a British spy and surrogate father. I learnt how to be brave and do the right thing in the face of adversity. Somehow I grew up not to be a racist or sexist. Enid Blyton made me a reader and a lover of books. I'm so happy she won!
  9. John Morrow from Canada writes: Wait... you mean books written 50 or 60 years ago don't conform to current standards of political correctness? Inconceivable.

    Blyton's books certainly reflected the fairly rigid class-based society in which she lived and used the language of the day (Red Indians anyone?), but I don't recall anything blatantly sexist or racist in tone...

    Me thinks you do protest too much.
  10. Josephine B. from Canada writes: I loved the secret seven series (Blyton) when I was growing up..I didn't really come away with the impression that the books were racist and sexist (they may well be - a product of the age?). What I remember of the books is the adventure and excitement.
  11. Ali Weisenberg from Kingston, Canada writes: I loved Enid Blyton as a child growing up in the small Ontario village called Stirling. Her books were available in the local library. A friend who grew up in Jamaica was also a fan, but I don't know of any others in my circle of friends who were. My favourite book was 'River of Adventure'.
  12. Jack O'Douley from Toronto, Canada writes: I think 'The Magic Far Away Tree', was what taught me to read and to enjoy literature for the rest of my life. I remember it as a delightful and gripping story. Sexist, racist...? bah humbug! It's good to see that real people can still express their opinions unchecked by the turgid political correctness of J.D. Hamilton
  13. Kay A from Canada writes: You can't judge all books/play/movies by today's standards and as well you shouldn't.

    Letting your kids read something 60 years old lets them into a world they know nothing of and can be a real conversation starter.
    The only Enid Blyton book I ever came across was The Adventurous Four. I truly loved it.

    I've never read any of JK Rowling's books...but I think what's she has accomplished is wonderful.
  14. Pelotas Piquen from Morningwood, Mb., Canada writes: ...I had a number of 'Noddy' books as a kid and to look at them now they are astonishingly racist. The evil Golliwogs (essentially UK's version of 'Sambo') were always up to no good.
    Surprising that she is most popular.
  15. Anne A from Canada writes: Good for Enid Blyton. She was a great author and I grew up reading her books. I have no idea why her books are considered racist and sexist. It is only racisit and sexist adults who would read this into her stories. Young children are innocent and enjoy the stories for what they are, fun and magical. It is their sexist and racist parents that influence their innocent minds. Haven't seen many 'other races' in Harry Potter or CS Lewis stories. All the main characters are Caucasian. Put that in your pipes and smoke it....
  16. John Percy from Halifax, Canada writes: 'racist...sexist'?? Oh for God's sake. I grew up on Blyton's Adventure series. The girls in those books were no-nonsense, take charge, intelligent adventurers, who could go toe to toe with anyone. Whatever happened to historical perspective? Maybe we should shelve Shakespeare for his attitudes about women and blacks and Italians.
  17. Jump Much? from Toronto, Canada writes: Growing up in Ottawa in the '80s, I think I read every book Enid Blyton ever wrote...and there must be over 100. She really inspired a love of reading. It's true, though, that when I look back at some of the stories I can't believe that I didn't pick up on some of the racist comments and imagery that are scattered throughout the books. It's not exactly subtle! Those of you who think the racism and sexism has been dreamed up by critics might want to take another look if you haven't read the books in years. You may be surprised. Blyton's books were a product of their times and have done a lot of good for the world, but they're far from perfect.
  18. Gizella Oehm from Toronto, Canada writes: I loved Enid Blyton too - esp. the Adventure series. They had everything - adventure, mystery, espionage, all the rest. THe kids - the boys AND the girls, were fun and capable, and if there was racism and sexism in these books, I was quite oblivious to it (and to this day, couldn't care less). As for those in this discussion thread who also claim her writing and plotting were substandard, quite frankly, as a person who as a child and adult has read reams of fantasy and science fiction, I have always found J.K. Rowling rather tedious, and have not quite understood what all the fuss was about. Even as a child, I think I would have preferred the Lord of the Rings, the Narnia books, and for that matter, Enid Blyton.

    Anyway, glad E. Blyton made it to the top of this list!
  19. Too young Too old from Canada writes: John Smith from Canada writes: On the contrary, it indicates the sad state of literacy and intellect when such a large group of people are unable to mature and progress beyond what they read as a child.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I am guessing you set the bar for societal intelligence Mr Smith? Children should wait until they are older to read these... do you understand anything about developmental psychology you start young with the basics that set the stage for further complex material.

    If someone likes a particular book from childhood when did you become the authority of its intellegence level?

    I am sure you have some insecurity issues about your intelligence to say something like that. RELAX.
  20. John Smith from Canada writes: 'What's interesting about this research is how it reinforces the importance of childhood reading and demonstrates how influenced we are in later life by the authors and books we read as a child,”

    On the contrary, it indicates the sad state of literacy and intellect when such a large group of people are unable to mature and progress beyond what they read as a child. Rating Enid Blyton over Jane Austin for example indicates a regressive reader and thinker. If this is the evidence of outsome, best not to allow children to read until they are much older.
  21. John Smith from Canada writes: Too young, too old, the survey population was adults, not children.

    The results would suggest that rather than being stimulated as readers as children, many of these adults never progressed to quality literature. Which would help explain the inclusion of Agatha Christie and Danielle Steel.

    As for child development, yes my oldest daughter read and loved J.K., Roald Dahl, C.S. Lewis and countless other imaginative child authors. At 14, her tastes are progressing and now cites writers such as Ian McEwan and David Adam Richards (some good Canadian content) and Doris Letting as her emerging favourites.

    Your bar and relativist standards might be low enough to include Danielle Steel "too young, too old, too nothing", not mine.
  22. Robert Boyd from Windsor, Canada writes: I recall the author of the 'Noddy' books being dissed (one of those androgynous CBC Benders, naturally) on the grounds that the mischevious black faced Gollys, were an obvious slandering of 'people of colour'.
  23. John Smith from Canada writes: As i correct my spelling from Letting to LeSSing
  24. Tom G from Canada writes: I accidentally discovered the books of Enid Blyton as a child and devoured everything I could find by her. Perhaps her books were racist, sexist and utterly and unforgivably politically incorrect, but, lo and behold, I grew up just fine thanks. Along with Blyton, C.S. Lewis and Roald Dahl are to blame for my ongoing passion for books and reading.
  25. emma _ from Canada writes: The defences being offered against the charges of racism, sexism etc. seem somewhat tautological to me...
    "Her books can't be bad because I read them and I didn't grow up to be a racist or sexist."
    Right... except that you are arguably a racist/sexist apologist. Isn't it precisely the point of Blyton's critics that persons who grow up reading her work risk becoming inured to racist/sexist attitudes. And thus possibly unable to identify such attitudes, even/especially when they manifest within themselves?
  26. Sean C from Canada writes: "Enig Blyter" as John Lennon referred to her in his satirical "Famous Five Through Woenow Abbey"

    C'mon folks! They're children's stories...
  27. Eric Wyness from Vancouver, Canada writes: Here's the list (note the large number of sci-fi pens):
    1. Enid Blyton
    2. Roald Dahl
    3. J.K. Rowling
    4. Jane Austen
    5. William Shakespeare
    6. Charles Dickens
    7. J.R.R. Tolkien
    8. Agatha Christie
    9. Stephen King
    10. Beatrix Potter
    11. C.S. Lewis
    12. Catherine Cookson
    13. Martina Cole
    14. Bill Bryson
    15. Charlotte Bronte
    16. Jacqueline Wilson
    17. Oscar Wilde
    18. Maeve Binchy
    19. Dan Brown
    20. Emily Bronte
    21. Jackie Collins
    22. Martin Amis
    23. Isaac Asimov
    24. Margaret Atwood
    25. John Grisham
    26. Marian Keyes
    27. H.G.Wells
    28. Alan Bennett
    29. Arthur C. Clarke
    30. George Orwell
    31. Danielle Steel
    32. Iain Banks
    33. Judy Blume
    34. Jodi Picoult
    35. Arthur Conan Doyle
    36. Peter Ackroyd
    37. Kingsley Amis
    38. P.G Wodehouse
    39. Dr. Seuss
    40. Mark Twain
    41. J.G. Ballard
    42. Thomas Hardy
    43. James Patterson
    44. Ian Rankin
    45. Leo Tolstoy
    46. Irvine Welsh
    47. Jilly Cooper
    48. Beryl Bainbridge
    49. Ray Bradbury
    50. Geoffrey Chaucer
  28. Tom G from Canada writes: Emma writes: Isn't it precisely the point of Blyton's critics that persons who grow up reading her work risk becoming inured to racist/sexist attitudes.

    You clearly have the barometer on moral scruples here--and certainty, for that matter. How do you know this? Are you peering into your crystal ball for insight? Are you implying that the books one reads in his or her childhood must bear testament to what the adult inevitably becomes in the present? That the books of the past must be sanitized pure and without any ethnic or gender bias to conform to the pristine and completely unbiased present? That all or most readers of such blasphemous literature containing even intimations of our chaotic and disordered past are doomed to repeat the abominations that were once cherished and read? That the human mind can't actually gain something from seeing the tendency in humans to be partial and jealous, unfair and petty?

    Leaving ad hominems aside, let's not whitewash the past in order to adhere to some orthogenetic utopian tale. Human's are messy and contradictory, but they don't necessarily improve with each passing generation. They only think they do.
  29. Dave T from midwest, Canada writes: John Smith is correct in his assessment of where the bar was set in this poll, a poll which to me reflects a kind of sloppy sentimentality, a shortbread nostalgia. Riveted to television's coverage of the Olympics in recent days, some of my acquaintances suggest another form of the same sloppy sentiment, a development that makes me pine for something like the Paris Olympics of 1900 where live pigeons where used in the shooting competition.
  30. Tom G from Canada writes: Dave T writes: a development that makes me pine for something like the Paris Olympics of 1900 where live pigeons where used in the shooting competition.

    Speaking of sloppy, but thinking in this case--let's not confuse barbaric practices in sport with children's literature or art, for that matter. Sentimentality is one thing, but literature that helps construct the scaffolding of your imagination, nourishes a love of reading and allows you to see points of view different from your own is nothing to frown at or be offended by. Most people outgrow the literature of their childhood, they don't grasp at it like the reigns of empire and covet its values as eternal.
  31. dave ross from Canada writes: Anne A wrote: "Haven't seen many 'other races' in Harry Potter or CS Lewis stories. All the main characters are Caucasian. Put that in your pipes and smoke it.... "

    I'll admit that the Potter books are rather monchromatic but Lewis had a wide variety of species interacting as more or less equals. Amongst the humans in the Narnia books there were the evil Calormenes who were quite swarthy (in today's Fox News coverage they would be called Islamic terrorists). So Lewis too, had some racist tinges by today's standards.

    Sure is interesting to see all the Blytonphiles come out of the woodwork. From the descriptions of her writing it probably inspired the Pythons to televise and publish "Ripping Yarns" as well as more than a few of their skits.
  32. stand up mimi from Vancouver, Canada writes: I'm not big on polls of "favourite" books, because they will inevitably include Danielle Steele and Jackie Collins. At least this group of respondants showed better taste in books as children. Enid Blyton's books may not have been great literature, but they were a lot better than some of the adult pulp on the list. And they were sure fun to read. Who were these parents who let their kids stay away all day foiling thieves and having adventures?
  33. A Smith from Toronto, Canada writes: Grew up in Canada raised by Canadian parents. One of the first sets of books I ever remember having read to me was Enid Blyton's Noddy books. Then, when I could read myself, I started in on her mysteries and girls school series. The books were handed down by my mother, who had read them herself as a child.
  34. emma _ from Canada writes: Tom G from Canada writes:
    "...let's not whitewash the past in order to adhere to some orthogenetic utopian tale. Human's are messy and contradictory, but they don't necessarily improve with each passing generation. They only think they do."

    I couldn't agree more, Tom G. Well put. Sorry I can't say the same for the rest of your post, which you seem to have invented out of whole cloth.

    My point was merely that Enid Blyton's arguable racism/sexism is neither proved nor disproved by personal anecdotes from her readers regarding their perceptions of their own racism/sexism. Isn't it rather unfortunate that one can no longer express frustration with illogical arguments without being presumed to stand for the opposite position?
  35. Tom G from Canada writes: Emma writes: My point was merely that Enid Blyton's arguable racism/sexism is neither proved nor disproved by personal anecdotes from her readers regarding their perceptions of their own racism/sexism.

    This sounds like a tautology. It really doesn't say anything, ultimately. If a reader's perceptions of their own racism/sexism is merely an anecdote, then, I daresay, a reader's perceptions of Blyton's racism/sexism is also anecdotal and, therefore, Blyton's racism/sexism doesn't exist. So, who is the final arbiter of Blyton's arguable racism/sexism? Who are these self-anointed ones and why should it matter after more than half a century? Does the perception of racism/sexism in a novel actually matter after such a long time being that such a worldview was part of the overarching zeitgeist of that time? Transplanting such a worldview to the early 21st century would not only be anachronistic, but, wait for it--racist and sexist!

    However, if you were arguing that to recommend Blyton's novels to the children of today, then I could see merit in your position. Lacking this framework, your position seems unintelligent.
  36. Broken Record from Victoria, B.C., Canada writes: I grew up in the Niagara Peninsula and our local library branch had Enid Blyton's books, which I eagerly read through end-to-end. Their impossibly English protagonists' thrilling adventures were impossible to put down; the storylines were more plausible than anything from Miss Rowling, not that her books are anything but excellent, just not for my literary taste. I loved the way these children were never coddled or talked down to - I daresay most Canadian children nowadays with their extremely limited practical vocabularies wouldn't be able to understand half of what they were saying. These kids knew more than one word to describe anything and I can imagine they never "uptalked." They might have been politically incorrect, not that at the time I had any way of judging that, but that was reality when they were written and to dumb down history insults the intelligence of today's children, what little they are still allowed to use. Miss Blyton was wonderful and should be read today but for the fact that as people age, they become stupider.

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