Enid Blyton, in my opinion, is the most amazing children’s author of all time. As I look fondly back, I’m sure most will remember the feelings of excitement and exhilaration that swept over us as we sunk deeper and deeper into the fantasy lands Blyton created. Turning the pages as the tension rose, and wondering what would become of the colourful characters she created, our imaginations were captured by her amazing stories of adventure-loving children who visited fictional lands unbeknown to anyone other than magical folk.
Author Information:
Enid Mary Blyton was born on 11th August 1897, in a flat above a shop in Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, London. The daughter of Thomas Carey Blyton, and Theresa Mary Blyton, she was the eldest of three children.
Enid and her father were very close, and shared a bond which originated when Enid nearly died in the first few months of her life from Whooping cough.
Books that inspired her were - Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll), Little Women (Louisa May Alcott), and The Coral Island (R.N.Ballantyne).
Her mother didn't approve of her 'spending her life with her head in a book', but all that reading and writing would help Enid become one of the worlds most celebrated children's authors...During her 40-year career, she wrote over 600 books, with her first published book being 'Child Whispers', published in 1922. Writing up to 10'000 words a day, she had 11 books published under her name in 1940 alone.
Enid Blyton died in her sleep in a Hampsted nursing home on November 28, 1968, but her stories will continue to captivate children for decades to come.
Three of her other books were also immensely popular with children. 'The Magic Faraway Tree' series, containing three books based around a tree called 'The Faraway Tree', will be my subjects for my next three reviews. This will be all about the first book, 'The Enchanted Wood'.
The first of this series is called 'The Enchanted Wood', and is one of my favourite childrens books. Filled with magic and mystery, I would sit and read for hours imagining myself in some of the wonderous lands at the top of the tree.
Characters:
Of the three children, Jo is the eldest. He works hard in the garden whilst their father is away. Bessie is the second child, and Fanny is the youngest. Enid Blyton, at no point, gives away the exact ages of the children, although Bessie does have a birthday in the last chapter of the book.
Apart from the three children, there are many other characters involved in these stories.
The main inhabitants of the Faraway Tree are; the Angry Pixie, the Barn Owl, Mr. Watzisname, Saucepan Man (who has his own land but it moves off), and Dame Washalot, named because she loves washing - but they need to be careful - her dirty water often comes thundering down the tree, soaking those who don't hide in time!
The more central characters in the book are; a tiny, fairy-like elf called Silky, because of her long flowing golden hair, and Moon-Face, who has a big face that looks like the moon.
Other characters who appear in 'The Enchanted Wood' are: (apart from the childrens parent's), Mr Whiskers the Head Brownie, The Magic Snowman, Goldilocks and The Three Bears, Silky's Clock, Dame Slap, The Red Goblins, and Mighty-One the Wizard.
Story Overview:
'The Enchanted Wood' is the story of three children called Jo, Bessie and Fanny. They are all young children, who, as far as I can tell, do not attend school, and devote their time doing chores for their parents. Their father works long hours, so Bessie and Fanny help their mother in the house, whilst Jo takes care of the garden. At the end of their garden is the enchanted wood, and by accident, they discover the wonders of the tallest tree in the land. It is an amazing tree, which can grow acorns at the bottom, and ripe, juicy plums further up! The tree reaches far beyond the clouds to lands beyond their wildest beliefs. This book is about some of the adventures the children and their newfound friends have in these magical lands.
Chapter One - Chapter FiveThe new house has a lovely back garden, which backs onto a magical wood. For the first week, the children help their parents in the new home, but they promise that the next time they can all go out together, they will visit the forest...
When they visit the wood for afternoon tea, they spot a most peculiar sight.
Toadstools grow to full size in less than a minute, and a small group of Brownies come and hold a meeting, using the toadstools for chairs. Jo spots a Gnome stealing a Brownies bag, so he trips him up. The Gnome escapes, but the bag is returned safely. The Head Brownie, Mr Whiskers, thanks them by telling them they can call on him at any time, but he lets slip about the magical tree...
The next time they go to the wood, they decide to go up the tree. After reaching the bottom of the tree, they call up Mr. Whiskers. He trys to deter the children from the tree, by telling them that the tree may seem fabulous, but it can also be very dangerous, as the lands can 'move off' away from the tree without warning, and not return for a very long time. But, as we all know, children are children. Thus began their adventures in The Enchanted Wood...
The children climb the tree, and find - a window in the tree! It belongs to the Angry Pixie, and as they look in, he throws water all over them! Carrying on up the tree, they discover a house which belongs to a fairy-like elf called Silky. She tells them about the lands at the top of the tree, and gives them Pop-Biscuits, which go 'Pop!' in your mouth, filling it with honey. The children carry on up the tree, passing Mr. Watzisname, and trying to avoid Dame Washalot's water. They discover the way into the lands above, and decide to go through...
They step into the land, which starts spinning round, and they lose the exit in the confusion. They can't get home! They find two rabbits who can get them out again, but you will have to read it to find out how!
Chapter Six - Chapter Ten
They escape the land, and get to the tree.
Fanny is very young, she gets tired easily, so she sits on a branch crying. The noise causes Moon-Face to come out of his house, and he offers to help them in return for toffee. They have none, but Jo promises they will bring him some the next time they visit the tree. He lets them use his Slippery-Slip, a slide which winds down the inside of the tree, right to the very bottom. They go home, but do they go back...?
They sneak out at night, to find the wood lit up with lanterns, and a market near the tree. They take Moon-Face his toffee, but he puts too much in his mouth at once, and his teeth stick together! Jo decides to see what land is there, but because Moon-Faces teeth are stuck together, he can't shout Jo in time, and he disappears into the clouds...
Jo has been imprisoned by the Magic Snowman. He is more powerful than the polar bears in the land, and so they do what he wants. The group are plan to rescue Jo. The polar bears don't like the Snowman either, and they let Jo stay with them to keep warm, but he can never leave...
The group go to a tiny rose covered cottage, where Goldilocks and the three bears live. The polar bears in the Land of Ice and Snow are their cousins, and they can get there in a few minutes via magic. Once in the same land as Jo, they head out to look for him...
The Magic Snowman spots the group, and calls on the polar bears to battle the 'enemies'. Jo hears the battle, and runs away to hide. He finds the cottage, and curls up to sleep. When the battle subsides, the friends head back to the cottage and discover someone is sleeping in Baby bears bed...
Chapter Eleven - Chapter Fifteen
The group of friends discover the intruder is Jo. The Magic Snowman and the polar bears surround the house. The bears can't get in through the doors or windows, but find another way in without using magic! They force the group to open the doors to the Snowman...
The polar bears realise they have been fighting their cousins, and turn onto their side. Moon-Face pours logs onto the fire and hides, just before the Snowman claims the cottage. Later, Moon-Face opens the door - but what happened to the Snowman...? They leave for home - but will they ever learn?
The children visit Silky, to find Moon-Face has been thrown into a mystery land by Mr. Watzisname, after he popped acorns in his mouth whilst he was asleep. The man who lives in the land, Saucepan Man, is a friend of Mr Watzisname, so the friends plan to get Moon-Face back...
Deaf old Saucepan Man is happy to know he can see his old friend again. Meeting Saucepan Man distracts Mr Watzisname's attention from the children who are sneaking Moon-Face down the ladder. But will they get caught...?
Saucepan Man climbs the tree, to discover his land has moved on, and Rocking Land has appeared. No matter what they do, they can't escape the land...
Chapter Sixteen - Chapter Twenty
Getting bumped and bruised, the children look for padding for their bodies. Catching hold of trees is their only hope of not falling off the land all together!
Will the group ever leave the land...?
Safely back down the tree, Moon-Face hands round Toffee Shocks - they get bigger and bigger in your mouth until they explode! When the children get home, their parents say they have little money, but they need new things. That night, the Barn Owl brings a message from Silky and Moon-Face...
The children are told that the Land Of Take-What-You-Want is at the top of the tree, and they decide to go get the new things for their parents. Jo got soup thrown all over him by the Angry Pixie! Silky gets a new clock, which could lead to trouble...
The group get everything they need, and try to leave. Moon-Face is guarding the hole to the tree, but he moves to look at a carpet and the land moves off! They find a plane to get to the next land, but can Jo fly it...?
Jo lands the aeroplane when it gets tired, but in the wrong land! Captured by Dame Slap, the group are imprisoned in her school for bad children...
Chapter Twenty-One - Chapter Twenty-Five
Silky's clock helps the group escape Dame Slap - but how...?
The Folk of the Faraway Tree are captured by Red Goblins, but only the children can help them escape...
The children hide in the bottom of the Slippery-Slip to avoid capture, and form a plan with the Red Squirrel to help their friends...
The Goblins want more spells, but the group have a plan. The group push the Goblins down the locked Slippery-Slip, to be captured...
The Goblins are captured, and they can't use magic. An old wizard comes for servants. Moon-Face recognises him as Mighty-One the Wizard, the most powerful wizard in the world, and offers him all the trapped Goblins...
Chapter Twenty-Six - Chapter Twenty-Nine
A week later it is Bessie’s birthday. The group decide to do something special, and discover the Land Of Birthdays will be there next week. They make arrangements for all the friends to meet, but will all go as planned…?
The group decide that they will get fancy dress, so Jo gets a Red Indian suit, Bessie chooses a fairy outfit, and Fanny chooses a clowns outfit. Moon-Face becomes a pirate, Watzisname becomes a policeman, and Silky becomes a daffodil, but Saucepan Man can’t find an outfit to fit over his saucepans! They have a feast of wonderful foods, and magical birthday cake - when you eat a piece you make a wish and it will come true! Just as Fanny is about to make her wish, Saucepan Man upsets it all - what does he wish for…?
The group land in the middle of a deserted island with lots of fishing rods. Luckily, Fanny still has her birthday cake, and she hasn’t used her wish yet. What will she wish for…?
Once the group are back in the Land Of Birthdays, Fanny is upset she hasn’t got a wish, so Moon-Face gives her his, and she wishes for her own walking-talking doll, that she calls Peronel. Jo wishes for a pony, and calls him Blackie.
They play musical chairs until lots of brightly coloured men run towards them - they are crackers waiting to be pulled! Inside, there are glorious prizes. They play 'Hide and Seek', and 'Here we go round the mulberry bush' until lots of racing cars arrive for a race.
They eat again, and watch fireworks before it is time to go home. Jo’s poor pony has to go down the Slippery-Slip as he can’t get down the tree! Back at home, the children drift off as they discuss how lucky they are to live by the Enchanted Wood, and dream of many adventures to come…
Modern Alterations:
In modern reprints of this well-loved book, the names of the children have been changed. From the original Jo, Bessie and Fanny, came the names Joe, Beth and Frannie. Firstly, to make it clear that Jo is a boy, secondly because Bessie is rarely used as a shortened version of Elizabeth (most would use Beth, Liz or Lizzie), and because Fanny is a slang term in the United Kingdom for the female genitalia (in America it is a slang term for bottom). Also, the character of Dame Slap has been changed to Dame Snap as she no longer practises corporal punishment but instead yells very loudly.
Suitability:
This book is suitable for all ages - I still find Enid's books truly magical! My six year old nephew loves this book, and so does my mum, which proves the book is suitable for both sexes too.
Readability:
I first got this book, passed down from my mum. She read it to my older cousin before I was born, and loved the book so much she bought it for herself. She had me, and I read the book for the first time when I was three years old (with my mum), and read it at least once a month (along with the following two) after that. I read the books often - much to the amusement of my friends, and they never get any less amazing, even though you know what happens. I have kept the books to pass down to my children so they can experience the delights of such imaginative stories.
How It Compares To Similar Works:
When Enid first wrote these stories, many were captivated by the amazing stories, which left Blyton open to good and bad publicity. Fortunately, this series attracted mainly good publicity, and were some of her most brilliant works. As most of the books were written around war time, the readers loved the fact the characters could wander freely, and that their parents would fill the baskets with cakes, lemonade and biscuits - during the war, food stuffs such as cake ingredients were rationed, so in real life, this was impossible. The books were an escape from reality, and are still enjoyed by millions each year.
In todays terms, along with books such as the Harry Potter series' and other childrens books, some may argue that the books aren't as interesting. I believe they are just as interesting, but in a much simpler way, which is better for younger children who can't read the like of the complicated but marvellous Harry Potter books.
How It Compares To Enid Blytons Other Works:
All of Enid Blytons books are amazing, and these are no different. Whilst 'The Famous Five' is the most popular (with a television series, and board games to its name), and 'Noddy' has attracted the most attention (due to Anti-Blyton groups), 'The Magic Faraway Tree' series is close behind in the popularity stakes, along with 'The Secret Seven', 'The Wishing Chair', and for older children, the 'Mystery' series (otherwise known as the 'Find-Outers' series), all of which are favourites of mine.
What People Said About Her:
"God bless you Enid Blyton - I read your stories sitting on a cushion in a back alleyway in Liverpool. You helped me escape from a drab world. Hidden tunnels, lost passageways, the whole lichen-coated paraphernalia of forbidden places poured into my head and washed what seemed mundane reality aside. You transporte a million children beyond the reach of the grown-up-thou-shalt-not-world."
Brian Patten - Poet
Price And Availability:
I have seen this book widely available on Amazon for around £3.99 (paperback version), and £5.99 (hardback version).
(Some of the older, original hardback versions of this book are selling for up to £30.00).
Publishers:
Dean & Son, LTD., London
Fan Information:
Enid Blyton Society,
Established 1995,
93 Millford Hill,
Salisbury,
Wiltshire,
SP1 2QL
Tel: 01722 331937
www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk
info@enidblytonsociety.co.uk
Hidden Sexual Innuendo? No, Just Fantasies! 
this is excellent review.