The Famous Five - Enid Blyton > Reviews > Famous forever

Author's product rating:   

Would you listen to it again?	Yes
Story	Outstanding
Characters	Good
Listenability	Once you start it, you won't be able to switch it off!

Advantages:	Exciting, entertaining
Disadvantages:	Addictive, only 21 volumes

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

In an era of computer consoles and expensive gadgets providing entertainment to young children, allow me to site a more educational source of amusement – Enid Blyton’s marvellous collection of stories based around four adventurous children and an intelligent, loyal dog. The Famous Five’s success was rewarded with a television series screened on ITV some years after the first of 21 volumes were published.

Each adventure is focussed around four children – Julian, Dick, Anne and their cousin George. They are accompanied by Timothy who plays a crucial role in all twenty-one of their startling adventures which range from hidden treasure to kidnapping of scientists. Each character offers a different quality – Dick’s humour, Anne’s sensitivity, Julian’s sensible calm nature and George’s passionate outbursts. However these four traits are blended with incredible intelligence and bravery from George’s dog Tim, who rescues the children from a collection of wicked characters.

A distinct feature of these escapades is the emphasis on reality, moving away from fantasy based stories. Although set over fifty years from today, the reader can relate with the various scenarios which unfold in each tale, as the focal point revolves around stories which are commonplace today. Kidnappings, buried treasure, stolen scientific secrets and smuggling are examples of exciting quests these four gutsy children embark upon. Blyton promotes “the great outdoors” to excellent effect through her wonderful description of weather and scenes, discussed in more detail below.

Enid Blyton’s photographic description of houses, scenery, and particularly items of food often creates vivid thoughts and imaginations. The reader will almost believe he or she is eating the sandwiches or drinking the lemonade, and experience the bitter cold winters and blazing hot summers. Your mind will picture every castle, lighthouse, forest, and your imagination will depict the variety of sights and sounds expertly illustrated by Blyton.

The structure of each story is similarly welcoming as the predecessor – the children are united during holidays and plan their vacation journey. Elements of humour and warmth are merged together as each adventure is gradually introduced. A grandstand climax is offered which concludes with a variety of different settings.

The Famous Five series is an exceptional compilation of books which can be enjoyed by young and old with excitement and joy every time. Car boot sales and school fairs often attract various volumes at nominal prices. However amazon.co.uk does offer various groups of these for relatively cheap prices compared to the expensive prices of children’s books today. A series of four books is currently traded for £10.50 on this site.

I cannot recommend this series highly enough. As a child, I remember today the excitement of bedtime providing an opportunity to read another chapter. Lengthy travel journeys became a pleasure and rainy days were suddenly a joy. There are many great children’s books which provide their own entertaining twists. However the unique, addictive nature of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five in my opinion is unrivalled to any other.