Blyton's oldest mystery
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| DARKER MEANINGS? Enid Blyton |
A NEW Enid Blyton biography suggests there may be a darker meaning to the author's tales of childhood adventure.
Writer Duncan McClaren, who researched new book Looking For Enid, believes she used her Mystery series of books to poke fun at her first husband, Major Hugh Pollock.
The much-loved children's author, who used Purbeck as the backdrop for so many of her books, may have based the hapless PC Theophilus Goon on Pollock, says McClaren.
However, Blyton enthusiast Viv Endecott, who runs the Ginger Pop shop in Corfe Castle, has dismissed the theory as a "piece of academic tosh".
Police officer Goon is repeatedly outsmarted by the gang of five children, the Finder-Outers, in the Mystery series and McClaren points out several clues that suggest he could be a thinly veiled portrayal of Pollock.
He says the character's odd name allowed Blyton to incorporate unflattering anagrams of her husband's name, while the setting of the books has been established as the village where the author's marriage broke down.
McClaren also believes Goon's inability to think and behave like a child was a dig at Pollock's perceived lack of imagination.
However, Blyton fan Viv said she believed the author would have too busy during the prolific spell in which she wrote the books to have thought about such things.
"It is possible, it is plausible, but it's not probable," she said.
"If it was done to take the mickey, then no-one has noticed for 60 years!
"She may have had time to plot and scheme, but I think it is tenuous.
"I think the idea comes from people with more time on their hands than Blyton had."
Many of the settings in Blyton's novels are inspired by her love of the Isle of Purbeck, where she spent so many holidays.
It is thought all the Famous Five books were conceived on the isle, with Corfe Castle, Kimmeridge Bay and Dancing Ledge making appearances under different names.
7:00pm Wednesday 26th September 2007
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CommentPosted by: Vikki27, Poole on 7:12pm Wed 26 Sep 07
Whatever next?!! The student that devised this theory clearly has not studied the nature of English Literature as well as they might think, as their theory on this is a little shallow.
It is very well known that many great writers drew (and draw) fiction from some form of real life. Is it not possible that the character's personality querks and so on could maybe have been inspired by something else?
It seems awfully sordid to try to make one of the most popular children's authors into a bitter woman who used her tales to 'poke fun' at her ex-husband.
Why is everyone so obsessed with finding things like this? Did Man walk on the Moon? Did Paul McCartney die in a car crash? Where does it end!!
Whatever next?!! The student that devised this theory clearly has not studied the nature of English Literature as well as they might think, as their theory on this is a little shallow.
It is very well known that many great writers drew (and draw) fiction from some form of real life. Is it not possible that the character's personality querks and so on could maybe have been inspired by something else?
It seems awfully sordid to try to make one of the most popular children's authors into a bitter woman who used her tales to 'poke fun' at her ex-husband.
Why is everyone so obsessed with finding things like this? Did Man walk on the Moon? Did Paul McCartney die in a car crash? Where does it end!!
Posted by: Ernestine, Bermagui on 2:10am Thu 27 Sep 07
Well said, Vikki27! Leave Enid Blyton and our childhood stories and dreaming alone. To me the importance of Enid Blyton's stories is that they fuelled the imagination of children all over the world and encouraged them to read. What more can you ask of a writer?
Well said, Vikki27! Leave Enid Blyton and our childhood stories and dreaming alone. To me the importance of Enid Blyton's stories is that they fuelled the imagination of children all over the world and encouraged them to read. What more can you ask of a writer?
Posted by: Roger, Bournemouth on 2:12am Thu 27 Sep 07
This is not the first time that people have tried to expose a 'darker' side to Enid Blyton - I recall some years ago a TV documentary that tried to show her as an uncaring mother to her own chilren, for example.
I have no idea whether she was a 'nice' person or not in real life. Neither do I care. She was one of the great childrens' story tellers of 20th century English literature - and I'm sure she will be remembered as such.
But there is always money to be made in celebrity 'conspiracy' theories.
Now that we are running out of options on the various conspiracies surrounding the death of John F. Kennedy, or the idiosyncrasies of Winston Churchill's private life, I guess the publishers are looking for new ideas.
'I know, let's have go at Enid Blyton -that'll wind up a generation of 50 somethings - and hopefully make us a few bob'.
And look at me -I've taken the bait - ****!!
This is not the first time that people have tried to expose a 'darker' side to Enid Blyton - I recall some years ago a TV documentary that tried to show her as an uncaring mother to her own chilren, for example.
I have no idea whether she was a 'nice' person or not in real life. Neither do I care. She was one of the great childrens' story tellers of 20th century English literature - and I'm sure she will be remembered as such.
But there is always money to be made in celebrity 'conspiracy' theories.
Now that we are running out of options on the various conspiracies surrounding the death of John F. Kennedy, or the idiosyncrasies of Winston Churchill's private life, I guess the publishers are looking for new ideas.
'I know, let's have go at Enid Blyton -that'll wind up a generation of 50 somethings - and hopefully make us a few bob'.
And look at me -I've taken the bait - ****!!
Posted by: derek, dorset on 8:59am Thu 27 Sep 07
And Scamper was related to the bodmin moor beastie .
And Scamper was related to the bodmin moor beastie .
Posted by: John Rowley, Swanage on 4:54pm Fri 28 Sep 07
and the wrecked engine in the bushes in Mystery Moor was what Enid thought of Thomas the Tamk engine.
and the wrecked engine in the bushes in Mystery Moor was what Enid thought of Thomas the Tamk engine.
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