Enid Blyton

[Sriram]

Hi everyone,

A nice article about Enid Blyton.....written by a friend's daughter btw.

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20220809-enid-blyton-the-british-author-loved-in-india

It is very true that we were very much influenced by Enid Blyton and the magic she created with her characters and description of the small town life styles and places. I was addicted to Enid Blyton.

It is a different matter that when I actually met some British people and worked with them in later years, I was shocked at the deeply political and divisive mind set of the people I worked with. Most people I knew were all the time complaining and scheming against the bosses and against everyone else in the company. Never a good word about anyone....though always very polite externally! 

Anyway, had a pleasant childhood thanks in part to Enid Blyton.

Cheers.

Sriram

[Roses]

I enjoyed Blyton's books when I was a young child, she was a good writer.

Appararently Blyton's personal life was far from good. She is reputed to have had a series of affairs when married and even a lesbian relationship. I feel sorry for her children.

[Nearly Sane]

I enjoyed Blyton's books when I was a young child, she was a good writer.

Appararently Blyton's personal life was far from good. She is reputed to have had a series of affairs when married and even a lesbian relationship. I feel sorry for her children.

You feel sorry for Blyton's children because she had 'even a lesbian relationship'? Oh look your homophobia is showing.

[Roses]

You feel sorry for Blyton's children because she had 'even a lesbian relationship'? Oh look your homophobia is showing.

I have absolutely NO problems whatsoever with lesbian/gay relationships. I do have a problem with people having affairs when married, Blyton apparently had several.

[BeRational]

I enjoyed Blyton's books when I was a young child, she was a good writer.

Appararently Blyton's personal life was far from good. She is reputed to have had a series of affairs when married and even a lesbian relationship. I feel sorry for her children.

Not sure why it's even a lesbian relationship. It's a relationship out of marriage sure, but all the same thing really.

[Nearly Sane]

I have absolutely NO problems whatsoever with lesbian/gay relationships. I do have a problem with people having affairs when married, Blyton apparently had several.

You used the word 'even'. Here it implies somehow being worse. Your homophobia is obvious.

[Roses]

You used the word 'even'. Here it implies somehow being worse. Your homophobia is obvious.

I agree I should have worded it better.  I am definitely NOT homophobic.

[BeRational]

I agree I should have worded it better.  I am definitely NOT homophobic.

No worries.

[Nearly Sane]

I agree I should have worded it better.  I am definitely NOT homophobic.

Why do you think you worded it that way?

[Roses]

Why do you think you worded it that way?

I said I should have worded it better. I am NOT and never have been homophobic. I have always supported people in person and on-line who are gay.

[SteveH]

Whatever Roses is, and I can think of a few uncomplimentary descriptions, she is not a homophobe, nor did she say anything that a reasonable person would intepret as homophobic. How about getting back to EB?

[Nearly Sane]

Whatever Roses is, and I can think of a few uncomplimentary descriptions, she is not a homophobe, nor did she say anything that a reasonable person would intepret as homophobic. How about getting back to EB?

So you think that saying 'even' in this case, i.e. saying it's worse,  isn't homophobic. That's because you're homophobic.

[SteveH]

So you think that saying 'even' in this case, i.e. saying it's worse,  isn't homophobic. That's because you're homophobic.

Edited. I don't think there is anything homophobic about Roses' "even". it simply expresses understandable mild surprise at an essentially hetero woman having a lesbian fling. Now,if NS has quite finished insulting all and sundry, perhaps we could get back to discussing Enid Blyton.
I read and enjoyed a few of her books as a kid, particularly in the "The ... of Adventure' series, but I was never a huge fan.

[Roses]

Edited. I don't think there is anything homophobic about Roses' "even". it simply expresses understandable mild surprise at an essentially hetero woman having a lesbian fling. Now,if NS has quite finished insulting all and sundry, perhaps we could get back to discussing Enid Blyton.
I read and enjoyed a few of her books as a kid, particularly in the "The ... of Adventure' series, but I was never a huge fan.

Thanks Steve.

As I stated before I should have worded my original comment better. I was just surprised Blyton had a fling with a woman because all the others had been with men. I am getting rather irritated with NS for calling me a homophobe when I am absolutely nothing of the sort. I have gay relatives and regard them in the same way as my heterosexual ones.  Being happy and faithful in the relationship you are in is what is important not whether you are gay or straight. One of my artwork pictures I did about 20 years ago is called, 'Trinity of Love', I created it for a gay man and his partner.

[Udayana]

Edited. I don't think there is anything homophobic about Roses' "even". it simply expresses understandable mild surprise at an essentially hetero woman having a lesbian fling. Now,if NS has quite finished insulting all and sundry, perhaps we could get back to discussing Enid Blyton.
I read and enjoyed a few of her books as a kid, particularly in the "The ... of Adventure' series, but I was never a huge fan.

Agree on the comments alleging "homophobia", especially as neither Roses' or Blyton's personal morality need reflect on the topic. 

On the whole I've never had a positive view of Blyton's work, finding her writing and plots over-simplified and predictable. In some cases I've noticed, or thought I noticed, a racist or at least nationalist tone - that I've found distasteful - don't ask me for examples because I have no clue now.

However ... around the age of 5 or so (iirc) I read and reread a couple of books from the The Faraway Tree series - probably the second and third. I enjoyed them enormously and, in retrospect, I think they have had a big influence on my outlook and, indirectly, life. I didn't know the author and only found out years later it was Enid Blyton!
 

[Nearly Sane]

Agree on the comments alleging "homophobia", especially as neither Roses' or Blyton's personal morality need reflect on the topic. 

On the whole I've never had a positive view of Blyton's work, finding her writing and plots over-simplified and predictable. In some cases I've noticed, or thought I noticed, a racist or at least nationalist tone - that I've found distasteful - don't ask me for examples because I have no clue now.

However ... around the age of 5 or so (iirc) I read and reread a couple of books from the The Faraway Tree series - probably the second and third. I enjoyed them enormously and, in retrospect, I think they have had a big influence on my outlook and, indirectly, life. I didn't know the author and only found out years later it was Enid Blyton!

  It was Roses who introduced the subject of Blyton's morality. And phrased it in a way she accepts was infelicitous, and I would suggest reads as homophobic. Do you disagree that it's a reasonable reading of the use of the word 'even' as seeing the lesbian relationship as worse?

[Nearly Sane]

Thanks Steve.

As I stated before I should have worded my original comment better. I was just surprised Blyton had a fling with a woman because all the others had been with men. I am getting rather irritated with NS for calling me a homophobe when I am absolutely nothing of the sort. I have gay relatives and regard them in the same way as my heterosexual ones.  Being happy and faithful in the relationship you are in is what is important not whether you are gay or straight. One of my artwork pictures I did about 20 years ago is called, 'Trinity of Love', I created it for a gay man and his partner.

Do you disagree that your bad phrasing could reasonably read as homophobic?

[Roses]

Do you disagree that your bad phrasing could reasonably read as homophobic?

I suppose it could and I apologise for that. 

[Udayana]

  It was Roses who introduced the subject of Blyton's morality. And phrased it in a way she accepts was infelicitous, and I would suggest reads as homophobic. Do you disagree that it's a reasonable reading of the use of the word 'even' as seeing the lesbian relationship as worse?

Yes, it can be read that way but, obviously, was not what she meant.
 

[Nearly Sane]

Yes, it can be read that way but, obviously, was not what she meant.
 

So it's a reasonable reading but obvious that it isn't? Sorry, don't understand that.

 

[Nearly Sane]

Udayana has raised the idea that Blyton's writing was racist, which is a not unknown charge. I know the idea that the golliwogs being shown as lazy has been seen as part of it but beyond that not looked into it. Anyone else better informed, or have clear opinion?

[SteveH]

She was undoubtedly racist, sexist and snobbish, in a mild sort of way, but no more so than was normal in her day.

[Nearly Sane]

She was undoubtedly racist, sexist and snobbish, in a mild sort of way, but no more so than was normal in her day.

That's my opinion as well but then it's a half a century since I read them so not sure if I have missed stuff

[SteveH]

She was also very naive, which led to unfortunate book titles such as "Mr Pink-whistle Interferes".

[Nearly Sane]

She was also very naive, which led to unfortunate book titles such as "Mr Pink-whistle Interferes".

indeed, see cover below